(Part 4) ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026
Economic and Social Council
Date: 16 April 2026
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k1u/k1u9xw5zw2
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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ECOSOC · President [0:01]:

Good morning, everyone. May I ask you to please take your seats? I call to order the 4th meeting of the 2026 Youth Forum of the Economic and Social Council. Excellencies, Youth representatives, distinguished participants, the Forum will now begin its plenary session on SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and it is my pleasure to welcome the distinguished speakers for this session. I'm also pleased to welcome the moderator, Ms. Teri Otierno, Global Focal Point of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group, Major Group for Children and Youth, I now invite the moderator to conduct the discussion.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:03]:

Good morning, Excellencies, colleagues, and fellow changemakers. Welcome to the SDG 11 session, Co-Creating Safe, Resilient Urban Futures with and for the Youth. Today, over half population is under 30, and more than half of us now live in cities. By 2050, the urban figure will rise to 70%. While cities just occupy 3% of our land, they generate over 60% of greenhouse gas emissions and consume 75% of global resources. We are at the center of an urban polycrisis. Where environmental hazards like toxic air pollution and extreme heat waves collide with systemic failures like the lack of affordable housing and safe urban spaces for youth. In preparation for this thematic session, we conducted a virtual consultation supported by a survey that received hundreds of responses from over 30 countries. Revealing what we call the inclusion paradox. The demographic with the most at stake in the urban future, the youth, possess the least structural power. While we are frequently surveyed and consulted, the vast majority of global youth still rate their actual inclusion in urbanization planning as 1 or 2 out of 5, essentially We, as young people, are not included at all. But wait, which targets under SDG 11 are you focusing on in your implementation efforts? As you ponder, let me reveal the survey findings. Youth are not waiting to be saved. They are already architects of the urban future. The survey revealed shadow networks of youth-led infrastructure everywhere. In the Senegal River and Kenya, youth are democratizing data through the GIS mapping to force municipal accountability. In Yemen and Zimbabwe, they are re-engineering waste into durable building bricks to solve the housing and population crisis simultaneously. In Vietnam and Egypt, they are reclaiming the third spaces, turning neglected areas into community gardens and safe hubs. However, our consultation found that nearly all of these projects operate with zero funding. We must be clear: innovation without investment is simply unpaid labor. Our goal today is to move from token consultation to structural integration. We must transition from treating youth as passive survey takers to co-designers and planners who have direct access to resources to accelerate urban planning. Let us begin our dialogue today on how to scale these youth-led solutions into formal governance models. It is now my honor to introduce our distinguished panelists. Sushmita Shekhar is an urban designer and project manager at Skidmore, Owning Merrill, and, and an urban policy advocate representing sustainable communities— community constituency in MGCY. is the Northern American focal point in children and youth major group to UNEP, and is also the founder of the Greywater Project, which she launched at the age of 13. Alison Gabriel Pereira is an intercultural and English teacher, a volunteer coordinator of the Quilombo Cidade and Free English Community Initiative under the UNODC Brazil Youth Network. And finally, Regman Hassan is a human rights and health equity advocate on the UN-Habitat Youth Advisory Board. The youth are playing a pivotal role in building sustainable, resilient cities and communities, yet they face structural To jumpstart the panel discussion, I pose this question to Shreya. What is the biggest challenge youth face in creating sustainable and resilient communities? And right after you, Rahman will follow, and your question is, what barriers do young people from different backgrounds face in accessing secure housing and participating in urban sustainability? Thank you.


Shreya [6:08]:

Thank you so much for that question. And I think it's definitely one that has many facets, but I want to focus on just one today. One of the biggest challenges that youth face is that their solutions stall without institutional adoption. Youth-led innovators are incredible entrepreneurs, or should I say ecopreneurs, because they're developing locally grounded solutions. They are designing, testing, piloting new approaches. They're essentially creating a natural sandbox, a living testing ground for new sustainability ideas. And this innovation is an untapped resource. Cities should look to these youth-led initiatives and help them scale. So what does that support look like in practice? Well, it could look like financial support for youth to expand their efforts. Cities could set up a youth innovation fund that provides accessible grants, but it could also include providing technical expertise and mentorship, connecting youth with resources they might not otherwise have access to, helping youth-led projects gain visibility so they can collaborate with NGO and business partners, or even cities adopting youth-led programs as official models and best practices. I've seen through my own work how these supports can be transformative for youth, and this may seem ambitious, but we've already seen change like this happen. In the last 5 or so years, youth inclusion has gone from something that was very infrequently talked about to something that is happening more and more. 90% of UN entities now report engaging youth in some way in their work, but I would encourage decision makers here today to take the next step to help bridge the gap from innovation, youth innovation, to institutionalization?


UN-Habitat · Rahman Hassan [8:02]:

Yeah, that was some really wonderful points by my co-panelists. I think many of us here today are aware of the large-scale inequities within our communities and especially within our cities. And for many and countless young people, we all know about these inequities and who is left out of the room. When someone is worried about where their next meal will come from, whether that they can afford rent, or whether a climate disaster may destroy their home, participation in public life really just becomes a luxury. How can young people attend city council meetings, provide expert briefings to their school boards, organize their peers at school, or engage in governance when they, they're not even sure if they'll be able to survive? So, I think the deeper question is not necessarily why these barriers exist, but rather why they persist, especially in an era where all of our many different countries recognize the role of participation, and even the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the importance of democratic legitimacy and the will of the people. So, I think the answer to that is that our institutions have not truly embraced the value of participation. In too many places, our cities are designed to simply reproduce inequities. Young people are told that they should be silent or that they shouldn't participate, and climate information and other information is overly technical. Legal systems are difficult to navigate. Bureaucratic processes really privilege those with time, confidence, and the ability to perform unpaid labor. And I think ultimately that just ends up excluding many young people who otherwise would have loved to participate in governance. So I think, in short, participation ends up serving the convenience of institutions rather than supporting the true inclusion of young people. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [10:05]:

Youth contribute innovation solutions to tackling challenges and are key drivers of change, especially as the global urban population is projected to reach 70% by 2050. I pose a question to Sue Schmitter: What innovation youth-led housing models can young people champion to ensure sustainable and resilient communities? And right after you, question to Alison: How can youth-led green public spaces act as both a climate buffer and a protective shield for marginalized youth?


MGCY · Sushmita Shekhar [10:43]:

Thank you for the question, Terry. According to the United Nations, by 2100, the global population is going to reach 11 billion people, and that's 3 billion more than what we see today. And in order to meet this extraordinary growth, we will roughly need about 2.4 trillion square meters of housing and infrastructure. And let me just put this into perspective for people here. This is equivalent to building the area of one Manhattan every month for the next 40 years. So this is the challenge we have in front of us. And having worked with national and local governments in more than 5+ countries, I think the real question is, will our cities just become places where housing is treated as a commodity, where it's bought, sold, and speculated on, or will it even recognize housing as a fundamental right of all young people? Because today young people are pushed out of cities, facing high rents, shrinking pathways to ownership, and also navigating systems that were never designed for them. So what are some of the housing models that can really support youth to continue living in cities and owning home in cities? I think the first is community land trusts, because this offers a powerful model for long-term affordability by placing land under collective stewardship and removing speculative markets, this ensures that housing is accessible across all generations. The second is pioneering cooperative housing. This really provides an alternative system to purely profit-driven systems. So as people have shared ownership, they share responsibility, they share decision-making, and also a sense of belonging. The third is how do we redefine space, right? Microhousing offers a very great pathway for young people, especially in cities like New York. And when these housing are designed well, they can really improve quality of life. And I would just end by saying that these are not just ideas, but these are scalable, adaptable, and already in motion. So only thing it requires is cities willing to experiment, the investment not just in capital, but in young innovators and young leaders. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [13:06]:

Recognizing that youth play a leading role in implementing and accelerating SDG 11, let us hear from our panelists on how they are contributing and what is needed to scale up these efforts. We will hear from Shreya, Rahman, Alison, and Shushmita. in that order. Shreya?


Shreya [13:24]:

Amazing. So I'm going to take the question specifically trying to focus on how we can create scalable urban governance models everywhere. So what do we need to do at a local level in order to create an environment where youth are truly included and when— where they are engaging in co-creation into urban planning? So, in order to make that a reality, there are 4 strategies that I would encourage decision-makers to employ over the lifecycle of any project or initiative. Firstly, I would start with visioning. What is the big picture? What are the goals that we're trying to push towards? Those are the starting questions that youth should be involved in answering. Very often, young people are consulted after several rounds of decision-making have already been undergone, And that prevents young people from bringing in new ideas and insights that might help shape the scope of a project or an initiative. Secondly, capacity building for youth. How do we know that young people feel ready and feel like they understand the system that they've been called to comment on? Are youth aware of existing policies and norms? Are they aware of funding or timeline constraints? Doing this capacity building is essential to getting high-quality and actionable feedback, and it also lowers the barrier to entry for minority or under— other under-resourced groups who might not have the policy knowledge or understand the jargon that is often so inherent in these conversations. And operationalizing this can be as simple as holding a pre-engagement meeting to introduce people who are participating, to processes and timelines. Third, sustained engagement. We should create opportunities for repeated and iterative youth engagement. We can do this through multiple consultations or even through the creation of youth advisory boards and climate councils. And fourth, we should also involve youth in the implementation of green policies. Instead of just youth being policy designers, we should consider how these policies are linked to green jobs pathways, skill development, and long-term careers. So by incorporating these 4 pillars— vision, capacity building, sustained involvement, and green jobs— we can create governance models that work in a variety of urban contexts.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [15:54]:

Thank you so much, Sushmita. To Alison, how can youth-led green public spaces act as both a climate buffer and a protective shield for marginalized youth?


UNODC Brazil Youth Network · Teacher · Alison Gabriel Pereira [16:06]:

Thank you for the question. Youth-led green spaces reclaim the right to the city and to the environment. They promote social environmental justice and reduce the incidence of diseases and climate-related disasters, especially for marginalized populations. By acting as agents of local climate adaptation, we as young people develop the infrastructure of our communities, care for the collective well-being, and create leisure spaces in historically neglected areas. At the same time, we create safe spaces for gathering and learning, strengthening the sense of community, building identities, and steering young people away from drugs and crime. These spaces protect marginalized youth while advancing climate justice and social inclusion. Those who are made— who are most marginalized and made vulnerable are creating solutions to overcome hardships within our own communities because life cannot wait. If floods arrive before adaptations and houses collapse before funding, that's why marginalized youth are leading solutions even without resources to survive, to seek for dignity, to build a better world. Therefore, youth-led green spaces reaffirm that the right to the city is not only about having a place to sleep, It's about having dignified housing, clean water and power, decent work that does not kill through exhaustion, and safe spaces for women, immigrants, LGBTQI people, and people from diverse backgrounds. That's why to speak about sustainable cities is also to speak about a little of every other SDG. Thank you.


UN-Habitat · Rahman Hassan [17:52]:

Yes, a really great point made by my co-panelists. I think that participation is certainly a key issue that needs to be addressed, but I also diagnose the problem at the level of power sharing. To provide one example, I think I would point to the French deliberative climate assemblies. Ordinary residents were selected to participate. They were provided with and partnered with experts to collaborate to get the information that they needed to participate in those deliberations. They were well compensated for their time and expenses, and they were supported through a structured deliberation process to come up with their own ideas, and ultimately were given real legitimating power to make important decisions with decision makers like parliamentarians. And I think it showed a very compelling example of how everyday people, including young people, could make meaningful contributions to governance. And I think that when we want to move from symbolic representation to substantive representation, I think what that means is that young people become partners and co-collaborators in the urban future. And I think that means that young people participate as that permanent partners in governance. And so it's important for young people to have defined roles in things like climate commissions and transport agencies. But I also think we must be able to include the true diversity of youth, not just the most polished of youth, not just the most experienced of youth, but all types of youth from all different backgrounds. We must include students, workers, migrants, disabled youth, young parents, and those from underserved neighborhoods to truly participate in this urban future. And I think that allows young people to identify problems, set their own priorities, design solutions with others, especially when institutions are able to play a convening role and really facilitate that level of dialogue, both amongst youth and amongst larger communities. Thank you.


UNODC Brazil Youth Network · Teacher · Alison Gabriel Pereira [19:59]:

Also, traditional knowledge within each community is unique because it builds solutions rooted in local realities. What youth have been doing is not importing ideas from other countries, but integrating innovation with existing community practices. In this context, innovation does not mean breaking with the past, but recognizing that the answer has always been in the territory. Traditional communities present solutions that should be studied, expanded, and supported. In Brazil, for example, Afro-Brazilian religions such as Candomblé and Jurema Sagrados Sagrada play a significant role. This community develops resilience, cultivates environmental care practices, and provides safe spaces for LGBTQI people. In these religions, the sacred is found in nature. Oxum is the river, Iemanjá is the sea, Oiá is the wind. For these Tejero youth, to worship is to care, because we understand that we too are the nature. It is from this perspective that youth initiatives engage with these forms of knowledge. This is the case of my project, Quilombo Cidadão, in Recife, which connects innovation with Afrocentric education to develop identity, sense of community among Black and peripheral youth. Its goal is to contribute to leadership development and strengthening of their community, as well as to confront racism and violence. In this way, public facilities are transformed into spaces for sport talent development, and leadership formation, demonstrating how local practices can be integrated into youth-led urban solutions. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [21:42]:

And we can now hear from Sushmita.


MGCY · Sushmita Shekhar [21:46]:

Thank you. I couldn't agree more with all my fellow panelists here on how important it is to embed youth in formal decision-making process. But also today, more than a billion people live in informal settlements, and nearly 60% of our urban workers are from informal economies. They build our cities, they sustain our economies, and they keep our life moving. Yet they're often excluded from formal planning processes and remain vulnerable to eviction and insecure land tenure. So what can youth do, or youth leadership, fundamentally shift this paradigm. First, making youth and vulnerable communities as co-designers. Through our program at Social Capital Initiatives, we've seen that when communities are engaged not as beneficiaries but as co-creators, something more powerful happens. Lived experiences are recognized as expertise, and communities become true partners and take ownership of the projects. Second, we should redefine what progress looks like in cities. For a long time, development is measured about how we build, and this is largely at the cost of displacing a lot of people. So it's a high time that we really move from eviction-driven models to something that prioritizes stability of young people, and protects their right to remain in cities. Third, youth should be embedded in all decision-making. This is from youth advisory boards. They should be engaged in zoning and policy. They should be engaged in climate councils, and they should be supported in pathways that can support planning processes, because inclusion is not just being heard, but it's the powerful— it's the power to really shape our outcomes. So by redesigning systems, by redistributing power, and by refusing what the current urban model is, where it leaves behind people, I think youth have a great space in transforming our cities. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [23:56]:

Thank you so much. And we would now like to hear your takeaways, given the substantive discussion that we have just held. Under a minute, give us your one action that you would prioritize to advance youth action on SDG 11. Sushmita?


