Adebusuyi Olutayo Olumadewa , the Founder of DoTheDream Youth Development Initiative represents Federal Republic of Nigeria at the United Nations General Assembly session on Government of the Republic of Zambia and PEI host Jobs for the Poor at Scale high-level event during UNGA80
On Friday, September 26, on the sidelines of the 2025 UN General Assembly, the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) and the Partnership for Economic Inclusion co-hosted the high-level event Jobs for the Poor at Scale: Country Leadership and Partnership in Action. The event highlighted progress under the Supporting Women’s Livelihoods (SWL) program, part of the Girl’s Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihoods (GEWEL) Project. Strong evidence of the SWL program’s impact—including a 30 percent reduction in extreme poverty—has driven its scale-up to more than 145,000 women, with plans for a national rollout reaching 200,000 women.
Keynote addresses were delivered by Iffath Sharif (Global Director for Social Protection and Labor, World Bank) and Mainga Kabika (Permanent Secretary for Gender Division, GRZ), with opening and closing remarks from His Excellency Chola Milambo (Permanent Representative of Zambia to the UN). A panel featuring Barnabas Musonda (SWL Project Manager, GRZ), Loli Arribas-Banos (Practice Manager, World Bank), and Doris King (Program Director, Co-Impact) shared lessons on scaling economic inclusion programs, while Permanent Secretary for Planning and Administration Prudence Kaoma confirmed the Ministry of Finance and National Planning’s strong support for the GEWEL project. The event drew wide participation from governments, donors, and NGOs, and received national media coverage in Zambia, underscoring Zambia’s leadership in advancing inclusive jobs and fostering partnerships for future investment
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Strategic Engagement at UNGA 80
At the historic 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), we, representing DoTheDream YDI, the Alliance of Social Transformers for Sustainable Development (ASTSD), and FINFODE Plus, took deliberate and forward-looking steps to position our work as a bridge between local innovation and global opportunities. As a delegation, we demonstrated strategic intent, global networking, and transformative leadership in shaping critical conversations around education, energy, gender equity, youth empowerment, and sustainable development financing.
By placing African-led initiatives at the forefront, we highlighted the urgent need for local action with global alignment, ensuring that communities across the Global South are not excluded in the pursuit of inclusive and sustainable progress. Our engagements at UNGA 80 now serve as a blueprint for scaling impact, weaving together international cooperation, multilateral partnerships, and grassroots empowerment.
Strategic Alliances and Partnerships
Foreign Media Collaboration
We unveiled a partnership with a leading international media brand to amplify African voices and narratives on a global stage. This initiative will ensure that our products,produce,pathways, and stories of impact gain international visibility, positioning Africa not merely as a consumer, but as a vital contributor to global conversations on progress.
Engagement with Global North & Global South Governments and Allies
We established purposeful alliances with governments, policymakers, and partners from the Global North to strengthen financing for development and bolster inclusive multilateral dialogue. These alliances will accelerate generational impact sessions, youth-driven programs, and community-led initiatives, guaranteeing both recognition and tangible support for grassroots efforts.
Energy Enthusiasts and Industries
Through the Girls in Energy Project, we deepened partnerships with innovators and industry leaders in the sustainable energy sector. These collaborations are designed to equip young people—particularly girls—with skills, services, solutions, and pathways to sustainability, preparing them as active leaders in the global energy transition. It will be achieve through career role modeling , competition for strengthening arts and act, camping for showcasing innovations, conferences- for best,law and practices.
State-Level Government Engagement
We opened high-level dialogue to create bilateral financing and project development opportunities where Nigerian states can serve as champions alongside the Federal Government. This model enhances policy backing and positions states as drivers of sustainable local and national development.
Focus Areas for Development Impact
Education as Currency
We reaffirmed our vision of education as the “currency of progress.” By leveraging AI and the digital economy, we are reimagining learning frameworks, equipping young people with 21st-century skills that align with the future of work while transforming how they learn, innovate, and lead.
Leadership Library Expansion
We are upgrading and expanding the Leadership Library to become a global hub for changemakers. This initiative will broaden access to leadership resources, mentoring, and strategies that empower the next generation to drive systemic and sustainable change.
Gender-Focused Projects
Girls Are Asset Project: We are building platforms that elevate girls as critical contributors to social and economic transformation, breaking stereotypes and emphasizing their value as agents of sustainable progress.
Girls in Energy Project: We are expanding opportunities for women and girls in the renewable energy space through mentorship programs, skills competitions, career development pathways, international conferences, and leadership camps that link them to global energy pioneers.
Exchange and International Collaboration
We positioned our platforms as catalysts for cross-border collaboration. At UNGA 80, we facilitated meetings and dialogues with international organizations, creating firm pathways for knowledge exchange, shared resources, and scalable collaborative projects. These engagements are opening doors for African youth and organizations to engage directly with institutions driving global policy and innovation.
UNGA 80 as a Dimension for Growth
More than a gathering, UNGA 80 represented a new dimension of growth, grit, graciousness, and greatness. With African youth and women placed firmly in the global spotlight, our engagements affirmed a clear philosophy: progress must be powered by local action and amplified through global partnerships.
The foundation laid at UNGA 80 will result in measurable collaborations, expanded projects, and international opportunities that will transform lives and communities. The formal announcement of international organizations, governments, and key collaborators will follow the completion of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to operationalize these commitments.
Watch this space—the seeds sown at UNGA 80 mark only the beginning. The coming months will bring visible impact, bold partnerships, and a stronger African voice shaping sustainable global development.