Advancing Refugee Youth Leadership and Socio-Economic Inclusion for Sustainable Development

This event is co-organized by Permanent Observer Mission of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to the UN, the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN, the Compact for Young People in Humanitarian Action, Danish Refugee Council, Global Refugee Youth Network, ILO, Plan International, Save the Children, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, and UN Volunteers.

Overview

This side event aligns closely with the theme of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025, "Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development," as well as SDGs 5, 8, and 17, and the "Pact for the Future."

This is a pivotal opportunity to highlight the leadership and self-reliance of young people in forcibly displaced contexts and to showcase how supporting their initiatives can bridge funding gaps, address community challenges, and drive localization efforts. By equipping young people with the skills and resources to be effective partners, fostering an enabling environment, and leveraging their unique perspectives and solutions, we can contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication.

Actively involving young people in decision-making ensures their voices are heard, their needs addressed, and their influence reflected in policies and interventions that shape their futures. Beyond emergency aid, long-term investment in skill-building, higher education, and decent employment opportunities for youth is essential.

Governments and private sector actors should work toward establishing dedicated funds to support refugee-led organizations, expanding access to scholarships, and creating pathways for young refugees to secure meaningful employment.

Objectives

• Examine how recent reductions in development and humanitarian aid impact young people in refugee and host communities, particularly regarding their systemic inclusion and access to rights and services.
• Spotlight innovative partnerships and approaches that empower young people and youth-led organizations to step up and fill the gaps left by the broader international community in addressing challenges in their communities.
• Discuss how Member States, the UN (both development and humanitarian agencies), and the private sector can collaborate to strengthen existing frameworks and support youth-led and refugee-led initiatives in education, skills, employment and protection.

Programme and Speakers

Note

- Light refreshments will be served at the venue prior to the event from 13:00 ET.
- Please note that all participants must register by 07 April 2025 due to limited capacity of the venue (100 people) and in order to process security passes needed to enter the UNICEF building. All attendees must present a photo identification on the day of the event to pick up their security pass.
- The session will be held in English; with regrets we note that language interpretation is unavailable.

Contact

Eesha Moitra, Jr Project Officer, EMPLAB - [email protected]