MGCY · Sushmita Shekhar [24:23]:

Thank you, Terry. I would urge all of you to think here. A better city really begins when the moment you stop saying, someone should fix this, and start saying, what can I change here? How can I innovate? Because I believe every young person in this room can go back to their communities and neighborhoods and start something small, even if it's replacing a broken streetlight, a damaged sidewalk. You know, these are opportunities to innovate and rethink how to make our cities safer and welcoming for everyone. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [25:00]:

Shreya?


Shreya [25:03]:

I think one of the things that I've been struck with at the ECOSOC Youth Forum is how much knowledge everyone has. There's like this deep well of experiences and pilot projects that people are just pulling out that I had never heard of before, and this is a space that I engage in deeply. So, my one recommendation is to continue knowledge sharing. even beyond this room, and when you see opportunities that other young people can benefit from, to pull each other up and lift each other up so that the knowledge that we have and that we gain doesn't remain in silos, but instead gets shared with everybody.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [25:43]:

And let's hear from Allison.


UNODC Brazil Youth Network · Teacher · Alison Gabriel Pereira [25:47]:

Well, everybody here is here bringing their own communities, And I believe that when youth lead from their roots, they do not merely occupy the city, but they transform it. And let's keep this transformation. Let's do this work together. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [26:07]:

And Rekma?


UN-Habitat · Rahman Hassan [26:09]:

Yeah, I think that it's important to note that even when communities are invited to engage with political processes, they are often pronged by experts and corporate influence who have extensive time and energy to develop the most extensive and eloquent counterexamples. So in our existing political system, people, especially young people, are left structurally disadvantaged and disenfranchised. So my one action would simply be that we need to expect more and demand more from our political system. It is simply not sufficient to accept these inequities as a given. No, these inequities are not supposed to be here, and we must demand what democracy promises and promises to deliver. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [26:55]:

I now invite participants to engage in an interactive discussion. Requests for the floor should be made by pressing the microphone button in front of you. If you do not have a microphone in front of you, please raise your hand. We will first go through the pre-identified speakers and then take more interventions, time permitting. Member States will be given the floor based on the expression of interest received. I would like to remind speakers that in order to give all of those wishing to speak the opportunity to take the floor, the time limit of 2 minutes or 4 interventions will be strictly applied including through the muting of microphones. I would also like to remind speakers to kindly deliver their statements at a normal speaking speed and to send copies of the statements to estatements@un.org to facilitate interpretation. I now invite His Excellency Kashmaka Cupid, Minister of Youth, Sport, Culture, and Creative Industries of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.


Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Minister · Kashmaka Cupid [28:17]:

Good morning, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, youth representatives. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, like many small island developing states, faces multidimensional challenges in advancing Sustainable Development Goal 11. A major difficulty is consistently integrating resilience into everyday development decisions. Limited enforcement capacity and urgent post-disaster recovery needs often do not support building back better, potentially reproducing the same vulnerabilities and risks to exposed communities. Addressing this challenge requires future-oriented planning systems and greater community engagement, particularly the involvement of young people. We recognize youth as essential partners in shaping our development agenda. Our government is pursuing opportunities for young people to play an active role in identifying risk and promoting improved development practices. The initiatives being explored include using youth groups to map flood-prone areas and identifying vulnerable housing using GIS. We want to equip young people with the right tools and knowledge to make meaningful contributions to resilient and sustainability planning. Looking ahead, we must move from participation to institutionalized partnerships, creating youth advisory councils that work alongside National planning authorities can help young people better understand development processes. Of critical priority is bridging, bridging the digital divide. As frontline innovators, young people can help develop digital tools that improve disaster preparedness, strengthen planning decisions, and inform communities about risk in real time. Chair, sustainability is fundamental to our survival. Thank you very much.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [30:22]:

We now invite Maria Thaya, UNODC Brazil Youth Network.


UNODC Brazil Youth Network · Maria Thaya [30:31]:

How many young people grow up believing they do not belong in spaces where the future of their cities is decided? I'm a young woman from a small town, and being here today shows that formal decision-making spaces must also be occupied by people from vulnerable backgrounds. Many of us were not taught to think about sustainability and our rights. What we need is to have the opportunity to understand the world around in a critical way. Without this understanding, there is no sense of belonging, and without belonging, there is no participation. Recognizing the importance of education, especially environmental education, as a tool for social change and delivering it to our youth contributes for us to understand the challenge of our cities and stimulate us to create real solutions. I believe the best actions are those that encourage young people to stay in their communities, feel safe to be who they are, and understand that it is not enough to do things for youth. We must do things with youth. This means reinclusion, preparation, and giving to us any spaces that belong to us, because the future of our cities is being decided now, and it doesn't make sense to do this without those who will live this future. Thank you very much.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [32:02]:

We now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Crystal Percival, National Youth Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda.


Antigua and Barbuda · National Youth Ambassador · Crystal Percival [32:13]:

Your Excellencies and distinguished delegates, good morning. SDG 11 is not merely an aspiration for Antigua and Barbuda, it is a blueprint for survival. Antigua and Barbuda is removing barriers for young entrepreneurs in agriculture by expanding access to land, financing, and offering tax incentives. These efforts are strengthening food security while supporting more inclusive and resilient communities. In line with the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, ABAS, we promote sustainability and equity by enhancing health literacy to address risk factors for noncommunicable diseases like obesity, and poor diets. We're also advancing the transition to renewable energy, strengthening vulnerable communities, and implementing a housing revolution to deliver climate-resilient homes for our people. We're leveraging artificial intelligence to— is to deepen research on biodiversity and conservation as we continue to restore mangroves and coral reefs, as well as recover endangered species. Antigua and Barbuda is also creating more inclusive dialogue by increasing public participation and consultation, as well as promoting civic education. We are reminded progress cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires steadfast global alliances and sustained investment to empower small island developing states to build safer and more resilient cities and communities. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [33:53]:

And now, Youth Representative Pankit Dalal, Consortium for Sustainable Development.


Consortium for Sustainable Development · Youth Representative · Pankit Dalal [34:01]:

Thank you. Today, cities are not just where young people live, they are the only scale at which we can see and feel change. When energy bills go down and air quality improves, the impact is immediate. Cities are at the frontline of rebuilding trust with the next generation. The Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda offer a blueprint, but they cannot be achieved in isolation. Take housing affordability. We often frame it as a supply issue, yet it is deeply tied to land use, infrastructure, and energy systems. In every city, energy costs are a major burden for young people, and home ownership feels increasingly out of reach. Retrofitting affordable housing and designing climate-responsive buildings can reduce both emissions and living costs. This systems approach is reflected in the Global Goals, but it requires a workforce trained across silos and put into practice. This is where nonprofits like the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization play a critical role, bringing together young architects, planners, and policymakers to foster systems-level thinking while connecting them to global frameworks. It builds a pipeline of professionals who early in their career embed sustainability, equity, and integrated design into the city planning and governance systems. There is also an opportunity for governments to do more here. We need structured fellowships within local governments placing young professionals inside planning and housing departments. This builds real-world capacity while addressing the constraints cities face. When young people map heat risks or help decide how funds are spent, they move from participants to co-designers of urban systems. Therefore, I urge young leaders present here to invest in training, design, finance, and governing the cities of the future, because if we get this right, we improve what matters the most— the everyday lived experience in our cities. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [36:01]:

Now, distinguished representative of Latvia, Miss Nicole


Latvia · Nicole [36:09]:

Thank you. Dear all, today more than half of the world's population live in urban areas. For many, and especially young people, cities are not only spaces of opportunity but also of inequality. Access to affordable housing, safe public spaces, and green mobility is still far from guaranteed. Affordable housing continues to be a concern for young people. As many colleagues have stated over the past few days. Green thinking is not a statement, it is a demanding reality. We cannot continue living how we are used to. Habits need to be changed. Ensuring access to sustainable and available public transportation and climate-resilient infrastructure is increasingly critical. These are opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and for youth-led action. to make the space we all live in comfortable for everyone. Safe and inclusive public spaces are for both the physical safety and mental well-being for everyone. We all know that young people demand change. Let's act on it. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [37:17]:

To Youth Representative Bahai Agustin Gatti, UNOY Peacebuilders.


UNOY Peacebuilders · Youth Representative · Valle Gatti [37:24]:

Thank you, Chair. My name is Valle Gatti. I'm from Argentina, and I'm representing UNOI and UNAOC today. When we speak about sustainable cities and communities, I believe we need to move from one question to another. Not only how do we make cities greener, safer, and more resilient, but also who gets to imagine them, govern them, and remake them. Because for many young people, especially in the Americas, the urban polycrisis, it's daily life. It's the neighborhood in São Paulo, Bogotá, or Buenos Aires where climate shock hits first, where violence limits mobility, and where public space can either protect dignity or deeper inequality. Therefore, we must be recognized as present-day urban actors and as co-designers of solutions. 50% of the world's population lives in cities. Cities account for 75% of global resource consumption and up to 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In other words, cities are where the risks concentrate, but also where the transformation can scale fastest. Across the Americas, young people are already showing us what transformation looks like. UN Women's regional network in the Americas brings together 20 members across 14 countries, and many of them are responding directly to violence, exclusion, and climate vulnerability. In Bolivia, Uru Team is advancing climate resilience and ecosystem restoration through ancestral knowledge, Indigenous women's leadership, and nature-based solutions. In Venezuela, Fundación Bachalo is supporting communities affected by violence and humanitarian crisis, strengthening social cohesion, and transforming conflict through an intergenerational approach. In Honduras, Educate is building community—


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [39:24]:

Thank you very much. Now, distinguished representative of Azerbaijan, Ms. Zarifa Zulkarava, Head of International Relations Department, Ministry of Youth and Sport.


Azerbaijan · Head of International Relations Department · Zarifa Zulkarava [39:38]:

Thank you. Distinguished delegates, it's an honor to speak on behalf of the young people of the Republic of Azerbaijan, specifically on SDG 11. Our country has seen firsthand how the national youth capital initiatives can transform the cities, where the cities like Shusha and Lankaran have gone on to earn international youth capital recognition. Azerbaijan's urban story reminds us that the city, specifically the sustainable cities, must do 3 things at once: preserve memory, enable healthy daily life, and give young people the real ownership of the future. A city that's efficient but culturally empty is not fully sustainable. A city that's modern but excludes young people, it's not fully resilient. That's the kind of line that people remember. Simply, that is the reason the way we design our cities shape the peaceful societies we build. And we have to be very honest, without the assistance of the young people and without unlocking their potential fully, this is not really possible. And of course, we should not take it a charity, but we definitely know that this is the essential bridge of the planetary resilience. Azerbaijan in those states specifically enjoy the smart city and smart village models in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangeziu regions, integrating affordable and green energy, where more than 50,000 young people live, work, and enjoy the tangible progress. Of course, the city has to be sport-friendly. Our project like Healthy Communities, Sport Mornings, and Fit Track project allow us to be sure that young people have direct access to the sport and healthy lifestyles. Sustainable cities also must have preserved identity. We need to value traditional practices where every young people can enjoy in the cities. Dear friends, we call for a very concrete partnership for climate actions in the cities. That's a major reason, allow me to invite all the member state young people and specifically the academia to the World Urban Forum in the Republic of Azerbaijan in city, Baku, where the centuries coexist and where heritage and innovation come together to shape a truly sustainable identity. We know we still have a very long way to go, but you can always count on Azerbaijani youth as we count on you. I thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [41:38]:

Youth representative Richard Da, Global Youth Philanthropy.


Global Youth Philanthropy · Youth Representative · Richard Da [41:42]:

When we talk about sustainable cities, we often picture sleek skylines, smart infrastructure, and green architecture. But sustainability means nothing if the people who build and sustain those cities can no longer afford to live in them. Growing up in New Jersey, I worked collecting rent from tenants. It felt like watching people slowly drown. People with jobs, people doing everything right, still falling behind. That, that stayed with me. But this issue doesn't extend on a nationwide level. extends globally. Across the world, over 1.6 billion people lack access to adequate housing. 1.6 billion. In cities on every continent, every street, rising costs, economic instability, and changing job markets from AI and automation are pushing families to the same breaking point, where losing income can quickly mean losing a home. And this is what SDG 11 calls us to confront. Ensuring access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing for all. And these solutions, my friends, they're not out of reach. Proven policies and sustainable construction methods can reduce costs and expand access to housing. Policies like adaptive reuse, inclusive zoning, and public-private partnerships have also shown success. That's why I started taking action. I've been talking to local legislators and representatives in New Jersey with proposals and ideas to convert vacant properties into affordable housing. Because I believe no one place has all the answers, but change has to start somewhere. So, Your Excellencies, spectators, distinguished panelists, let's take this sign to heart and let's leave no home left behind. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [43:31]:

Distinguished representative of Armenia, Mr. Aman Azizyan, Youth delegate.


Armenia · Youth Delegate · Aman Azizyan [43:39]:

Excellencies, dear colleagues, I am honored to present Armenia's experience in advancing green urban development through co-designing with and for youth. 15 years ago, when I first engaged in civic space, engagement was largely limited to youth activism. A key example was when the young people of my hometown, Armavir, successfully mobilized to protect the city park until local authorities heard us. Nowadays, youth participation in Armenia has transformed from activism into co-creation. Prime examples of this are the participatory budgeting and co-design commitments under Armenia's Open Government Partnership initiative. With the support of GIZ, NGO Center, and Armavir Development Center, participatory budgeting commitment has been a success as environmental projects were prioritized in 20 out of 21 communities and later in 41 out of 52. Furthermore, under the co-design commitment, 7 out of 16 communities prioritized green urban spaces. Another example of this transformation is Armavir's municipality recently launched an OGP Local initiative to co-design a new environmental commitment by inviting youth and other citizens to identify priorities, propose ideas, shape local environmental policy. Dear colleagues, when young people are heard and provided with the space to contribute, green urban priorities naturally emerge as top needs. Armenia's experience shows when young people are given real opportunities to participate, they engage, contribute, and lead tangible changes at the local level. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [45:26]:

Emily Zhu, Deerfield Academy.


