On International Disaster Risk Reduction Day, we turn our attention to a powerful force shaping the Philippines' resilient future: the youth.

There are 30 million young people aged 10-24 in the Philippines, making up 28% of the  total population. This will remain nearly the same by 2055 based on the projection of the Philippines Statistics Authority. 

In 2024, the World Risk Index tagged the Philippines as the most disaster prone country in the world.  In general, young people didn’t cause climate change, yet they will inherit a world riddled by its consequences. 

While this poses a concern on the potential vulnerability of young people to climate change and disasters, this demographic holds immense potential to drive significant change on the  country’s overall resilience. It represents not only the shift in numbers, but it also a unique opportunity; These young Filipinos are not mere bystanders, but active voices in many platforms where a disaster-free future is central to the conversation. They bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and a deep understanding of local contexts. 

The recently concluded UN Summit of Future committed to empowering young people by cultivating a nurturing environment that allows youth and future generations to fully realise their dreams and ambitions. Youth ought to be both protagonists and beneficiaries in resilience agenda. With access to information and education, the youth are well placed to lead the innovation, disaster risk reduction and local resilience action.

Championing resilience in the context of empowering the next generation is where the Strengthening Institutions and Empowering Localities Against Disasters and Climate Change (SHIELD) Programme plays a critical role through the support of the Australian Government. 

As the climate and disaster resilience flagship programme in the Philippines, SHIELD enables harnessing the collective strength of communities to build resilience against disasters and climate change. Being led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines, the programme prioritizes inclusivity, integrating gender equality, disability, and social inclusion across all its workstreams, ensuring that the specific needs and perspectives of young people, especially those from marginalized groups, are considered in every resilience-building activity. 

Recognizing multi-stakeholder partnerships (MSP) as core agent of change in this process, SHIELD invests in the unique potential of youth in building climate resilience. The programme targets to deliver strong partnership and collaboration platforms in the formation of Sama-Samang mga Samahan para sa Isang Matatag na Bayan (Sambayanihan) - a locally-led collaborative effort, where young people could engage with policymakers, marginalized groups, and development partners in the very important decisions and implementation in resilience space. Youth representatives from the Local Youth Development Offices and youth non-government organizations are part of the core working groups that are involved in series of capacity development and resilience planning and programming - creating a community of practice at the local level. 

In the provinces of Davao Oriental and Eastern Samar, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, for instance, youth participation has been crucial in SHIELD’s resilience initiatives. The youth representatives have been actively involved in the programme's wide-ranging workstreams on the ground, including capacity assessments and risk scenario development, which are essential in ensuring that their needs and priorities are reflected in local resilience planning and decision-making process. 

It is imperative that we continue to engage with the youth and we treat them not only as a vulnerable group but, more importantly, as allies, change makers, community partners and key decision-makers in building resilience. Their inclusion ensures that the solutions designed to strengthen local resilience reflect the perspectives of the younger generation, whose futures are directly impacted by today's climate crisis, racing against time. 

In the coming years, UNDP is committed to work closer with the youth in scaling up data systems, financing for resilience, designing proposals, and establishing policy frameworks and advocacy. The actions we take today will undoubtedly shape the future and generations to come. Inaction is not an option. Through programs like SHIELD, our work is beyond preparing for disasters today; we are working towards paving the path for a more resilient future for generations to come. 

SHIELD is a multi-year partnership covering 11 provinces and two regions in the Philippines that are among the most vulnerable to disasters and climate change impacts. It is implemented by the UNDP Philippines, the consortium partners: Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), National Resilience Council (NRC), Consortium of Bangsamoro Civil Society (CBCS), and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat), together with government partners: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), with generous support from the Australian Government.