Youth2030, the UN System’s first overarching strategy on youth, guides joint UN action with and for young people globally.
Youth2030, the United Nations Youth Strategy, acts as a comprehensive umbrella framework to guide the entire United Nations as it steps up its work with and for youth in the areas of peace and security, sustainable development, human rights and humanitarian action. It seeks to strengthen the UN’s capacity to engage young people and benefit from their views, insights and ideas, ensuring the UN’s work on youth issues is pursued in a coordinated, coherent and holistic manner.
The Youth2030 Journey
Launched by the UN Secretary-General in September 2018, the Youth2030 UN Youth Strategy acknowledges the pivotal role of young people in fostering sustainable, inclusive and peaceful societies globally, as well as the importance of strengthening meaningful youth engagement in policymaking and decision-making processes, including at the UN. The strategy envisions a world where every young person's human rights are realized, empowering them to reach their full potential and acknowledging their resilience and positive contributions as agents of change. Aligned to the UN’s reform processes, the Youth2030 UN Youth Strategy integrates the key principles of coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to the UN’s work on youth and on reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Since its inception, the Youth2030 UN Youth Strategy has gained significant traction within the UN System, advancing across its five priority and four foundational areas. Currently, it is being implemented by 55 UN entities and 132 UN Country Teams worldwide.
Youth2030 Phase 2
From 2025 to 2030, the UN is doubling down on its commitment to young people with a bold new phase of the Youth2030, UN Youth Strategy — putting youth at the center of global transformation and SDG acceleration.
Phase 2 builds on real progress while confronting gaps, and focuses on six powerful strategic priorities:
- Empowering and engaging youth meaningfully
- Boosting SDG implementation with and for youth
- Advancing knowledge and enhancing capacities for working with and for youth
- Unlocking resources for the youth agenda
- Transforming the UN workforce and organizational culture
- Strengthening accountability systems for working with and for youth
With these priorities, the United Nations is scaling up systems change and ensuring young people have the tools, voice and power to shape the decisions that affect their lives and futures.