Deerfield Academy · Emily Zhu [45:36]:

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and fellow youth leaders, my name is Emily Zhu. I'm a sophomore at Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, and I am originally from Beijing, China. Before coming here, I was in the mountains in Rongjiang, Guizhou. In Rongjiang, we saw how grassroots culture can drive local governance. The Chun Chao model is not a top-down, it is community-led. For those who are not familiar with Chun Chao, it is also known as the village Super League. It is a football festival, but more importantly, it is a masterclass in building inclusive and resilient communities. By integrating traditional ethnic culture with digital platforms, Youth acted as community connectors. They empowered marginalized groups, especially ethnic minority women, to transition from the background to the center of the local decision-making. Through live streaming and local entrepreneurship, these women did not just find a market, they found their agency. This is the essence of an inclusive community where every member is an architect of their own future. Our research highlights a crucial lesson for SDG 11, Rural resilience is the foundation of urban sustainability. The Village Super League created a powerful urban-rural linkage, drawing resources back to the mountains. However, real progress isn't measured by a full stadium for one night. It is measured by the digital infrastructure and the social trust that remain after the crowd leaves. We must move from extractive development to regenerative community building. To accelerate the 2030 Agenda, I propose 2 actions. First, trust local leadership. Invest in grassroots cultural and sports programs as formal partners in urban and rural planning. Second, bridge the digital divide. Ensure that digital tools are accessible to the most remote communities to foster inclusive governance. Transformation doesn't only happen in city centers. It begins in a village field where people are trusted to lead. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [47:39]:

Distinguished representative of China, Mr. Rutlin Tian, Program Officer of Chinese Youth Volunteer Association.


Chinese Youth Volunteer Association · Program Officer · Rutlin Tian [47:48]:

Good morning. For years, China has been committed to mobilizing hundreds of millions of young people to participate in ecological conservation. Today, I want to share with— share 3 paths where Chinese youth are marching to build sustainable cities and communities. First is the path of voluntary service. We have evolved from the Protect Mother River action launched in 1999, which planted millions of trees, to the Modern Beautiful China Youth Action launched in 2019. By integrating digital platforms, we are upgrading traditional volunteering, allowing millions of young people to contribute to reforestation and awareness campaigns with just a few clicks, making ecological protection more accessible than ever. Second one is the path of tech-empowered innovation. We are breaking barriers by turning tech into tools like the Clean Your Seat campaign. We use AI algorithms to turn saving food into a viral trend among tens of millions of youths. Similarly, our Little River Chiefs program uses AI-enabled mini programs to mobilize young people to identify and clean polluted water bodies. We are transforming environmental passion into tangible, data-driven action that directly promotes the environmental health of cities and communities. The third is the path of green lifestyle. While trying to make sustainability practicable, we also aim to make it fashionable. Our Green Plant Adoption campaign encourages students to adopt plants offline and share their growth online. With the help of AI-generated content and social interaction, activities like cloud adoption have engaged millions, turning low-carbon living into a trendy lifestyle choice. Looking ahead, we Chinese all believe that without accumulating small steps, one cannot travel 1,000 miles. This green and great journey has already begun and is yet to unfold. We invite young friends from all countries to join hands in building sustainable cities and communities and jointly creating a sustainable future for our planet. I hope by that we can make the world a better place. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [49:47]:

Youth Representative Vincent Nivin, International Organization of Youth.


International Organization of Youth · Youth Representative · Vincent Nivin [49:54]:

Thank you, Chair. I want to take this time to talk about Asia's ghost urban projects. It's no surprise that as largest continent, Asia has experienced one of the most dramatic urbanizations globally since the year 2000. As someone who calls Southeast Asia home, urban developments such as new capital cities, mega airports, trade canals, and other pivotal infrastructure have become the new normal. In recent years, however, Urban governance has come under scrutiny as much of the continent as cities face a rise in delayed, incomplete, and abandoned development projects shaped by unfulfilled promises and misconduct. We bear the tangible costs of incomplete homes and essential utility infrastructure like healthcare, flood control, and safe roads. This calls for a revitalized system of checks and balances that safeguards public transparency and private compliance in infrastructural funding. As a representative of the International Organization of Youth, our Pathway to Peace Declaration equips youths to engage with regulatory frameworks for addressing Asia's urban funding concerns. Guided under transparency, it encourages advocacy that forms the basis of regional youth watchdogs and grassroots initiatives to ensure that infrastructural projects are economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. Tackling funding misconduct with compliance, we instill the accountability that becomes the pivotal step towards rebuilding public trust and urban governance. Yet, as a holistic model, Pathway to Peace extends beyond Asian urbanization concerns, applicable to other contexts where transparency is needed. To build societies where we call home, we cannot walk down a path towards sustainability without the assurance that the foundation isn't jeopardized. Only through transparency and compliance can we truly see a future constructed ahead. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [51:40]:

Distinguished representative of Bulgaria, Mr. Kaloyan Stoyanov, Director of Youth Department in Ministry of Youth and Sport.


Bulgaria · Director of Youth Department · Kaloyan Stoyanov [51:54]:

Distinguished moderator, dear colleagues, it's an honor to speak on behalf of Bulgaria in this important discussion on co-creating safe, resilient, and green urban futures with the As highlighted by the panelists, young people are not only beneficiaries of urban development but essential co-creators of sustainable cities. In Bulgaria, we recognize this shift from participation to real partnership. Our approach is to actively invest in youth-led solutions and embed young people into local development process. One key example of the work of the Ministry of Youth and Sports is through national youth programs In recent years, Bulgaria has allocated approximately €4 million to support youth initiatives at national and local level. These programs fund projects designed and implemented by young people themselves. Importantly, many of these initiatives directly address challenges related to sustainable urban development. For instance, youth organizations are developing urban sustainable projects including green public spaces and environmental awareness campaigns, smart city solutions where young people co-create digital tools and local innovations together with municipalities, co-created-based initiatives strengthening social inclusion and activating underused urban spaces. This co-creation model is particularly important. It moves beyond consultation and allows young people to shape solutions alongside institutions. Institutions, ensuring that policies are not only designed for youth but with them. Another important element is the development of youth centers across the country, supported by national funding. These centers serve as local hubs for innovation, participation, and community engagement, especially in smaller cities and regions. However, challenges remain. Scaling these initiatives from pilot projects into systematic urban governance models is still a work in progress. There is— this is where—


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [53:55]:

Youth Representative Kartikeya Shastri, the Sri Ram School.


the Sri Ram School · Youth Representative · Kartikeya Shastri [54:06]:

Namaste, everyone. My name is Kartikeya Shastri from India, and I have a few words for today. Are some people naturally unlucky? A child born in the slums of Mumbai is forced to bear the cost of the ecological arrogance of large multinational corporations, despite no fault of their own, enabled by the very systems meant to regulate them. In that sense, yeah, maybe some people are made to be unlucky. See, we place the responsibility of sustainability on individuals, asking them to buy less or choose better, while society continues to promote overproduction and overconsumption in the pursuit of profit. I speak today in a room filled with countless future presidents and future prime ministers, so the idea of a truly youth-led governance does not seem unrealistic at all. Despite operating with little to no funding, young people continue to drive change purely out of the commitment to their communities. Yet unfortunately, even when the youth are included, their contributions are too often treated as tokenistic. I believe the spirit of competition can be a force for good if we reward the right things. For young people, it can serve as a gateway to build a genuine interest in the environment and climate action. In fact, I found my passion for sustainability through an innovation competition itself, because competition gives both financial and structural incentives. They signal that your innovation and your work will be recognized and given a platform to grow. If we channel this towards SDG 11, competitions can actively encourage young people to design solutions for more sustainable and resilient cities. When young people know that their ideas can be amplified, when young people know that they can be heard in spaces like this, and when young people know that they can create change, the future intrinsically looks like a better place. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [56:01]:

Distinguished representative of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdul Al-Ghudabi, General Director for Youth Development, Ministry of Human Resource and Social Development.


Saudi Arabia · General Director for Youth Development · Abdul Al-Ghudabi [56:15]:

Excellencies, dear youth, may the peace, blessings, and mercy of God be upon you. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has distinct demographic characteristics. 50% of all Saudis are youth and one of the— are young, and one of the biggest economies. In this regard, we have focused on specific interventions and we've built a network for the development of youth which guarantees opportunities for youth to ensure their empowerment through a model that is based on public and private partnerships. This supports youth and those who work with them. That also enhances the healthcare provided for youth within safe online and offline spaces based on tangible and real partnerships to ensure that youth have a role to play in social and economic development to pave the way for sustainable solutions that are aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda through a public policy that was adopted with more than 11,000 young men and women. We've built an environment conducive to legislations for their participation, for youth participation, to ensure that they lead our economy by partaking in the non-governmental sector as well as the economy and entrepreneurship to ensure inclusive development for the benefit of all youth. Excellencies, We believe that challenges curtailing sustainable development are transboundary. The solution to this issue is in ensuring integration of youth everywhere across the world and the transfer of expertise and knowledge amongst countries. I thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [58:06]:

Youth Representative Salah Bakou, Africa Youth Union.


Africa Youth Union · Africa Youth Union · Youth Representative · Salah Bakou [58:21]:

On behalf of the Pan-African Youth Union, representing 54 African countries, youth inclusion is not a choice, it's necessary for development. Allow me to share a clear example. In Morocco, young people are increasingly considered as actors of change. Thank you. Contributors to public life, and partners in national development. This is the direction my country has chosen under the high leadership of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI. Morocco has adopted a comprehensive approach to youth inclusion built on 3 pillars: participation, human capital, and equal opportunity across territories from Tangier to El Guira. First, public investment in health and education has been significantly strengthened in the 2026 budget. Combined allocation to these 2 sectors reach around $15 billion, with additional recruitment and accelerator reform in schools and hospitals across all the regions of Morocco. Second, Morocco launched recently a new generation of territorial development programs, mobilizing $20 billion. Designed to reduce disparities and prioritize job creation for young people, especially in vulnerable areas. Third, Morocco is investing in the future by preparing its youth to tomorrow's economy. Morocco's digital strategy to create up to 300,000 jobs by 2030 and to train 100,000 young people every year. As Morocco prepared to host the major sports events, including the 2030 World Cup, it continues in parallel to invest sustainably in health, education, inclusion, and placing youth at the center of its ambition. Thank you so much.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:00:11]:

Distinguished representative of Kazakhstan, Ms. Gulishkan Nakbaeva, Head of the Youth Research Center under the Ministry of Culture and Information.


Kazakhstan · Head of the Youth Research Center · Gulishkan Nakbaeva [1:00:24]:

Thank you, sir. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, It's a great honor to address you today on behalf of the youth of Kazakhstan. Today, young people are not just beneficiaries of development. We are active partners in shaping sustainable, inclusive, and resilient societies. Kazakhstan's youth are an adaptive, flexible, and forward-looking generation capable of responding quickly to change and emerging challenges. They are strongly focused on education, skills development, and digital competencies. And remain open to innovation and international cooperation. To build resilient cities, urban policies must reflect the real needs of young people. It's encouraging to know that over the past decade, several core values have remained consistent among young people: family, health, self-realization, and education. To empower this generation, Kazakhstan is currently implementing around 25 state programs supporting young people. These initiatives address key stages of youth development, from securing housing and first employment opportunities to broader personal and professional growth. Taken together, these sustainable initiatives play a vital role in building the infrastructure necessary for young people to unlock their full potential. In turn, the beneficiaries of these programs contribute to stronger, more resilient communities. Building resilient communities and advancing sustainable urban development including areas such as green mobility, also depends heavily on grassroots actions. In this context, the youth of Kazakhstan demonstrate a high level of engagement in volunteerism. The country has around 300,000 volunteers, approximately 75% of whom are young people. This commitment is further underscored by the United Nations' decision to declare 2026 the International Year of Volunteers, at the initiative of Kazakhstan. That's why, from the youth perspective, we emphasize 3 key priorities for advancing SDG 11. First, inclusive and quality education. Second—


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:02:26]:

Thank you very much. Now, to the youth representative, Felix Lapointe, College Lionel Groix.


College Lionel Groix · Youth Representative · Félix Lapointe [1:02:37]:

Thank you. Excellencies, esteemed delegates, my name is Félix Lapointe. I am Canadian, and more precisely, I come from the province of Quebec. Its largest city, Montreal, ranked first in North America on the Global Destination Sustainability Index and 28th worldwide. It hosts a UN-Habitat Office on Urban Resilience and Sustainability, and it gave its name to a landmark multilateral environmental agreement, the Montreal Protocol. But we started from afar. And faced numerous desperate challenges along the way. Challenges that we tried to overcome through a combination of measures that remind us that a holistic approach is crucial to achieve sustainable development, but also that youth participation makes a difference. Because with ongoing issues such as housing affordability, social inequality, and climate vulnerability, we see that sustainability is a harsh, continuous process. At the turn of the 21st century, Montreal city officials realized that this process needed to include young people. That is why, in 2003, the Montreal Youth Council was created with the goal of representing the interests of young Montrealers aged 12 to 30. It provides the city council with advice on any issues related to youth concerns. It issues statements requiring a written response from the city's executive committee. It solicits opinions and conducts relevant studies and research. and it is formed by young people like you and me. This goes to show that young people can be directly embedded in the decision-making process. I thereby recommend member states to take the necessary steps to enable their cities and municipalities to establish such councils. Let us remember Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's words: Our struggle for global sustainability will be won or lost in cities. Excellencies, esteemed delegates, I thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:04:24]:

Thank you. Distinguished delegate of Kyrgyzstan, Ms. Seriz Osmanova, youth delegate.


Kyrgyzstan · Youth Delegate · Seriz Osmanova [1:04:37]:

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I'm pleased to address this forum as a youth delegate from the Kyrgyz Republic. Urbanization is reshaping our societies at the unprecedented pace. In Kyrgyzstan, cities like Bishkek and Osh are growing rapidly, creating new opportunities but also new challenges. Young people are at the heart of this transformation. We face growing concerns regarding air pollution, challenges related to the increasing pressure on urban infrastructure, and the vulnerability of cities to natural disasters, particularly in seismic and mountainous areas. At the same time, cities are spaces of innovation, creativity, and resilience. Youth in Kyrgyzstan are actively contributing to making our cities more inclusive and sustainable. We're engaging in urban planning dialogues, promoting green mobility solutions, advocating for public spaces, and using digital, digital tools to foster civic participation and accountability. To unlock the full potential of youth, we must move beyond consultation towards genuine partnership. We therefore call for inclusive urban policies that reflect the needs and inspiration of young people, investment in green and resilient infrastructure, including sustainable transport and clean energy solutions, and stronger platforms of youth participation in local governance. and city planning. Sustainable cities are not built for youth, they are built with youth. Let us work together to ensure that no young person is left behind in shaping the cities of tomorrow. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:06:22]:

Thank you. Youth Representative Maana Shah, BD Somani High School.


