资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

19 January 2021 – As soon as the first COVID-19 cases were discovered in Kenya in March last year, UN-Habitat turned to the youth-led groups in informal settlements and slums to partner on the response.

By International Youth Day on 21 August, over 2.5 million handwashes had been done at the various facilities run by the youth in informal settlements in Kenya.  In addition the youth were  distributing masks, creating murals to communicate to the general public about COVID-19 prevention and providing support to women and children facing challenges such as increased violence and inability to access education.

The youth projects did not stop in Kenya and a few months later, a second wave response was undertaken as part of a larger coalition with 34 youth-led organizations, the private sector and local and national governments in Somalia and Ecuador as well.

This work of UN-Habitat and its partners has been recognized by the UN Secretary-General, with the programme being shortlisted for the 2020 Secretary-General Award in the “innovation” category.