Young people today make up the largest youth generation in history. With over 1.2 billion individuals between the ages of 15 and 24, their voices, creativity, and leadership are essential to addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. Yet, too often, youth remain marginalized in decision-making spaces and excluded from policies that shape their futures. Recognizing this gap, the United Nations launched Youth2030, its first-ever system-wide strategy to empower, engage, and advocate for young people across the globe.

Youth2030: A Framework for Action
Youth2030 was first introduced in 2018 as a unifying framework for how the entire UN system would work with and for youth. The strategy emphasized three goals: amplifying young people’s voices, supporting their rights, and strengthening their role as agents of change. Its design was not limited to a single program or agency but aimed to ensure that youth issues—from education and decent work to peacebuilding, climate action, and human rights—were integrated across all UN policies and initiatives.

Why Youth2030 Matters
The context in which Youth2030 operates is both urgent and complex. Young people are at the frontline of issues such as climate change, inequality, conflict, and rapid technological disruption. They are also deeply impacted by systemic barriers like unemployment, limited access to healthcare, and shrinking civic space. At the same time, youth are leading grassroots climate movements, driving digital innovation, and pushing for more inclusive governance. Youth2030 acknowledges that these realities require not just support for youth, but partnership with youth.

Phase 2: Building on Progress, Scaling Impact
In May 2025, the UN released Phase 2 of Youth2030, covering the period 2025–2030. This new phase builds on lessons learned from the first five years. It commits to strengthening institutional mechanisms like the UN Youth Office, scaling youth engagement in national and global policy processes, and ensuring accountability through measurable outcomes. A strong focus is placed on marginalized groups, including young women, refugees, indigenous youth, and those with disabilities—ensuring the strategy lives up to its promise of leaving no one behind .

The Broader Context
Youth2030 is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the promise of the SDGs. It also responds to global shifts, such as the climate crisis, the digital transformation, and the urgent need for peace and justice in fragile contexts. By embedding youth engagement in these global priorities, Youth2030 aims to secure a future where young people are not only beneficiaries of development but key decision-makers shaping its direction.

In essence, Youth2030 is more than a UN strategy. It is a call to governments, civil society, businesses, and young people themselves to collaborate in building inclusive, sustainable, and just societies.