BD Somani High School · Youth Representative · Maana Shah [1:06:32]:

We have become very good at measuring sustainability— megawatts of renewable energy, green certifications, carbon targets. And in rooms like this one, we treat these numbers as proof that our cities are changing. But I want to ask a different question: not are our cities sustainable, but what are we sustaining and for whom? Because a city can meet every climate target and still price its people out of living in it. It can be carbon neutral and socially hollow. We have turned sustainability into a metric, and for the people who define them, they just optimize it. And so I ask again, sustainability for whom? For governments to claim progress? For companies to extract value? Because it's not for the youth. Cities like the one I live in, Mumbai, are becoming less and less accessible for it. What I want this committee to confront is Because we reduce sustainability to measurements and leave accountability out of its definition, we are not making our cities more sustainable, we are making them more profitable. Because a city that is not accessible cannot be sustainable. Because us youth, the very people who are meant to live in it, work in it, and build it over time, will no longer be able to stay. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:07:45]:

Thank you. Distinguished representative of Romania, Ms. Adèle Cosgaria, Youth Delegate.


Romania · Youth Delegate · Adèle Cosgaria [1:08:02]:

Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, fellow Youth Representatives, as the UN Youth Delegates of Romania, we would like to begin by reflecting on a reality that many children and young people in our country continue to navigate. 2 children grow up in Romania at the same time, with the same curiosity, the same capacity to learn, and the same desire to belong to a community that believes in them. One grows up in a city and the other grows up in a village. And while both benefit from Romania's ongoing efforts to advance the implementation of the SDGs, their day-to-day access to stable energy, quality education, counseling, and opportunities for participation still differ. They do not always experience experience these differences as structural. For many young people, they feel personal. Yet Romania has made meaningful steps in addressing these gaps through investments in education, digitalization, youth participation, and regional development. Building on this progress, it is essential that we continue to ensure that no young person feels unfit for the place they were born in. Such a feeling is rarely a question of geography alone. It is a question of political priority. Ahead of this forum, we consulted children and young people across Romania in the hope of carrying their voice forward. They shared with us examples that highlight both progress and areas where continued attention is required. Schools that are still in need of effective counseling services, clusters of villages needing an improved energy infrastructure, youth councils in need of meaningful engagement with local authorities. These are not isolated stories but reflections of a broader structural condition. Romania's youth delegation calls on member states to treat the urban-rural divide not as a development footnote, but as a central obstacle to sustainability. Concretely, this means ensuring access to adequate housing and basic services reaches beyond city limits. It means investing in public transport infrastructure that connects rural and peri-urban youth to opportunity, and it means building and genuinely resourcing participation structures through which young people shape the planning of their communities. Thank you very much.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:10:04]:

Youth Representative Adrian de Souza, New York University.


New York University · Youth Representative · Adrian de Souza [1:10:09]:

Honorable Chair and distinguished delegates, with nearly 19% of the global population between the ages of 20 to 30 years, youth are not just participants. We are the indispensable agents in shaping the future of urban sustainability. As urbanization accelerates, particularly across developing regions, the future of our cities is linked to the future of young people. The percentage of the global population in urban areas will increase exponentially. These makes these areas both centers of opportunity and zones of vulnerability, where climate risk, inequality, and lack of access to basic services adversely affects young people. As a graduate student of New York University and an incoming AI engineer myself, I stand at the intersection of innovation and responsibility, representing a generation that is actively building the technologies shaping our future yet remains underrepresented in decisions governing them. As a K-12 educator teaching leadership and science of smart cities, I have witnessed firsthand the immense potential of youth to co-create sustainable and resilient urban cities. The issue is not lack of capability, but a lack of access and structural inclusion. Today we stand at one of the most defining intersections in human history, that is the advent of AI. The question before us is clear: Will AI be used to govern and design safer, greener, and more resilient cities, or will it deepen the urban inequalities? If youth are building the cities of tomorrow, then youth must be included in designing and governing them today. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, you may never know what results come.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:12:09]:

Thank you very much, distinguished representative of Ireland. His Excellency Fergal Mhythen, Permanent Representative, and Ms. Aisling Maloney, UN Youth Delegate.


Ireland · Permanent Representative · Fergal Mhythen [1:12:27]:

Thank you, Chair. Ireland is committed to meaningfully engaging young people in decision-making processes at all levels in order to empower their drive to deliver the change needed and realize the full potential of Agenda 2030. Youth perspectives are vital for creating safe, sustainable, and resilient cities that respond to the needs of current and future populations. As such, I would like to hand the floor now to one of Ireland's UN Youth Delegates, Aisling Maloney.


Ireland · UN Youth Delegate · Aisling Maloney [1:12:59]:

Chair, Excellencies, and fellow delegates, young people are not only stakeholders but contributors and partners in building more sustainable urban futures. Yet youth contributions are still often consultative rather than fully integrated into decision-making. Young people bring valuable lived experience of today's urban challenges, including rising housing costs, unequal access to green spaces, and transport systems that do not always meet our needs. Across the world, young people are being pushed out of the communities they grew up in by challenges that go beyond housing to questions of belonging, equity, and intergenerational fairness. Long commutes and disconnected systems of housing, education, and employment can further deepen these inequalities. This is why we must invest in transport-oriented development to ensure cities can become more inclusive, sustainable, and livable. To advance SDG 11, youth participation must be resourced and embedded in local, national, and global decision-making processes. So today we call on member states to strengthen meaningful youth participation in urban planning and local decision-making, invest in affordable and sustainable housing linked to public transport and support youth-led initiatives as partners in building climate-resilient and inclusive communities, because sustainable cities cannot be built for young people unless they are built with us. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:14:22]:

Youth Representative Peace Monica Paima, Nile Girls Forum.


Nile Girls Forum · Founder · Peace Monica Pimer [1:14:34]:

Be safe. Be safe. It must address the forms of violence and organized crime targeted by SDG 16. Urban safety is not just about infrastructure. It is about the rule of law and the protection of fundamental freedoms. At Nile Girls Forum, we are collaborating with young people and the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development in Uganda to create Uganda's first National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security. My name is Peace Monica Pimer, the founder of Nile Girls Forum in Uganda.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:15:16]:

His Excellency Enrique Manola, Permanent Representative of Philippines.


Philippines · Permanent Representative · Enrique Manola [1:15:28]:

Thank you, Madam Moderator. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, as a rapidly urbanizing disaster-prone country, the Philippines faces growing challenges including congestion, inadequate housing, environmental degradation, and climate-related risks. To address this, the Philippines is advancing 3 priorities. First, promoting inclusive and participatory urban governance. Through mechanisms such as the Sangguniang Kabataan or the Youth Council, young people actively contribute to local decision-making, community planning, and the design of youth-responsive initiatives. Youth are not only beneficiaries but partners in building sustainable communities. Second, expanding access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing and basic services. Government programs alongside community-driven initiatives enable youth and local groups to support settlement upgrading. infrastructure, improvisation, and participatory planning. Third, strengthening climate-resilient and inclusive urban infrastructure, including transport systems, disaster-resilient housing, and green public spaces. Through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan and community-based approaches, youth are engaged in preparedness, risk mapping, and emergency response. Mr. Chair, advancing SDG 11 requires investing in youth as co-creators of sustainable cities and communities. Partnerships among governments, local authorities, the private sector, academia, and youth are essential to build cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. The Philippines stands ready to work with all partners, especially the youth. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:17:00]:

Thank you. Youth Representative Anvy Boca, Second Harvest.


Second Harvest · Youth Representative · Anvi Borkar [1:17:10]:

Your Excellencies and esteemed delegates, My name is Anvi Borkar, representing Second Harvest, a food recovery nonprofit committed to reducing food insecurity and waste in global communities. The infrastructure decisions being made today in urban development spaces have 30, 40, and even 50-year timelines. It's unlikely that today's decision-makers will see the outcomes of their own policy decisions. Youth are the only people in governance who have a personal and permanent stake in 2050 outcomes. Older policymakers have the option to externalize policy outcomes, but youth like myself will live through them. We will raise children inside of them, and we will inherit whatever is left. We are without a doubt the biggest stakeholders in urban development. Neglecting us is a structural disadvantage, and that's why today I ask for two things. First, align accountability timelines with impact timelines. Today, politicians commit to projects on election cycles. That don't match longitudinal urban development. We need new systems. We need youth-led audits that measure whether long-horizon commitments are being kept. When we untie youth governance from election cycles, our most important stakeholders can make sure long-term targets are honored. Second, we are tired of being limited to advisory boards and positions. We ask that you give our youth bodies decision-making and, most importantly, budget authority. majority. When young people control even a small percentage of a city's discretionary budget, the outcomes shift dramatically. We've seen this evidence in many cities already. So if you want to truly involve youth, do more than just consider our perspective. Give us real fiscal and discretionary power. The world that you are building will be ours to live in long after you are gone. The least you can do is help us build it. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:18:59]:

Distinguished representative of Cuba, Ms. Yoday Aiza Vázquez, First Secretary.


Cuba · First Secretary · Yoday Aiza Vázquez [1:19:10]:

Chair, building inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements, as set forth in SG11, is a strategic priority for Cuba, a small island developing state that is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Our country has made steady progress in public policies focused on land use planning, access to housing, the reduction of inequalities, and disaster risk management. The state plan to address climate change, Tarea Vida, Life Task, is a concrete example of this. In this endeavor, Cuban youth play a leading and cross-cutting role. Our young people not only participate but also lead transformation processes at the local level. Through student and youth organizations, community projects, and innovation networks, they contribute to neighborhood rehabilitation, the promotion of sustainable practices, the development of low-cost construction solutions, and environmental education. These efforts are seriously limited due to the intensified economic, commercial, and financial blockade by the United States. This criminal policy which has been intensified to unprecedented extremes in recent months, restricts access to fuels, technologies, financing, and construction materials, directly affecting the development of sustainable infrastructure, public transportation, and basic services in our cities. This impact falls particularly hard on young people, limiting opportunities and transformative projects. Despite these challenges, we renew our commitment to the 2030 Agenda. We will continue to invest in a creative and engaged youth as an essential driving force in building more just, resilient, and sustainable cities. Thank you very much.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:21:01]:

Thank you. Youth Representative Astrid Rivera, Girls of the Future.


Girls of the Future · Founder · Astrid Rivera [1:21:08]:

Thank you, Honorable Chair and distinguished delegates. It's an honor to be here today. I'm Astrid Rivera and I'm a 16-year-old and I come from Peru. I'm the founder of Girls of the Future, an organization that empowers young women and girls to lead change in their communities. Today, more than half of the world's population live in cities, and by 2050, this will rise to nearly 70%. This means that the future of cities is the future of young people. And we do not dream small. We demand cities that are safe, inclusive, and sustainable, and full of opportunities, because these are not privileges, these are rights. Yet the reality is different. Across the world, many urban communities still face inequality, unsafe environments, and limited access to basic services. In Latin America, for example, over 160 million people still lack safe access to drinking water, and informal settlements continue to grow. For many young people, especially in marginalized communities, this means living in countries or cities that exclude them rather than empower them. But young people are not just affected by these challenges. We are already working to solve them. From creating community spaces to leading local initiatives, youth are co-designing more resilient and inclusive cities. However, our participation is still too often symbolic. If we truly want sustainable urban futures, we must move beyond consultation and ensure that young people are recognized as co-creators in urban governance, because youth leadership is not optional, it's essential. And I would like to close by saying that the doors are open for all of us, and behind those doors are cities shaped by inequality, exclusion, and missed opportunities. Let us be brave enough to walk through them and to transform them. We are not only the future, we are the present, and the cities of tomorrow are being built today. Thank you.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:22:42]:

Thank you. Distinguished representative of Mexico, Ms. Paul Amato Rufo, 3C expert.


Mexico · 3C expert · Paul Amato Rufo [1:22:52]:

Thank you, moderator, distinguished delegates, honorable panel. It's an honor to take the floor on behalf of the youth of Mexico at this meeting dedicated to the sustainability of cities and communities, we must be clear about something. The comprehensive development of a person is not complete if it's not guaranteed that the environments in which they live are adequate, dignified, and sustainable. This development goal becomes even more relevant in relation to the more than 35 million young people living in Mexico, since it is precisely in the spaces that young people inhabit where fundamental processes of socialization are born and built. They're fundamental. This is where our identity is formed, our sense of belonging, and our life project is formed. In Mexico, we are witnessing significant progress in youth participation, territorial development, sustainability, urban resilience, and social cohesion through programs such as the National Tech Youth Days, Young people are invited to reclaim urban spaces that were previously inaccessible, whether due to having been abandoned or because they've been overtaken by violence, and to recover them, restore them through community murals, cycling events, and cultural festivals. And these initiatives include young people from marginalized contexts channeling their participation toward decision-making in their own areas of the country, these strategies have proven effective in empowering youth, contributing to the construction of safer and greener environments that function as climate buffers and as social shields by offering alternatives in context of violence and exclusion. Moderator, reclaiming public space as young people is not only an urban issue. It is a matter of dignity, prevention, and peacebuilding. Thank you very much.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:24:48]:

Malekia Tangiza, UN-Habitat.


UN-Habitat · Malekia Tangiza [1:24:53]:

Yes, on behalf of the UN-Habitat Azerbaijan, I would also like to address the inclusion paradox that is mentioned by our moderator. While youth are often called the architects of our urban future, the structural tools to actually build that future are rarely accessible. As we look toward the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku this May, We view this forum as a critical runway to help turn localized youth priorities into actionable recommendations for the global stage. With the support of the Azerbaijani government and numerous partners, we have had the privilege to contribute to this goal through Azerbaijan Urban Campaign. This national movement was designed to help bridge the gap between grassroots ideas and formal decision-making. By VUF 13, with our priority of reaching youth living not only in big cities but also rural areas and secondary cities, we expect to have covered 85% of Azerbaijan, engaging over 8,000 young auditors to actively question and reclaim their role in shaping the urban development and environment we live in. Our approach focuses on lasting value through 2 key collaborative mechanics. We are supporting partners to create a safe space for the exchange of ideas between students, practitioners, academics, government, and private sector representatives. We are also encouraging the formulation of WOF13 legacy projects to ensure youth-led initiatives lead to permanent projects rather than short-term activities that disappear once the forum ends. Through these efforts, we hope to contribute to change of mindsets, helping to move forward a model of co-design and co-creation. We invite you to join us at WOF13 in Baku to see how youth-led solutions are being integrated into a national urban strategy. In Azerbaijan, we are working to ensure that young people aren't just discussing the future but also are supported in building it today. Thank you and see you at WOF.


