Increase in young leaders trained and educated in 2019-2020, than previous year.
Trained young leaders to educate their communities on sustainable development.
Solutions mentored and incubated.
Community of program members, organizations and team members.
Youth community leaders educated
Sustainable solutions ideated and incubated
Countries involved
Volunteers
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network - Youth Initiative (SDSN Youth) was established in 2015 to train and equip young leaders with the knowledge and resources to build a more sustainable future.
about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and create pathways for learning them.
to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collaborate to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
in the creation and scaling of innovative solution for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Each regional/ national network focuses on:
Climate change threatens livelihoods, triggers conflicts, accelerates biodiversity collapse, and deepens poverty and increases inequality.
The COVID-19 crisis perfectly demonstrates the world’s serious lack of resilience and preparation for the challenges ahead. Urgent changes are necessary to prevent the escalation of these challenges. Despite efforts and progress over the past 5 years, no country is on track of achieving the SDGs.
Youth plays a critical role in accelerating progress towards sustainable development. Through their unique qualities, values, and attitudes, young people can bring about rapid change and pioneer a new system that leaves no one behind, shares knowledge across borders, and prioritizes social issues like extreme poverty, inequality, and growingly complex governance.
SDSN Youth bridges the gap by upskilling young people with tools and resources to tackle the most urgent problems in their communities, and supporting them in shaping amore sustainable future.
Staff members
Countries
Regional & national networks
Global programs
SDSN community members
Organizations within the network
Local Pathways Fellowship
Global Schools Program
SDG Students Program
Solutions Program
A common purpose, an aligned vision to make impact.
Taking responsibility.
A cohesive team that works together.
Openness and transparency leads to better teams.
Respecting and integrating different backgrounds.
Making meaningful connections while making meaningful impact.
Countries involved
Continents
in alliance with Amazon Sustainable Foundation & 40 partner organizations
integrated universities
Established a permanent network of youth representatives
featured 36 students across 6 provinces
Maintained year-long social media campaign #YouthCAN2030
Includes widespread reach across many regions in the Caribbean
on training in legislation with a sustainability perspective
Soon to be launching 3 national open programs
The Global Schools Program is an initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network to support UNESCO’s Global Action Program on ESD.
Through research and advocacy, participants develop the knowledge, resources, and skills to support education systems in shaping a more resilient and sustainable world.
Number of advocates
Schools reached
Schools signed up
of Global Schools Advocates felt that their work has increased awareness of the SDGs in their communities.
"My period of advocacy for the GSP was very challenging yet rewarding. I was able to interact with several students, teachers, school heads and even government officials, discussing and promoting education for sustainable development."
The SDG Students Program engages higher education students active on university campuses worldwide.
Students are equipped with the resources necessary to become young professionals who will take their sustainability literacy, passion, and energy into a diverse range of occupations, industries, and roles upon graduation.
Hub solutions
Hub members
Countries
an initiative to facilitate cross-hub collaboration through project-based and conversation-driven connections between SDG Coordinators.
“My engagement with SSP opened a door to UNICEF Youth Advocates. I help the programming to ensure meaningful engagement for young people passionate about the SDGs. Through the role, I also work to make sure children’s rights are included in broader youth policy.”
The Vatican Youth Symposium aims to provide a platform for youth-led or youth-focused action on the SDGs, to engage in dialogue and to work together.
In 2019, we gathered 90 young changemakers and leading experts from various sectors, including the Italian Minister of Education Lorenzo Fioramonti, Alexandria Villasenor, Avianka Aventurin, Nikhil Seth, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, and Monsignor Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, among others.
Twitter impressions
Participants
Represented countries
The Membership Program is a network of student associations, youth-led and youth-focused organizations, and other institutions dedicated to youth empowerment and the implementation of the SDGs.
Members get access to resources such as research and events, contribute to practical solutions and be a part of a community with hundreds of global experts and academics in sustainable development.
The team began a program refresh, looking at improving Member experience and engagement.
Countries
Members
"SDSN Youth Indonesia ran an open forum to discuss SDG progress within the country. Run by SDSN Youth Indonesia and Gerakan Indonesia Diet Kantong Plastik (GIDKP). The event invited members from both the SDSN network and the youth network, with 100 participants in order to outline steps of collaboration with each other, and government bodies."
The Youth Networks Program focuses on youth-led action at a local level. It is backed by the wider SDSN network of universities and knowledge centers. The program currently covers 22 national/regional networks.
The team will focus on developing initiatives to strengthen Network Coordinator’s network strategy and regional collaboration, particularly in Latin America and Africa.
Countries
Country/region coordinators
Launched 2 new youth networks: SDSN Youth Black Sea and SDSN Youth Kenya.
Published Youth, Peace & Security and theGlobal Schools Program curriculum reports in Spanish and Portuguese.
Published Inter-Americas newsletter, a monthly bulletin for Member Organizations with information of American networks, such as news, opportunities, upcoming activities, and courses.
"SDSN Youth Korea launched SDG Youth Research to run policy forums to capture the future generations' perception of the Seoul SDGs. This was run over 4 iterations with support of the Seoul Institute. Representatives from 54 youth member organizations participated in the forum. The discussions were documented in a 33-page report and delivered to the mayor of Seoul."
The Local Pathways Fellowship is a 10-month training program that provides young urban innovators with the tools to design and implement programs that champion local pathways to sustainable development.
Our third cohort of the Local Pathways Fellowship kicked off in February 2020, with 137 young urban leaders spending 10 months to develop practical solutions for SDG 11 in the cities they represent.
Cities reached in 55 countries
Increase in applications
Growth in no. of fellows
concrete projects that successfully localize SDG 11.
solutions published in the “COVID-19 Rapid Response Solutions for Cities” report that address COVID-related challenges.
gained by members through events, lectures, radio and magazine interviews, and publications of their work.
“The Local Pathways Fellowship is a big milestone for my career. A year after I became a fellow, an NGO with ECOSOC status asked me to join them as a UN representative. Since then, I have spoken to more than 1,300 youth from over 50 countries about the SDGs and the Fellowship. I am grateful to have grown together with the world’s most brilliant young urban leaders!”
The Youth Solutions Program helps accelerate the growth of youth solutions through a startup incubator and community of experts and resources: to refine their pitches, secure funding, connect with experts and mentors, and find new partnerships to grow their SDG solution.
Countries
Total innovators
Month-over-month hub growth
new projects in COVID-19 solutions from UNLEASH partnership, with 350 innovators and facilitators.
youth-led solutions published in the 3rd edition of the Solutions Report.
submissions of solutions for the Solutions Report to be featured in the 2020 edition.
“Since our graduation from the Investment Readiness Program, we have launched our service in 24 countries across Europe, doubled our team and secured funding from private investors. Combining innovation and sustainability is a safe bet when creating opportunities for growth, entrepreneurship, and success.”
