LocationsUNDP at the UN ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026
April 9, 2026
Event Details
April 14, 2026
-
April 16, 2026
EDT
New York City, USA
Under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council, the annual ECOSOC Youth Forum is the flagship global platform convened by the United Nations to engage young people in policy dialogue and decision-making. The forum brings together youth leaders, member states, UN agencies, civil society, and other partners to advance young people’s contributions to sustainable development, and to ensure that youth perspectives shape global policies, priorities, and solutions for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum will take place in New York from 14 to 16 April and will be held under the theme “Innovate, Unite and Transform: Youth Shaping the Road to 2030”. The Forum will focus on transformative, equitable, innovative, and coordinated actions to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, with particular emphasis on the Goals under in-depth review in 2026 - Goal 6, Goal 7, Goal 9, Goal 11, and Goal 17.
UNDP plays a central role in advancing meaningful youth engagement by helping transform young people’s priorities into policy-relevant‑ solutions across sustainable development, democratic governance, peacebuilding, climate action, and digital innovation.
Through plenary discussions, interactive sessions, and side events, the Forum offers a critical platform to elevate youth-led‑ solutions, strengthen collaboration, and carry youth priorities forward into concrete policy outcomes across key intergovernmental processes.
The full schedule of UNDP’s engagements at the Forum with partners include:
| No. | Date | Event | Location | Organizer/Partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1
| 14 April 13:00 – 15:00 | Launch event: Youth Advancing Climate Justice | UNDP FF Building 304 E 45th St Doha Conference Room (11th Floor)
| UNDP, in partnership with University of Toronto, Australia, Italy, Canada, COP30 Presidency Youth Climate Champion and YOUNGO |
| 2 | 14 April 13:00 – 15:00 | From Evidence to Action: What Works to Advance Youth Health and Mental Health | Danny Kaye Visitors Centre, UNICEF House 3 UN Plaza | UNFPA, UNICEF, in partnership with IFMSA, UNDP, UN Youth Office, WHO |
| 3 | 15 April 15:00 – 18:00 | Plenary Session: “Youth Leadership, a Critical Force in Shaping a Sustainable and Inclusive Future for All” | UNHQ Trusteeship Council | UN Youth Office, with participation of UNDP |
| 4 | 15 April 10:00 – 11:30 | EYF Asia-Pacific regional session | UNHQ Conference Room 11 | ESCAP, UNDP |
| 5 | 15 April 10:00 – 11:30 | EYF Arab States regional session | UNHQ Conference Room 12 | ESCWA, UNDP |
| 6 | 15 April 13:00 – 15:00 | Children and Youth outcomes from COP30 and the road to COP31 | UNDP FF Building 304 E 45th St Doha Conference Room (11th Floor) | UNDP, UNFCCC, COP30 Presidency Youth Climate Champion, COP31 Presidency Youth Climate Champion, YOUNGO |
| 7 | 16 April 8:00 – 10:00 | Beyond the Ballot: GenZ Activism, Digital Engagement and Safety, and Inclusive Democratic Processes | UNDP FF Building 304 E 45th St Doha Conference Room (11th Floor) | UNDP |
| 8 | 16 April 11:00 – 12:30 | Roundtable: Parliamentary Leadership in Advancing Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) National Action Plans | Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP 200 Park Ave | Search for Common Ground, Finland, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, UNDP, United Network of Young Peacebuilders |
| 9 | 16 April 13:00 – 15:00 | Generation17 Dialogue: How Youth Is Driving Action on Innovation, Climate and Education | UNDP DC1 Building 1 UN Plaza Hank Shannon Conference Room (23 floor) | UNDP |