MGCY · Moderator · Teri Otierno [1:26:46]:

Thank you. I now hand over the session to the President.


ECOSOC · President [1:26:54]:

I thank the moderator for skillfully guiding the discussions. I also thank the


Speaker 86 [1:26:58]:

Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank all distinguished speakers for their presentations and delegations and youth representatives for their participation and contributions. I will now briefly pause the meeting to allow for the podium to be rearranged for the plenary session on SDG 17, Partnerships and Financing for Youth. Please remain seated.


ECOSOC · President [1:31:46]:

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, can you take a seat? Excellencies, distinguished delegates, youth leaders, The forum will now hold its plenary session entitled SDG 17: Partnership and Financing for Youth. It is my pleasure to welcome the distinguished speakers. I'm also pleased to welcome the moderator, Mr. Allan Muharremja Murangira. Thank you. Co-founder and team leader of the Youth for Tax Justice Network, regional focal point for Financing for Development major group for children and youth. I now invite the moderator to conduct the session.


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [1:32:52]:

Thank you very much, Mr. President. Good morning, everyone. Good morning, everyone. Good morning. Yes, I am Heriza Allen, and it is my pleasure to moderate this session on partnerships and financing for youth. This session is being organized by ILO, UN Women, FAO, UNMGCY, YTGYN, and YPAD. I believe that this is one of the most consequential conversations of this forum, and this is because without SDG 17, without financing and partnerships, the rest of the SDGs simply cannot be delivered. We are meeting a few months after the Seville Commitment of the Financing for Development Conference, the 4th Financing for Development Conference, and a few months after the Doha Declaration which came out of the Second World Summit, both of which carry significant promises for young people. But the real question, of course, is how do these good intentions and commitments to raising development finance translate into decent jobs, opportunities, and better lives for young people? Today's discussion will explore how financing— how the financing gap and we know that this is over $4 trillion per year. We're only 4 years away from 2030. How this gap can be closed and partnerships can be leveraged to better serve young people. I encourage all of you to engage actively in this dialogue, as your perspectives are essential in shaping the way forward. To get us started and to set the scene, I would like to invite Ms. Cynthia Samuel-Olujun, Special Representative to the UN and the Director of the ILO Office for the United Nations, to deliver her opening remarks. You're very much welcome.


ILO · Special Representative to the UN · Cynthia Samuel-Olujun [1:35:01]:

President of ECOSOC, His Excellency, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, especially the young leaders, colleagues, friends. It's really a pleasure to join you all for this very important dialogue on SDG 17. And to make sure that I keep to time, let me just read from the script and focus on 3 key points. First, Young people are navigating an increasingly complex world shaped by persistent inequalities, rapid technological advancements, climate change, and of course the different crises that we're experiencing globally. Despite these challenges, young people remain our greatest source of innovation, of resilience, and renewal. Demography makes a very compelling case. In some parts of the world, particularly in Europe, societies are aging. In others, especially Africa and parts of South Asia, youth populations continue to expand, and to expand very fast. By 2050, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, 1 in every 3 young people globally will be African. These young women and men will be the workers, the entrepreneurs, the innovators, and the decision-makers of not only their societies but increasingly of the world. At the same time, in aging societies, younger generations will carry increasing responsibility for sustaining social protection and social protection systems, but also supporting economic productivity. Second, investing in young people is not optional. It is a necessity. I may even go as far as saying it is existential. At the heart of investing in young people lies investment in decent work, as it enables youth to earn a living, live with dignity, and contribute meaningfully to their economies. Importantly, decent jobs for youth generate powerful multiplier effects, and I'll highlight some of them. One, they strengthen productive capacity, they expand fiscal space, they reduce poverty and inequality, and they reinforce resilience. So to truly realize this potential, however, We need financing. We need the power of partnerships, and that's precisely what the session is about. Third, effective and collaboration action is essential so that we can achieve tangible results, not just in New York, but on the ground. And to do so. I highlight a couple of things. We need to promote job-rich growth, not just growth. We need to— you're free to clap. We also need to advance gender-responsive, pro-employment macroeconomic policies. We need to direct investments towards the sectors with the greatest potential to create jobs for young people, particularly in the digital economy, but also in the green and care economies. We need to leverage innovative financing models such as blended finance to scale up investments that boost employment opportunities for young people, particularly young women. And we must strengthen partnerships that deliver results, not just promise to deliver, but that deliver results. And youth leaders, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, I'm really pleased to share with you that we have very good practices that we can build on. The first one is the ILO-led UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. It brings together an alliance of more than 100 partners, including governments, UN agencies, private sector organizations, civil society, but more importantly, youth-led organizations. And what's the purpose? It's to scale up action and impact on youth employment. A second one is the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions, which is helping in member states to close the financing gap. It is supporting integrated investments in jobs and social protection with a focus on women and youth. Lastly, we must recognize the value of youth-led solutions and push investment in that direction. With the right resources and support, these innovations have the potential to bring about transformative change. In this spirit, the ILO contributed to the development of an options paper for a Global Youth Investment Platform. This is what was requested by the Pact for the Future. Co-led by the ILO and the UN Youth Office, this interagency intergenerational task force proposed a platform that responds to the urgent challenges facing young people, particularly the most vulnerable. A rights-grounded platform is proposed to mobilize and direct both public and private finance for youth-related programming, including youth-led solutions. This includes dedicated windows of funding for young women, for young persons with disabilities, for young people who are displaced, for rural young people, and for indigenous young women and men. We eagerly look forward to its operationalization in the months ahead. As I conclude, let's be reminded that the Doha Political Declaration, which was adopted at the Second World Summit for Social Development, calls for scaled-up investments from all sources in essential services for young people and ensuring that their specific needs and priorities are integrated in national, regional, and international social development strategies. Young leaders, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends, Excellencies, let us leverage the momentum that was built in Doha and strengthen partnerships, mobilize financing at scale, and let's accelerate progress towards the SDGs anchored on effective engagement and leadership by young women and men. I thank you.


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [1:43:24]:

Thank you very much, Ms. Samuel. Olujun for the remarks. Now, we'll move to the interactive panel with 3 young speakers, and drawing from the remarks given and drawing from each of their lived experiences and thematic passions, the panel will reflect on key questions that sit at the heart of SDG 17. I will start with Ms. Minh-Ah Tran, member of the Global Shapers Manhattan Hub and research associate at the NYU Applied Global Public Health Initiative. Mia, what types of policy reforms and financing solutions do young people want governments to prioritize in order to increase investments in decent jobs for youth? The floor is yours.


NYU Applied Global Public Health Initiative · Research Associate · Minh-Ah Tran [1:44:15]:

Thank you, Ellen. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and colleagues, Let me begin with a simple reality. Even being in this room is a privilege for many young people, as it is shaped by funding, networks, and international access. For some, participation comes with a personal financial sacrifice, long travels, and layers of exclusion that begin well before the event itself. So what matters is not only whether opportunity exists, but whether young people can reach them stay in them, and build from them over time. So here's what young people want to see put into action. First, youth employment policies need coordinated actions and partnership to make a real difference in a young person's life. Employment outcomes are shaped not only by skills and training but also by transport, housing, and digital access. A young woman may complete training and still be unable to take a job if she lacks a safe commute, or access to healthcare, a rural young person may have an opportunity available on paper, but without connectivity or practical support, that opportunity remains out of reach. This is why decent jobs for youth require coordinated policies, design, and partnership across sectors rather than being treated as a standalone issue. Second, financing choices need to line up more clearly the outcomes governments say they want to achieve. If decent jobs are the goal, then public financing should support transition pathway, care system, and employment-rich social investment. Yet many financial frameworks still reward what is immediately visible or easy to measure, while long-term support remains underprioritized. That is also why the conversation after FFD4 and the Doha Political Declaration matters, as they highlight the need for stronger social investment and financing framework that enable government to invest in social protection and long-term inclusion. GDP may indicate growth, but it does not show whether young people can afford to stay in school, access care, or enter work with dignity. Inclusion needs to be built in from the very beginning, and implementation has to be trusted and practiced. Young people do not enter the labor market from the same starting point. Some benefit from networks, language access, financial backing, and resources to pursue unpaid experiences. Others are managing that caregiving responsibility, social stigma, or immediate pressure to earn. So public programs should reflect that reality. Our government also may fund a youth program including an area like sexual and reproductive health, but if delivery ignores stigma, gender norms, family control, or local language realities, many young people still never use them. So the question is not only how much government invests, but whether those investments are coherent, accessible, or actually shaped around realities young people living. Thank you.


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [1:47:04]:

Thank you very much, Mia, for those remarks. Quickly, let's move to our next panelist, Mr. Benjamin Strzelecki— sorry about that— co-founder of Amplify Energy and former member of the Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change to the UN General Secretary. Benjamin, the civil commitment places significant emphasis on clean energy investments and blended finance. The question, of course, then is, how can governments, development banks, private sector, and civil society structure financing to support young people's entry into the green economy? And, of course, as you respond to that, what are the concrete models that are already working that you believe we should scale? You have strictly 3 minutes.


Amplify Energy · Co-founder · Benjamin Strzelecki [1:47:51]:

Right. Thank you, Alan. Excellencies, Please. Colleagues, the Sevilla commitment places a necessary focus on clean energy investment. But as we sit here today, we face a staggering paradox. In 2024, we saw a record $2 trillion in global clean energy investment. That's equivalent to annual GDP of Spain. Yet the very people expected to lead and inherit this transition, we, the youth, are being starved of capital. Youth projects receive less than 1% of Climate Foundation grants. The off-grid solar sector, the most effective energy access solution and the space where youth-led enterprises are leading, receive less than 1% of global clean energy finance. We are asking young people to build a future with pennies on the dollar. To move from commitment to capital, I propose 3 areas of action. First, we must prioritize direct financing and de-risking models. We need to scale up programs which provide unrestricted funding directly to youth organizations and startups, especially in the Global South. Successful examples include the Youth Climate Justice Fund or IRENA NextGen Accelerator. We can further de-risk those projects for donors and investors through result-based financing, where performance-linked grants pay out only when output and outcome are verified. This is how we make public money a catalyst for public— for private sector delivery. Second, we must provide technical assistance to bridge the missing middle. Many youth-led small and medium enterprises can access the first grant but end up trapped in financing gap when they want to scale up between $100,000 and $1 million. Too large for microgrants, but too small for MDBs. At Amplifi Energy, we address this by aggregating the small projects into investable portfolios. We provide the ready-to-invest support that young entrepreneurs need to organize their data and navigate the requirements of institutional investors. There is $1 billion committed around the world to energy access subsidies, but 60% of it, sits idle in donor accounts because they don't know where to deploy it. And last, third, we must invest in training in the real economy. We need young people to pursue careers in building infrastructure, manufacturing components, and designing energy transition solutions. The private sector builds 90% of global energy sector projects, offering a massive career opportunity. It's a call for all of us. Let's use it. The Sevilla Commitment will only succeed if we build true partnerships. Direct financing, technical assistance, and training is how we deliver it. Thank you.


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [1:50:42]:

Thank you very much, Benjamin, for those remarks. Thank you, thank you. So we've heard about what young people need and about financing models that work. Now let's hear about more from the right and gender dimension. Let me move to my third and last panelist, Ms. Zehra Khan, Youth Steering Committee member for the UN Women Commission on the Status of Women. Ms. Zehra, how can young people, particularly young women, be meaningfully engaged and supported to advance youth-led financing innovations that are furthering the SDGs? You have 3 minutes.


UN Women · Youth Steering Committee member · Zehra Khan [1:51:18]:

Thank you so much. I want to start by thanking our esteemed Thank you, Madam Chair, distinguished guests, youth leaders, and ECOSOC leadership for extending a warm welcome and facilitating this robust discussion. And before I dive into my comments, I want to ask a couple questions to the audience. First, if you may, please raise your hand if this is your first time being at the UN. 1, 2, 3. Okay, we have a couple. Please raise your hand if you know a peer or someone who wanted to attend but could not as a result of financial barriers or conflict. So there are many people who are not able to make it in this room or who have been in this room for a while. So if we want to engage meaningfully with youth and as co-designers, we must not only center and amplify their voices, but we need to be bringing these youth into the space so that they can be able to propose the solutions themselves. That looks like funding for traveling to come to this space. That looks like going to individuals and meeting them where they're at. And so today I'll be sharing a couple of solutions proposed by youth, specifically the CSW Youth Steering Committee based off of 23,000 youth recommendations, consultations in person and virtually. First, we need to be investing in policy literacy and leadership. Oftentimes young leaders know what the solutions are, but they do not have the resources in order to advocate at the state level to access funding. Second, we must invest in youth leadership. What does this look like? Investing in policymaking. We say this a lot, but as we know, youth want to have advisory committees and such established to ensure that we have decision-making power. This means that— sorry. To ensure this, we need to be funding these youth advisory committees. And finally, when we're thinking about co-designing and financing our futures, we need to think about a shift in power. When we think about adolescent youth in particular, we consider how to empower them, we talk about protecting them, but we need to be seeing them as equal agents of power. Thank you very much,


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [1:53:11]:

Ms. Sarah, for those remarks. Now, I want to invite participants to engage in an interactive discussion. Requests for the floor should be made by pressing the microphone button in front of you. If you do not have a microphone in front of you, please raise your hand. We will first go through the pre-identified speakers and then take more interventions, time permitting. Member States will be given the floor based on the expression of interest received. I would like to also remind speakers that in order to give all those wishing to speak an opportunity to take the floor, the time limit of 2 minutes for interventions will strictly be applied, including through the muting of microphones. I would also like to remind speakers to kindly deliver statements at a normal speaking speed and also send copies of their statements to e-statements@un.org to facilitate interpretation. So I'll start for the interventions. His Excellency Mamadou Cellou Bled, Minister of Youth and Sports, Guinea. Thank you, Madam Chair.


