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Young Innovators Bring New Ideas to Public Decision-Making at UNPOG’s 10th Youth Forum August 17, 2026

Virtual – The United Nations Project Office on Governance (UNPOG) of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government (DPIDG) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) convened the 10th Youth Forum on SDG Implementation on 13 August 2026. Held online under the theme “Advancing Youth Engagement in the Public Decision-Making Process through Digital Transformation and Innovative Governance”, the Forum brought together young leaders, policymakers, practitioners and development partners from around the world to explore how digital transformation and innovative governance can strengthen meaningful youth participation in public decision-making and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Marking the tenth edition of UNPOG's flagship youth engagement platform, the Forum reaffirmed the importance of empowering young people as partners in governance and sustainable development.  It received 674 registrations from 78 countries across Asia and the Pacific, Africa and beyond, including 48 presentation registrations and 626 audience registrations.

Mr. Changseob Han, Head of UNPOG, opened the event and highlighted the Forum's decade-long contribution to creating opportunities for young people to connect, exchange ideas and contribute their perspectives to discussions on global challenges. He emphasized that meaningful youth participation is essential to advancing the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that public institutions are responsive to the aspirations and needs of future generations.

Mr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, also delivered the keynote address and underscored the urgent need to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals and highlighted the critical role of young people in driving transformative change. He emphasized the potential of digital platforms and artificial intelligence to expand opportunities for participation in public decision-making, while stressing the importance of ensuring that innovation remains inclusive, people-centred and guided by responsible governance. He also highlighted the relevance of UN 2.0 in promoting more innovative, data-driven and forward-looking approaches across the United Nations system.

Throughout the Forum, participants examined how governments and institutions can move beyond consultation towards meaningful youth engagement and co-creation in policymaking. Discussions explored how digital transformation and emerging technologies can create new opportunities for participation while reinforcing the importance of transparency, accountability, privacy and human oversight. Participants also emphasized the need for sustained dialogue and effective feedback mechanisms to ensure that young people's perspectives meaningfully inform public policies and decision-making processes.

A key feature of the Forum was the Call for Innovative Ideas, which showcased youth-led solutions addressing contemporary development challenges. Drawing on the five transformative capabilities of UN 2.0 Quintet of Change – innovation, data, digital, foresight and behavioural science – five selected teams presented innovative proposals addressing digital inclusion, local governance, sustainable energy, policy intelligence, road safety and youth engagement with the SDGs. The presentations demonstrated how young people are applying technology and innovation to develop practical, scalable solutions for their communities, while expert feedback highlighted the importance of accessibility, evidence-based approaches, strategic partnerships and pathways for implementation and scale.

The Forum also explored the enabling conditions needed for youth-led innovation to thrive. Participants highlighted that digital access alone is insufficient to ensure meaningful participation and emphasized the importance of investing in skills development, institutional support and collaboration among governments, international organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector. Discussions reinforced the need to engage young people as partners throughout the policy cycle—from identifying challenges and co-designing solutions to implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The Forum concluded with a shared recognition that meaningful youth engagement requires more than creating opportunities for young people to express their views. It requires enabling environments where young people can contribute to decision-making, develop innovative solutions and work alongside governments and other stakeholders to address complex development challenges. By fostering dialogue, promoting youth-led innovation and strengthening partnerships, the Forum contributed to advancing more inclusive, responsive and future-ready public institutions in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The key messages and youth perspectives received from the Youth Forum will inform the Youth Session of the 10th Regional Symposium of the UN DESA/DPIDG/UNPOG in November 2026, extending opportunities for youth-led ideas to gain visibility and contribute to broader discussinos on governance and SDG implementation.

Click to read more about the Forum here.
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