World Bank Youth Summit 2022
Glad to be one of the delegates for this year’s WBG Youth Summit with the theme: Unlocking The Power of Inclusion for Equitable Growth!
For me, the highlight of the summit was the discussions around #diversity, #equity and #inclusion by the different panelists. They all brought different diverse opinions about DEI to the table which were really valuable.
We sometimes mix up the meaning of diversity with that of equity or inclusion, but Dr Nadir Mohammed definition made it really clear that these three components are different from each other.
#Diversity Means having an environment that is composed of different components which includes culture, background, race, gender, age, etc.
#Equity on the other hand means ensuring a fair chance for everyone to contribute to, and advance change.
#Inclusion is a culture and state of mind where everyone feels included. It means ensuring that people are contributing to, and benefiting from that change.
Inclusion is a major driver for incredible growth. And it is a mindset focused on thinking about others. According to Dr Nadir Mohammed, some critical components of inclusion are:
- Critical questioning
- Drive
- Enthusiasm and
- Touching peoples lives.
From a private sector perspective, Ms Kavitha Prabhakar Chief Diversity Officer at Deloitte added that organizations need to ensure that these three things are equitable and inclusive:
- Talent acquisition
- Performance
- Advancement prospects
For me, some of the #major take-aways include:
- Organizations should avoid making DEI a tick box affair. This is what Theodore A. Klouvas refers to as being “tokenistic”.
- Orgs should create evaluations by using these minority groups as an accountability check to checkmates themselves and see if they achieve the DEI goals they set for themselves.
- Don’t make decisions about youths when the youths themselves are not involved in the decision making. If you’re talking about a particular group, ensure they’re included in the room where these conversations are being had.
- Giving people the chance to contribute and feel valued brings them utility. ~ Nadir Mohammed
- Consider peoples backgrounds when having these discussions. This is what Brighton Kaoma calls “contextually relevant inclusion”.
- Leaders and decision makers should be cognizant of their own biases.
- Development is incomplete without DEI
- To achieve inclusion, help people visualize their future and help them see the role they need to play in achieving that future. But first, provide their immediate needs before trying to help them. ~ Kavitha Prabhakar
P.s: you can’t visualize when you’re hungry!
- To have an inclusive environment in the social media space innovators should ensure to design apps that are not limited to certain bandwidth like 5Gs or 4Gs or LTEs, but one that is inclusive so that people in rural areas can access these platforms; just like Facebook did. ~ Aerica Shimizu Banks
- Innovators should focus on designing projects WITH the minority and not FOR the minority. - Aerica Shimizu Banks
- We are all agents of change. Think about your own role in achieving DEI. ~ Brighton Kaoma
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| Brighton Kaoma - Global Director at UN Sustainable Dev. |
- We sometimes need to feel uncomfortable to make change. Hence, let us learn to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. ~ Kavitha Prabhakar
- Be the change you want to see. Mahatma Gandhi. Don’t be afraid to go out and challenge the status quo!
Finally, for me, all of these summaries down to one word: The #Ubuntu - respect and recognition of all people . I am because you are, because we are!
Glad to be part of such an amazing opportunity and network!
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