Guinea · Minister of Youth and Sports · Mamadou Cellou Bled [1:54:32]:

Mr. President. Chair, President, ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegation, distinguished guests. Allow me on behalf of His Excellency Mr. Mamadi Doumbouya, President of the Republic of Guinea and Head of State, and his Prime Minister, Head of Government, Madam Madari Ba, to reaffirm the tireless commitment of Guinea to the fundamental values of the United Nations. Peace and international peace and security, human dignity, and sustainable development. According to the recent outcome of our 4th general census of Guinea, we have around 17.5 million inhabitants, and 79.08% of them are young. They're under 35 years of age, and they are 22 years old on average. This makes Guinea one of the youngest countries in Africa. Ladies and gentlemen, investing in youth is investing in peace, prosperity, and sustainability. We are convinced that Guinean youth are not only the future of our country, but they are also the present. Guinea has a lot of human potential. However, there are several structural challenges, and they include youth unemployment, unequal access to basic social services, and territorial disparities. disparities between rural and urban areas. 61% of the population live in rural areas. Ladies and gentlemen, Guinean youth are currently a key player in the economic and social transformation of our country. They are an essential labor force, an engine of change, and a vector for social innovation. With this in mind, the Sustainable Development Ministry has adopted a youth policy for the third generation, and it is underpinned by our Simandou 2040 program, which has just been adopted. It's in this spirit that Guinea is resolutely pursuing its efforts, and the speaker's microphone has been cut off. Thank you very much. Now we'll have youth representative


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [1:56:32]:

Jesus Mauricio Arago from Gracias. Please go ahead. Okay. Gracias. Thank you. It's important


Gracias · Youth Representative · Jesus Mauricio Arago [1:56:53]:

to realize that we're not starting off from zero. Our countries in Latin America in particular have experiences and good practices and innovations that can help youth if they work, but also the The challenge is not just to create new policies but also to strengthen these policies and scale them up, and that's what we're seeing is giving results in our region. In Latin America, there are significant innovations in financing and seed funding, for example, that are enabling us to strengthen youth employment. However, these efforts continue to be insufficient given the magnitude of the challenges and the fragmentation that exists between institutions. And very often these are seen as complementary policies but not priorities for development that is needed in our region. But there is a key thing. Young people are not a priority very often in the macroeconomic and fiscal decisions taken in our countries. We see budgets that don't take into account our demographic, and there's a disconnection, therefore, between policy and young people. And this is a barrier that we see in our region. It's also fundamental that we strengthen policies that will help us to strengthen networking, mentoring, and markets to ensure that funding breaks down bureaucratic barriers and provides accessible funding to young people, for example, rural people, indigenous people, and above all those with disabilities. Also, governments must use public funding in a more strategic way to provide incentives, blended funding, for example, to mobilize investment in youth initiatives that do exist in our countries. But in addition to that, we also need to think about dignified and sustainable employment. We feel that investment is not just an economic decision; it's a fundamental decision, a fundamental policy for development that affects our future. Thank you, Dr. Jesus. Next, we'll have His Excellency


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [1:58:51]:

George Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Ghana. Thank you. Ghana reaffirms a strong partnership


Ghana · Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment · George [1:59:00]:

in sustainable financing are indispensable to unlocking the full potential of young people and accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Young people are central to innovation, enterprise, and inclusive economic growth, yet many continue to face barriers in accessing finance markets and opportunities to scale up their ideas sustainable ventures. Governments alone cannot address these challenges. Achieving the SDGs requires robust public-private partnerships that place young people at the center of decision-making. The SDG for quality education, 8, decent work and economic growth, and 13, climate action, is vital to youth development. In response, Ghana has prioritized strategic partnership as a pillar of youth development. With support from development partners, we continue to strengthen policy framework, The SDG 17 is crucial for youth development. It emphasizes collaboration between government, private sector, and civil society to support youth initiatives. For Ghana, this means strengthening youth-led organizations, boosting access to tech and innovation, fostering international partnership for youth opportunities. Through the support of key development partners, we have advanced digital innovation via the Youth Explorer dashboard and mobile application, enhancing data-driven decision-making, and youth engagement. In addition, flagship initiatives such as the Jumera program are expanding entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, improving access to finance, skills, and markets. However, more is required. We call for increased investment through innovative financing mechanisms, stronger and more coordinated partnerships, and enhanced accountability to ensure tangible outcomes for young people. In conclusion, the establishment of the first-ever perpetual Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment solely dedicated created for youth as a strategic government platform and a testament to an effective public-private partnership for youth development. Thank you. Thank you very much. We shall now have youth representative


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:00:48]:

Tiffany Marcelle, World Food Forum Youth Assembly. Thank you, Chair. My name is Tiffany Marcel, and I'm from Dominica


World Food Forum Youth Assembly · Youth Representative · Tiffany Marcel [2:01:04]:

in the Caribbean. I'm glad to speak to you today on behalf of the World Food Forum Youth Assembly, representing the Youth Policy Board. I want to bring this discussion into the reality of agri-food systems, the sector where 44% of youth employed globally work, but not in conditions that can be called decent jobs. Across many regions, youth in agriculture face limited access to finance, insecure land tenure, climate vulnerability, and exclusion from the formal markets. These barriers are experienced to a greater degree by women, enforced by both structural barriers, discriminatory laws, and social-cultural norms. Yet, agrifood systems remain one of the largest employers of young people globally and of the most critical sectors for achieving sustainable development. If we are serious about scaling financing for development, then we must ask, why is so little of that financing reaching young people, most of whom are living in rural areas and are not present in spaces such as these? From the consultations held by the World Food Forum Youth Assembly, we have determined that we need partnerships under the SDG 17 that deliver these 3 things. First, we want to redirect investment towards youth-led agrifood enterprises, especially in climate-resilient agriculture, value addition, and digital agriculture. Second, strengthen social investments in rural areas, including extension services, infrastructure, and social protection, so that working in agriculture becomes a viable and dignified livelihood. Third, meaningfully including young people as co-designers of financing solutions. Youth are not just beneficiaries, We are already innovators, we are farmers, we are entrepreneurs and organizers, but without a seat at the table, financing frameworks will continue to miss the realities on the ground. Investing in youth in agri-food— Thank you very much, Tiffany. Now we'll have Ms. Ivana Anatujevic,


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:03:07]:

Assistant Minister of Tourism and Youth, Serbia. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it's my great honor to


Serbia · Assistant Minister of Tourism and Youth · Ivana Anatujevic [2:03:18]:

greet you on behalf of the Government of Republic of Serbia. Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires more than ambition. It requires partnerships that are matched with a real investment in young people. The Republic of Serbia approaches this not only as an abstract principle but as a practical commitment. One example is the implementation of Youth Guarantee. EU programme which ensures that young people receive an offer for employment, education, or training within 4 months of becoming unemployed or leaving education. What makes this initiative effective is not only its objective, but its structure. It brings together institutions responsible for employment, education, youth, and finance in close cooperation with young people, civil society organisations, and also local youth offices. This reflects a broader approach in Serbia: building ecosystems in communities, not isolated projects. At the local level, our network of youth offices plays a key role in connecting policies with the real needs of young people while ensuring continuity and sustainability. Complementing this, the Government of the Republic of Serbia is investing in youth centers as safe spaces for participation, participation, innovation, and community building supported through national funding. At the same time, civil society organizations are recognized as essential partners. These partnerships allow us to reach young people more effectively and ensure that initiatives are not designed only for them, but with them. At the same time, we must ensure that financial mechanisms are accessible to youth actors and designed designed to support long-term impact. Serbia remains committed to strengthening partnerships at all levels, including through cooperation with international organizations and regional initiatives. But moving forward, we must go one step— Thank you very much, Ms. Ivana. We shall have youth representative


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:05:22]:

Luji Jiang China Youth Online. Thank you, Chair. I believe SG17 reminds us of a very important idea


China Youth Online · Youth Representative · Luji Jiang [2:05:31]:

that partnership is not only about mobilizing more resources but about connecting different strengths to create great impact. If you want to initiate youth-led and youth-benefited programs, this means public institutions, private capital, and young innovators each play a different but complementary role. My partner will share our Yes. I would like— hi, I would like to share our practice of the Action


China Youth Online [2:05:55]:

Plan for Global Youth Development, or in short, APGYD. I feel one partnership model works especially well, building an inclusive platform to connect youth ideas with various resources. So first, this is a public platform. The APGYD aims to build a platform for best practice programs and a community of youth leaders for the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda and the Global Development Initiative. Second, the APGYD has selected 200 youth-led excellence actions from 63 countries, and these programs are all led by youth and cover a wide range of areas. And third, we invited business investors, incubators, mentors and social enterprises to join the initiative. Therefore, during the flagship event under APGYD, the Acceleration Week for Global Youth Development Programs, youth leaders get a chance to showcase their initiatives in front of various companies, local industries, and potential investors and forge practical cooperation. In 2025, we successfully hosted hosted the first Acceleration Week, hosting 200 young leaders, and this year we will also hold the Acceleration Week in June in China. With this model, we believe together we could turn youth innovation into real impact and sustainable development. Thank you. Thank you very much, Ms. Luji. Next, we shall have Ms. Nicola Cleobaga, Youth


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:07:32]:

Delegate Lativia. Yes, thank you. Dear all, SDG 17 is not just one of the goals, it is the condition


Latvia · Youth Delegate · Nicola Cleobaga [2:07:40]:

for all the others, because without real partnership, there is no progress, only promises. Today, there are more than 1.2 billion young people, often labeled as the architects of the future, but we are here and we are right now. And we advocate for change. Still, without dedicated support, we are the architects being denied the very tools to build the future. For decades, decisions have been made isolated from the consequences. Current institutions are built for stability, not change. They are designed to move slowly, to avoid mistakes. Without them, we wouldn't be here. But Ukraine has shown that intergenerational partnership works. But the question is, why did we only realize it when a crisis took course? Ukraine reminds us that sustainable development and security are inseparable. Without strong partnerships, we cannot protect either. We are at a moment when partnerships redefine possibilities, when governments, institutions, and young people come together great things are built. Thank you. Thank you very much. We shall now have Ms. Nifasha Adelade, Refugee Coalition


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:09:01]:

for Climate Action. Thank you, Chair. My name is Nifasha. I'm honored to be here as the refugee youth


Refugee Coalition for Climate Action · Co-founder · Nifasha Adelade [2:09:08]:

leader representing others. I am the co-founder of Refugee Coalition for Climate Action, and our organization focuses on teaching people about climate change in Zimbabwe. The organizations like mine are already focusing on SDG, not only 17, but we are working on zero hunger, economic growth, and climate action. Our organizations are making a real change. For example, my organization, we plant trees. Also, this— We plant trees and we do cleanup campaigns in the community, and we also plant vegetables, and they are also helping as a source of livelihood and source of food, and it benefits the whole community. We do all this without any funding, but imagine if we had a meaningful partnership with the UN and governments and other institutions, the work which we could do. So in order for us to achieve SDG 17, we only need 4 things from you. We need youth refugee-led organizations to be included in decision-making and policy. We also want youth to be seen as partners, not only as beneficiaries, and this is also going to help the youth to continue thriving. We also need financing with flexibility, and before I say that we work on zero budget, so imagine if we found partners, we are going to do great. Lastly, we also need you to share your expertise with us, and we need you to learn from what we are already doing. So I think working with the youth is going to help us reach SDG 17. We are not the future, we are the now. Thank you. Thank you very much. Now we shall have Ms. Mariona Costa Americh, Youth Delegate,


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:11:03]:

Andorra. Achieving the 2030 Agenda depends directly on our ability to build effective,


Andorra · Youth Delegate · Mariona Costa Americh [2:11:14]:

inclusive, and accountable partnerships that can mobilize resources and create opportunities for young people. Today, when discussing SDGs, G17, let's be clear: without strong alliances, without fairer and more accessible financing, there will be no sustainable development. Young people continue to face very concrete structural barriers amongst them insufficient social protection and inequalities, but they're not accidental; they are deeply linked to how financing is structured and what is chosen for investment. That's why we need a real shift in approach to stop seeing young people as passive beneficiaries and recognize them for what. What they are— partners, key actors in solutions. This implies something very concrete involving them from the beginning in the design and implementation of policies. Our plan 25-28 for youth is clear— a plan built for young people— with young people, not only for young people, which directly incorporates their voice. It is structured around 3 fundamental pillars: youth empowerment and participation, social investment in education, but we need also also alliances. We need to have more inclusive investment with a rights-based approach, particularly with regard to women in vulnerable situations. Investing in youth is not just a social issue, it's a strategic decision. Youth employment is not just an economic outcome of development, it is a driver of transformation. We need to trust young people, invest in young people, and work with young people because young people are not only the future, they are already the present of sustainable development. Thank you. Thank you very much, Ms. Mariana. We will now have Anais Clermont, IAAI-GLOCEA youth


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:12:54]:

representative. Hello, everyone. Today we are gathered today because we are facing global challenges.


IAAI-GLOCEA · Youth Representative · Anais Clermont [2:13:07]:

One of the most important global challenges that the civil society is facing is the last mile. How do we implement international sustainable development goals to the local level? I speak today as GLOCHA team member. GLOCHA is a UN-accredited NGO that tries to empower youth changemakers to be part of the decision-making process and also solve this last mile. We think that when we try to build local action, we are facing 3 big problems. First of all, we lack information to understand our environment. We lack as well funding to build action, and we lack data to prove what we did at the international level. So GLOCHA is trying to build a digital public infrastructure. This would enable 3 things: a mapping tool to understand the environment, We will also try to build a funding program from the international fundraising to the local level, and as well certify the actions to finally have data. So GloCha is very engaged for youth empowerment, and I'm very happy to speak to you today. Thank you. Thank you very much for that. We will now have Mr. Lucas Ofanende. Ofanides, Youth Delegate


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:14:27]:

Canada. Thank you, Chair. I'm honored to join you today as Canada's Youth Delegate for this important


Canada · Youth Delegate · Lucas Ofanende Ofanides [2:14:32]:

session. The role of youth as leaders and future changemakers is more important than ever. Globally, we have seen the power of giving young people opportunities, which in turn has advanced sustainable development around the world. Having spent years in various youth leadership roles, I have seen firsthand how young people have made a difference. In my own experience as an accessibility advocate, I've been able to push for policies that have made real institutions more accessible, but only because I secured partnerships and funding behind me. I also recognize that many youth face challenges in accessing these partnerships and funding due to complex bureaucratic processes, financial constraints, and a lack of capacity building for youth to have the skills to be full partners in decision-making processes. The Canada collaborates with the youth, in the country and abroad, to overcome these obstacles. Guided by our youth policy, which is the core pillar for youth engagement. Guided by the principle of inclusion, it has been a key tool for our work to enhance youth participation in decision-making processes. The Government of Canada also supports skill training and employment for youth through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. The strategy is an initiative delivered by various organizations that support diverse youth to become job-ready through work experience, training, skill development to successfully transition into diverse sectors of the labor market. Canada has also shown that youth investment and partnership can work at a global level. Last year, Canada announced $50 million of new funding for global education, skills training, and economic opportunities for marginalized youth to support our initiatives abroad. Funding like this matters because it reflects an understanding that young people do not need promises alone. They need real support that helps them gain skills, access opportunities, and participate fully in their communities and economies. Merci. Thank you very much, Mr. Lucas. We shall now have Youth Representative Jalia Atting-Wolfe, Global


