New York, New York (January 26, 2026) — The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s (SDSN) flagship initiative for young people, SDSN Youth, is thrilled to announce a new project with the Ford Foundation, A Youth Vision for the World’s Future, aimed at uplifting and representing youth voices around the world on critical sustainability issues. Through this partnership, SDSN Youth will strengthen its efforts to mobilize and empower young people to actively and meaningfully participate in shaping a more just, equitable, and sustainable future. 

“Sustainable development is only possible when no one is left behind,” said María Cortés Puch, Vice President of Networks at the SDSN. “We’re eager to translate this principle into action by ensuring that youth perspectives are taken into account and incorporated into decision-making spaces to shape a more sustainable future. This partnership will demonstrate the benefits of meaningfully engaging youth to drive hope and positive change.”

A Youth Vision for the World’s Future aims to gather and assess global youth perspectives through a series of regional dialogues on gender equality, climate change, and the future of work. SDSN Youth will consult with hundreds of young people across Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe. These dialogues will deepen understanding of youth perspectives on key sustainable development challenges, including what has worked, what has not, and young people’s hopes and priorities for the remaining years of the 2030 Agenda. Following these dialogues, SDSN Youth will release a brief detailing the perspectives, aspirations, and concerns of youth, as well as actionable recommendations for decision-makers to inform the 2030 Agenda and beyond. 

To move beyond consultation toward meaningful participation, the project also seeks to channel youth voices into high-level policy processes, thus reaching decision-makers at the international level. SDSN Youth will present these recommendations to high-level representatives of UN Member States, non-governmental organizations, and academia throughout different flagship multilateral forums.

Through these collective efforts, A Youth Vision for the World’s Future will address the persistent gap in diverse youth representation within sustainable development processes, ensuring that young people have the opportunity to share their opinions, expand their skills and capacities, and develop a global network of like-minded individuals.  

To stay up to date on the project and the opportunity to participate, follow SDSN Youth on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram, and subscribe to the SDSN Youth newsletter.

For media inquiries or further information, please contact SDSN Youth at youth@unsdsn.org.

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