Since 2019, UNDP and Samsung have joined forces to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by empowering young people and harnessing the power of technology. Through flagship initiatives such as the Samsung Global Goals App and Generation17, the partnership has mobilized around 400 million users, elevated youth voices on global stages, and connected digital innovation with sustainable development. 

In 2024, the partnership entered a new phase: moving from global awareness and advocacy to community-led experimentation. Anchored in education and youth leadership, this next chapter seeks to translate global impact into local solutions. 

The first experience of this new phase is unfolding in Sierra Leone through Youth for Circularity 2030, an initiative that places young innovators at the forefront of advancing responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). By connecting global platforms with local ecosystems, the partnership demonstrates how public–private collaboration can unlock practical solutions for people and the planet. 

Creating skills for the future we want 

Launched publicly on 5 February 2026, Youth for Circularity 2030 brings together universities, innovation clubs and youth networks to rethink how mobile devices and electronic products are designed, used, reused, repaired and recycled. 

Reimagining how electronic products are repaired, reused and upcycled is as critical as transforming patterns of everyday consumption—both are central to building a truly circular economy. In Sierra Leone, as in many countries, end-of-life devices are often discarded despite their residual value. Through this initiative, young people are gaining the skills, platforms and mentorship to turn circular economy concepts into practical solutions—developing prototypes, exploring green entrepreneurship pathways and contributing to more sustainable resource management at local and national levels. 

The project will also contribute to the UNDP–GEF “Shifting to Zero Waste Against Pollution (SWAP)” initiative, aligning its activities with broader national efforts to reduce chemical pollution in value chains and prevent the loss of valuable materials. Grounded in the principles of circular economy, Youth for Circularity 2030 supports Sierra Leone’s transition toward a greener future. 

By positioning university students as agents of change, the initiative seeks to catalyze a long-term shift from a linear to a circular model for electronics. Beyond awareness, it aims to equip young people with demonstrable capacity to design viable, market-ready circular economies. 

As UNDP Sierra Leone Deputy Resident Representative Kevin Petrini said: 

“The Youth Circularity 2030 project is about empowering young leaders to drive sustainable solutions within the mobile technology lifecycle. By engaging universities, civil society and entrepreneurs, we are building the knowledge, innovation and partnerships to ensure that products are designed, used, reused, repaired and recycled in ways that minimize waste and maximize value.” 

At the heart of the initiative is learning by doing. Through Circular Innovation Clubs and links to UNDP’s UNIPOD innovation ecosystem, students gain access to hands-on spaces where ideas can be tested, refined and scaled. 

For institutions such as Njala University, the programme strengthens the bridge between research and real-world impact. Students describe it as a turning point in how innovation is experienced within universities and communities. Mariama Baimba Keita, a student at Eastern Technical University, described the project as a learning moment and expressed optimism about the training and mentorship opportunities that will be extended to students and replicated within their communities.