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:16:30]:

Youth Coalition. Thank you. Thank you, Moderator. Today, I'm speaking as a member of the Financing for Development Children


Global Youth Coalition · Youth Representative · Jalia Atting-Wolfe [2:16:47]:

and Youth Constituency, who has been actively participating throughout the FFD processes, including FFD4, Tax Committee, and special meetings on credit rating agencies and financial integrity. As young people, we are not only asking for a seat at the table, We are asking that the system itself be redesigned with our futures in mind. Reforming the international financial architecture is not just a technical exercise. It is a matter of intergenerational equity. Financing for development must become explicitly children and youth responsive. We call for 20% of climate finance to be allocated to youth-led initiatives. Additionally, youth voices must be meaningfully included in boards of MDBs and in UN funding decisions, to reflect community realities for young people. It is not enough to invest in growth. We must invest in people across the course of their lives. When debt is unsustainable, it is transformed— it is transferred across generations, limiting the fiscal space that should finance our education, our jobs, and our well-being. We therefore call for a sovereign convention on debt as a prerequisite to the 2030 Agenda. We must also rethink the way we are preparing young people for an increasingly volatile future. Education and training systems cannot remain reactive. They must be designed with foresight, anticipating economic transformation driven by climate change, digitalization, and shifting labor markets. We need systems that do not just prepare us for existing jobs, but that equip us with the skills to transform our economies— skills for green transitions, care economies, digital innovation, and inclusive growth. And it is absolutely essential that the annual review of SDG 17 at HLPF continues. Moving forward into next week's FFD Forum and into the implementation of the Compromiso de Sevilla and Doha Political Declaration— Thank you very much, Dalia. We shall now have Mr. Jakub Reishi, UN Youth Delegate, Chechnya. We often hear that


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:18:45]:

young people should be part of the solution, that we should innovate, lead, and help build


Czechia · UN Youth Delegate · Jakub Reishi [2:18:49]:

the future, but there is one simple question we need to ask: do young people actually have access to resources to do so? Because the gap lies not in the shortage of capital, there is a shortage of access. Across the world, young people are building ideas, projects, and solutions with real impact, but too often they remain small not because they lack ambition or capability, but because they lack access to funding, networks, and trust. We are often encouraged to scale but are not adequately funded to scale. And while global finance discussions focus on billions and trillions, many youth-led and social impact initiatives struggle to access even small, flexible funding, whether in the form of grants, investment capital, or blended finance that could transform local communities. This creates an implementation gap between available funding instruments and their impact on youth-led initiatives at local level. At the same time, we are entering a future shaped by debt. Public debt is rising and fiscal space is shrinking, and the first investments to be cut are often those that support young people, entrepreneurship, and long-term resilience. As a result, our generation is not only expected to respond to global challenges, but to do so with fewer resources than those before us. This is not a question of potential, it is a question of priorities. If we are serious about partnerships under SDG 17, then we need to think what partnership actually means. Real partnership means shifting not only conversations, but designing financing instruments that are accessible, flexible, and responsive to youth-led solutions. And if we continue to build financial frameworks that do not sufficiently reach those who are expected to drive change, we will not achieve inclusive development. The question is whether existing frameworks are sufficiently equipped to support youth-led action at scale. Thank you. Thank you very much, Jakub. We shall now have youth representative Manisha Rapria, Global Teen Leadership


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:20:50]:

Summit. Thank you, Chair. Distinguished delegates and fellow youth leaders, good afternoon. I am Manisha Rapria from


Global Teen Leadership Summit · Youth Representative · Manisha Rapria [2:20:59]:

India with the International Organization of Youth. In less developed countries, people are not waiting for change, they are already creating it. From informal businesses in local markets to digital solutions built with limited resources, youth are innovating out of necessity. But innovation alone is not enough when opportunity is unevenly distributed. Young people in these regions face layered challenges: limited access to formal financial systems, lack of collateral, low financial literacy support, and systemic exclusion from decision-making spaces. Traditional financing models were not built with them in mind, and that is why we must rethink financing and partnerships. Microfinancing systems designed specifically for youth can be transformative. Not just small loans, but youth-centered financial ecosystems. Systems that combine accessible credit with mentorship, digital tools, and community-based support. Systems that recognize potential over paperwork. This way, we are not just funding businesses, we are fueling resilience, local economies, and long-term development. That's why spaces like the International Youth Conference 13 matter. It brings youth from all over the world to share real experiences authentically and shape impactful policies and give suggestions like the ones being given here today. If we truly want inclusive development, we must move beyond speaking for youth. and start building with them. We must foster collaboration and partnership, not from a top-down approach, because those closest to challenges know the solutions best. Thank you so much and have a good day. Thank you very much, Ms. Masha. We shall now have Mr. Michael Pizzicotti, Counselor for Foreign Affairs of the National


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:22:56]:

Youth Council, Italy. Thank you, Chair, fellow delegates. It is an honor to address this plenary on behalf of the Italian delegation. Across


Italy · Counselor for Foreign Affairs · Michael Pizzicotti [2:23:08]:

the globe, young people are already leading transformative initiatives, from climate action to social innovation and local economic development. Yet, these efforts still face structural challenges: limited access to finance, fragmented cooperation mechanisms, and uneven institutional support. Today's discussion reminds us that no goal can be reached alone. Partnerships are not an addition to youth action, they are its precondition. As Italy, we recently institutionalized by law the Youth Impact Assessment to evaluate every public decision through a generational lens. But assessment is only the starting point. To translate policy into opportunity, young people need resources. Networks, and a clear political framework. Italy's approach rests on a multi-level partnership system connecting central administration, regions, municipalities, and the National Youth Council, ensuring youth voices reach the places where decisions are made. On financing, we are expanding accessible and diversified funding opportunities, leveraging national and European instruments alongside innovative tools, public-private partnerships, blended finance mechanisms, and development cooperation programs that directly support youth-led initiatives. Initiatives such as Youth4Climate or the Maté Plan, in collaboration with African countries, show how this works in practice, pairing financial and technical resources with international visibility. We must move beyond fragmented funding towards a coherent ecosystem where capital, mentorship, and capacity building travel together. Thank you. Thank you very much. Now we shall have youth representative Patricia Dominguez, Men Up Campaign. Buenos días, soy Patricia


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:25:00]:

Marueta. I am from Spain and I'm speaking on behalf of Men Campaign. I'm their artistic director. Our


Men Campaign · Artistic Director · Patricia Marueta [2:25:08]:

work is based on young people to prevent gender violence in communities and at home. We have been presenting this situation, various kinds of violence, violence towards women in particular. In Every Woman, we have interviewed various women from various countries speaking about their experiences and also with social workers and psychologists and lawyers and experts. We all— and we all speak about war as a form of torture against men and women and also follow child violations. We want to make men aware of this reality that causes mental diseases and other problems that affect our countries and prevent us from progressing. We would like to get support for this and other projects, and we are making our documentation available to the UN to educate new generations about the impact that the digital economy that's having on everyone. And we're very concerned that we need to live in a more human and a more peaceful world. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Miss Patricia. We shall now have Mrs. Chaima El Aoussoui, Youth Delegate Morocco. Thank you, Chair. As a young


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:26:31]:

Moroccan diplomat, I'm pleased to contribute to this discussion


Morocco · Youth Delegate · Chaima El Aoussoui [2:26:34]:

on youth inclusion. My presence here reflects a broader reality in Morocco where young people are increasingly given opportunities to contribute across diplomacy and public life. Allow me to highlight the progress made by my country in advancing youth inclusion. Under the high leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has pursued an ambitious approach to youth aimed at allocating sustainable investments in education, health, and social protection. As Morocco prepares to host the 2030 World Cup, investment in major infrastructure supported by blended finance has gone hand in hand with initiatives promoting youth inclusion through health, education, and local development. In our vision, Sport is not only a driver of growth, but also a vehicle for inclusion and social cohesion. At the same time, Morocco has increased this year its budget for health and education to $15 billion, reflecting a public financing effort to strengthen human capital. In parallel, one week ago, under the high instruction of His Majesty the King Mohammed VI, Morocco launched a new generation of territorial development programs with a budget of $20 billion for 2026-2030 aimed at reducing regional disparities. Looking ahead, we believe that the 2030 World Cup in Morocco will reflect a society that places youth at its center and offers them a platform to shape future together. I thank you. Thank you very much, Ms. Chaima. Now we shall have Youth Delegate Aisha Syed, Center for Alternative


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:28:32]:

Perspectives, CAP. Thank you, Moderator, Excellency, and distinguished delegates. I'm Aisha Syed, official representative


Center for Alternative Perspectives · Youth Delegate · Aisha Syed [2:28:42]:

of CAP, Center for Alternative Perspectives, a think tank led by women academics with an advisory council of senior academics and diplomatic experts. The problem is $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap blocks decent jobs for youth. Development finance excludes youth-led enterprises and community from work, capital, and contracts. In cities like Karachi, young women run waste recycling startups but cannot access loans or public procurement. We co-design youth employment programs, but we do not co-finance them. To meet SDG 17, GAP calls for 2 commitments. Firstly, give youth decision-making roles on national and local financing boards that set priorities for social investment, employment funds, and public-private investment deals. Secondly, classify youth-led enterprises and community work as as eligible for development finance. Ring-fence 10% of employment and social protection funds for youth-led businesses, cooperatives, and community service, and require impact reporting to use youth-collected data. Young people are already creating decent jobs and social protection in our communities. Now institutions must co-invest in the leadership. Thank you. Thank you. Said. Now, we shall have Ms. Maumounata Ouedegdogre Keimoutouré, Director-General, Youth Empowerment


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:30:17]:

and Lifelong Education, Burkina Faso. Apologies for murdering the name. Thank you, Chair, distinguished delegates, Dear youth representatives, it's an honor for me to take the floor at this


Burkina Faso · Director-General · Maumounata Ouedegdogre Keimoutouré [2:30:36]:

session on young people. Burkina Faso, as part of its popular progressive revolution led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, has made the clear choice of putting youth at the heart of our social structural transformation. This ambition is being implemented via solid partnerships and innovative financing that is inclusive and sustainable. Today we have a strong conviction that youth is not a cost, but it is actually a strategic investment. Investing in youth means investing in peace, resilience, and sustainable development. Within the work on our partnerships, current mechanisms are Current mechanisms are often inaccessible for young people, particularly in developing countries, and therefore this is something that needs to be changed. This is because the procedures are complex and the opportunities aren't well adapted to local realities. This is why we call for rebuilding partnerships to benefit young people around 3 main pillars. Firstly, making access to funding more democratic via— through developing flexible instruments that are adapted to young entrepreneurs, local initiatives, social innovation. Secondly, strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships, bringing on board states and international organizations that respect our dignity, values, and sovereignty, and bringing on board also the private sector, but also and above all young people themselves to create solutions themselves. Thirdly, promoting economic sovereignty of young people via— and also Burkina Faso has ensuring the authorities are committed to completely to create an environment that creates a place where young people can express their potential and actively contribute to national reconstruction. Thank you. We shall have youth representative Lani Anaya, My World Mexico, an NGO major group. Thank you, Mr. Moderator. I am talking


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:32:41]:

on behalf of My World Mexico, an organization based in our country, which is working


My World Mexico · NGO major group · Youth Representative · Lani Anaya [2:32:46]:

with SDGs implementation, and on behalf of the major group for NGOs, which represents more of 300 organizations from different ages working for SDGs implementation around the world. When we talk about development, we have to remember that development cannot be done without proper budget lines that ensure that no one is left behind. Including young people. Financing has to be oriented to real debt solutions, flexible financing. In addition, in civil society, we find the need to continue advocating for more financial transparency and accountability, especially from the private sector. Talking about young people, we have statistics that 49% of youth-led organizations are operating on less than $5,000 annually. Most of them do it voluntarily. And the funding remains inflexible, unpredictable, and short-term. Even though that most of the youth population are working for peace, development, and humanitarian, they are working as frontliners in places that not all the governments or other sectors have access. So based on that all, and also adding to conflict-affected countries, they only have 6% of private financing of official development assistance. Considering this, I want to mention just one example. The Swedish organization, the Hammerhof Foundation, has initiated the Investing, Partnering with Youth for Peace. This initiative has been placed in different regions, Latin America, the MENA region, and Africa, and the point is that this stakeholder group can create more coordinated ecosystems to impact investors, corporations, civil society, governments, multilateral bodies. Thank you very much. We shall now have Mr. Ivan Stepanović, Youth Delegate, Croatia. Thank you, Chair. It is a privilege to speak as Croatia's Youth


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:34:52]:

Delegate on SDG 17 and the importance of real partnerships, because


Croatia · Youth Delegate · Ivan Stepanović [2:34:58]:

without them, we cannot scale financing for development, advance social investment, or deliver decent jobs for young persons. From a national perspective, Croatia has made significant progress over the past decade. Youth and overall unemployment have been reduced by half, while job quality has improved, with a strong increase in permanent contracts for young persons contributing to greater economic stability. This progress has been driven by sustained reforms, such as active labour market policies and large-scale investment in skills and reskilling. Some earlier measures were phased out in cooperation with youth stakeholders when evidence showed they were not delivering quality outcomes. Croatia has also strengthened fiscal support through significant tax incentives. Youth workers benefit from income tax relief, including full exemption for those under 25, and reduced taxation for those up to 30. However, housing affordability is now one of the most pressing issues for young persons, affecting independence, mobility, and family formation. It has therefore become a central pillar of youth and social policy, with a broad set of measures underway. Beyond this, meaningful youth participation is essential for delivering the Agenda. SDG 17 works only when partnerships are more than formalities, when they are inclusive, structured, and open to youth as co-creators. Financing for development stops being transactional and starts building real, lasting resilience in our societies. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. Ivan. We shall now have Ali Jelani, Karachi Research Chair and Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism.


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:36:56]:

Excellencies, colleagues, and young people, in the backdrop of multidimensional crises of climate, conflicts, costs of living, debt, and


Asia-Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism · Ali Jelani [2:37:04]:

inequalities, the most concerning remains that of the fragmenting multilateralism with visible cracks in its foundational principles of sovereign equality, rule of law, shared values, and responsibility. The pattern remained the same at the FFD4, where the Global North countries obscured their unmet ODA commitments amounting to over $6 trillion by diverting focus to blended finance and diversified sources that might cement corporate capture on one hand and exacerbate debt distress for the developing countries on the other. Meanwhile, the calls for reparation, loss and damage, debt resolution, tax justice, and illicit financial flows remain unheard as casualties of consensus across negotiations. Parallelly, the reform of the international financial and trade architecture continues to be blocked by great powers and the IFIs, while democratizing global governance remains a pipe dream for the Global South. Moreover, the The compromiso also failed to call out the increasing military expenditure, divestment in public financing, and shrinking civil society spaces around the world, all of which are critical for cross-pillar complementarity of the UNAT's focus, as well as our shared future as we the people. Excellencies, intergenerational justice will only be possible if we mobilize the political will and leadership necessary necessary to right the historical wrongs across socio-cultural, politico-economic, environmental, and security dynamics before it's too little, too late for both people and the planet. I thank you, Chair. Thank you very much, Mr. Ali. We shall now have Ms. Dina Hani, representative from Egypt. Distinguished Chair, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:38:55]:

Youth plays a crucial role in the economic and social development of nations and effectively


Egypt · Dina Hani [2:39:00]:

contributes to unlocking the full potential of the democratic dividend. It is imperative to prioritize efforts encouraging young people engagement across all sectors while addressing the barriers they face to ensure they can fully harness their full potential in driving meaningful and positive change. According to UN data, young people are currently 3 times more likely to be unemployed employed than adults, with 75 million young people unemployed globally and other 500 million living on less than $2 a day. Therefore, engaging youth in the economy and providing access to employment, education, and training opportunities is essential for empowering them and driving sustainable development. At the national level, Egypt recognizes the critical importance of financial inclusion in empowering youth and fostering their potential power as active contributors to the economy. In this regard, Egypt is adopting a progressively evolving approach that enables youth to access scalable and flexible financing instruments rather than rely solely on one-time funding opportunities. This approach aims to provide young people with the tools and resources they need to thrive, innovate, and drive long-term economic growth. Building on the previous points, Egypt has launched large-scale programs such as Youth in Business Initiative, along with the new government-backed financing schemes developed in collaboration with the Egyptian Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Development Agency. These programs offer credit facilities, incentives, and tailored financial products for youth while also addressing the perceived risks associated with lending to young entrepreneurs. In conclusion, empowering youth in the economy cannot be overemphasized. Their inclusion is not a luxury. Thank you very much, Ms. Dina. We shall now have Ms. Jugnata Stava, MGCY Secretariat. Thank you, Ellen, for the floor. I'm speaking on behalf of MGC Vice Secretariat


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:41:08]:

to highlight the following key priorities. First, on the UN processes itself, as


MGCY · Secretariat · Jugnata Stava [2:41:13]:

mentioned by some of the previous speakers, youth must be integrated in decision-making bodies around financing, including the boards of multilateral development banks, the Interagency Task Force on Financing, and in the frameworks for the future, including a convention on debt and those prerequisites for the Post-2030 Agenda. The review of SDG 17 at the High-Level Political Forum must not be diluted. Second, on partnerships, which is the theme of this session, the ECOSOC Youth Forum itself is a great example of partnership with all its elements co-designed by the UN system and youth constituencies, including this very session. Furthermore, in the time of UN80, when the UN system is moving towards consolidation, efficiency, and effectiveness, the Youth Forum is a great example of what that model could be. Bringing together as a collective platform the whole UN system and all the youth constituencies. Just in this Youth Forum, more than 20 UN agencies and 45 youth constituencies and organizations are involved in its design, with thousands of young people and civil society participating. Finally, as the UN system explores its expanding presence outside New York, such shifts should be considered holistically across processes. The Youth Forum is part of an ongoing process of over 20 biannual forums that take place all over the world. Including the regional youth forums linked to the Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, which must be strengthened in each and every region. The youth forum's linkage to intergovernmental negotiations, including with HLPF and UNGA, require for the youth forum to continue to be taking place and be strengthened in New York, including through enhanced financing support from UN system and member states. Furthermore, substantive linkages of the forum must be strengthened. This year's forum already feeds into the UNGA, and high-level meetings. Next year's forum must be feeding into Post-2030 and the SDG Summit. I thank you. Thank you very much. We shall now have Ms. María Fernanda Reina, 3C Expert, Mejío. Muchas gracias, señor. Thank you very much, Chair. The world is increasingly expensive


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:43:13]:

for young people. We're seeing accelerated transformation of labor markets driven by AI, the rising


Mexico · 3C Expert · María Fernanda Reina [2:43:20]:

cost of living, and geopolitical tensions, youth are facing a challenging present and an uncertain future. But in the midst of these challenges, there is also an opportunity to decide whether we see young people as a generation at risk or as a generation worth trusting and investing in. Today more than ever before, it's essential to guarantee real opportunities so that young people can fully develop, not out of charity, but out of confidence in their capacity to innovate, organize, and transform their communities. In this context, Mexico had the honor of serving as co-facilitator of the Civil Commitment, which recognizes that investing in youth means doing so comprehensively in their education, their skills, and their capacity for active participation in society. At the national level, this vision translates into concrete actions. Through the Youth Committees for Transformation, the local organization of young people is promoted, creating spaces where they can engage directly with authorities, opening opportunities to channel support and resources toward their initiatives. Taken together, these actions ensure that partnerships are not merely formal but real spaces for collaboration, and that financing is not limited to economic resources but also includes capacities, networks, and opportunities for the comprehensive development of youth. Because when we invest in youth, we do not only finance projects, we finance hope, innovation, and the future, and today more than ever, the world needs to bet on its youth. Thank you. Thank you very much. We shall then have Adorela Durodola, Elevate Africa. Thank you very much, moderator. Excellencies and distinguished delegates, this discussion


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:45:10]:

about making partnerships and financing work for youth by channeling


Elevate Africa · Adorela Durodola [2:45:14]:

social investment into solutions that create decent jobs, especially for young women, is very crucial. At Elevate Africa, our Elevate Her initiative does exactly that. It builds on Establish Her, a 6-month program of the Royal Irori Foundation. Foundation in the Warri Kingdom, Nigeria, the humanitarian arm of Their Majesties the Olu of Warri and Olori Atuase. EstablishHer combines practical training in financial management, digital literacy, and market strategy with zero to low interest loans and grants. So far, we have trained over 5,000 young women and supported over 300 businesses. Now we are scaling with the ElevateHer Hub, piloting in Lagos a training and enterprising acceleration center for women-led SMEs, linking skills and mentorship to access finance, digital infrastructures, and market readiness so these enterprises can grow and hire. What's next? Partnership at scale. By 2027, ElevateHer aims to train over 15,000 young women incubate 5,000 investment-ready enterprises, and connect 1,000 young women to financing through 3 hubs across West, East, and Southern Africa. We are building this with African governments, the African Export-Import Bank, and development partners, because blended finance and coordinated delivery are how we turn investment into decent jobs. Our ask is simple: invest with youth, not just in and youth, partner with organizations like Elevate Africa to mobilize capital, strengthen pipelines of youth and women-led enterprises, and make financing more equitable and accessible. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. We shall now have Ms. Mariama Diallo, delegate, Senegal. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, distinguished delegates. Senegal has made the resolute


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:47:18]:

choice to take its youth's future in hand. Our young people are more than 60%


Senegal · Delegate · Mariama Diallo [2:47:24]:

of our population and therefore at the heart of our development projects, and they are key actors in their own future. This is something that our state is doing at the highest level, and its policy vision is focusing on structural transformation and strengthening the role of young people. In this context, Referring to partnerships for youth people requires us to change our approach. Youth people should no longer simply be supported. They aspire to be fully involved in decision-making and the implementation of public policy. Through its Senegal 2050 vision, our country has one clear ambition: build a more sovereign, inclusive, and sustainable economy with young people at the heart of it. In addition to a substantial increase in funding, the issue is not simply the quantity, but rather the quality of partnerships for young people. And this requires 3 changes to be made: providing more resources for young people and territories with mechanisms that foster direct impact, encouraging also a shift from aid to a logic of productive investment, particularly in innovation, entrepreneurship, and the green transition. Finally, consolidating a trust-based relationship based on shared responsibility. Senegal is continuing on this trajectory with clarity and ambition. However, the expected transformations go beyond national frameworks and require larger changes on a regional and international level. It is high time to undertake structural changes to benefit more balanced and sustainable partnerships. Thank you. Thank you. Lastly, we shall have Dr. Thinqueld Jemera. Joint International Academies of Research and Education. Thank you. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I'm a medical


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:49:07]:

doctor who's been working in frontline acute psychiatry in the UK and Jersey with a background in medicine,


Joint International Academies of Research and Education · Thinqueld Jemera [2:49:13]:

surgery, and public health. My perspective is therefore informed by both frontline clinical work and wider engagement across research, youth policy, and cross-regional Africa-Europe dialogue linked to Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. One of the clearest lessons from my frontline work is that crisis and emergency services are indispensable. They provide timely support at moments of greatest needs. At the same time, that experience also shows how much stronger outcomes can be when systems are better connected, better financed, and better able to respond earlier. That is why SDG 17 matters so much. Partnership must mean more than dialogue alone. They must align financing, policy implementation, and accountability so that commitments translate into practical results. For young people, that means scaling up social investment and ensuring that resources reach the areas that shape life chances most directly, including health, education, skills, social protection, and decent jobs. It is also important that young people are not seen simply as beneficiaries of these processes, We should be recognized as equal partners in shaping them. Meaningful partnership means involving youth not only in implementation, but also in the design, prioritization, and accountability on financing solutions from the outset, especially for those most often left behind. If you are serious about social justice, social investment, and decent jobs for youth, then SDG 17 must help make financing more inclusive, more delivery-focused, and more responsive to the realities that young people face. Youth should not be at the margins of partnership for development. We should be recognized as co-designers of the solutions that are intended to deliver for us all. Thank you very much. Thank you. Before calling the President back, I would like to invite Ms. Sarah Hendricks, Director of UN Women's Policy Programme and Intergovernmental Support Division, to


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:51:09]:

give closing remarks. Excellencies and colleagues and dear friends, and especially all of the incredibly inspiring youth voices that have been among us today. As we come to a close of today's meeting,


UN Women · Director · Sarah Hendricks [2:51:29]:

let me thank you. Thank you for your honesty. Thank you for your energy. Thank you for bringing such grounded perspectives to today's conversation. SDG 17 is about partnerships that deliver. It is about how we finance, how we work together, and also importantly, how we share power. And it must deliver, deliver for the SDGs, deliver for young people, deliver also for SDG 5 and for gender equality. Because when we talk about the 2030 Agenda, We're not just talking about indicators. We're talking about whether you, as young people, as young women, as young men, are safe, whether you have choices, whether you can shape your own future. Young people together across the world are indeed at the heart of the SDG agenda. And what we've seen and heard today is that partnerships really do work. They work, and they work best when they are real, when they are built on trust, when young people are engaged not just as partners or as beneficiaries, but as the solution-makers themselves. And this is really when things begin to change. I think today I've heard so clearly your voices, on your vision for that change. It reflects the follow-up to the FFD4 from the Youth Conference. Young people are, the world over, asking for a system that works differently, that works with young people and for young people. You are calling for debt justice, for fair and gender-responsive taxation, for more fiscal space, and for real investment in jobs, in care systems, in climate-resilient economies. And you are right, we are seeing some progress. The Compromiso de Sevilla is one such step. It recognizes that gender equality and youth voices must be at the center of how we finance development. And I think the world knows more about what works, but we also need to be honest about what remains unfinished, what business is still yet to be done. And we know the data behind this is grave. We know that pregnancy and childbirth complications are still the leading cause of death for girls ages 15 to 19. We know that nearly 1 in 5 young women are married before before the age of 18. And we know at the same time that the economic picture around the world remains increasingly, increasingly difficult. Nearly 1 in 4 young people are not in education or in employment or in training, and youth unemployment is still 3 times higher than it is for adults. And young women themselves face face even greater barriers. Less access to jobs, more unpaid care work, less access to finance or to assets. And what we're seeing in too many countries around the world is cutting spending on health, on education, on care to service debt, or while military spending continues to rise. These are not just inevitable scenarios. They are indeed the results of choices, and because those are choices, they too can change. So if we want decent jobs, as you today have called for, they will not just happen by chance. There must be investment deliberately in care systems, in green and digital economies, in youth-led enterprises. And we know what works. And I'll close by just highlighting 3 things. First, young people must be resourced to not only participate meaningfully in decision-making, but to be recognized as decision-makers yourselves, as leaders and as elected officials at local and national levels. And we need to do much, much more to tackle violence against young people, including against young women and girls. Second, we must fund, finally, what matters. This means prioritizing budgets, building on years of experience in things like gender-responsive budgeting. It means funding youth and community-led initiatives and their organizations. And it really means creating jobs and employment that place income directly in the hands of young people. It means expanding access to land, capital, technology, and other productive assets. And it means advancing sustainable and blended financing at scale. Investing in young people, as the delegate from Burkina Faso said, is not a cost, but a strategic investment. It means investing in peace, investing in growth, investing in prosperity. Third is monitoring and accountability. This matters, and this is why data matters so much. Through something called Women Count, as UN Women, we've learned something very simple but very profound, and that is if women, if girls are not counted, if young people are not counted through data, then they do not count. Better data leads to better decisions, better policies, better outcomes. So If young people are invisible in the data, they can remain invisible in how resources are allocated. This is not just technical. This, too, is about power. Data itself is powerful. In the end, delivering the SDGs will not just happen through small steps or through isolated efforts. Today, we've talked about how it will take real partnerships, across sectors, across generations. It will take financing that reflects what we say we value, and it will take leadership that is willing to make different choices. You, as young people, are ready. The question is whether the world is ready to match your energy with the right investments, with the right solutions, together with all of you. With this, I thank you so much. Thank you. I would like to hand back the floor to President Ekosok to close the session. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I thank the moderator, Alan, for moderating the discussions in


Youth for Tax Justice Network · Moderator · Allan Muharremja Murangira [2:58:38]:

this session so skillfully. I also thank our distinguished panelists for their presentations,


ECOSOC · President [2:58:45]:

and I Thank you. I would like to thank all the delegations and the youth representatives for your participation and very constructive contributions you have made. Colleagues, we have reached the end of the plenary sessions on SDG 17. Before adjourning this meeting, I would like to remind you that the Forum will reconvene this afternoon to hold its remaining plenary sessions and to conclude its work. Also, I would like to once again invite you to visit the side events taking place during the lunchtimes in the margins of the Forum. Finally, I wish to remind that the traditional family photo of the Youth Forum will take place immediately following the conclusions of the forum today at around 6 PM. After the forum is declared closed, please approach the front of the podium for the photo. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you. Thank you.