Solutions Session at the ECOSOC Partnership Forum 2026 | Youth as Bridges for Transformative Action

Solutions Session at the ECOSOC Partnership Forum

Youth as Bridges for Transformative Action: Partnerships Advancing the Next Generation’s Leadership for the SDGs

26 January 2026 | New York, the USA

1. Background

Across global communities, youth are emerging as architects of solutions that connect people, ideas, and systems. Today’s young leaders are not only developing technologies and social innovations—they are also building bridges:

• Physical bridges, through innovations in infrastructure;

• Mental bridges, by fostering understanding, empathy, creative thinking, and cross-cultural collaboration.

These “bridges of innovation and solidarity” are essential in an era marked by deepening inequalities, climate disruptions, and growing geopolitical divides. Young people are using creativity, digital tools, culture, and community-centered approaches to reshape local economies, strengthen livelihoods, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Around the world, youth-led initiatives are expanding access to clean water, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, crisis response tools, and digital inclusion. Increasingly, youth are also using art, culture, and innovation infrastructure—community art labs, makerspaces, digital studios, and creative entrepreneurship hubs—to empower marginalized communities, revive local economies, and foster social cohesion.

Yet, persistent barriers remain. Many young innovators lack access to technical training, finance, mentorship, market linkages, and cross-border networks. Innovation ecosystems often remain urban, exclusive, and disconnected from rural or crisis-affected youth. Strengthened global partnerships are urgently needed to unlock the full potential of youth creativity and leadership.

This Solutions Session will convene UN agencies, youth networks, researchers, civil society, private-sector actors, and artistic innovators to explore how youth-driven solutions—rooted in technology, culture, and community-based innovation—can accelerate the SDGs, particularly Goals 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17.

2. Objectives

• Empower Youth as Bridge-Builders: Highlight how youth are creating bridges—linking communities, sectors, and ideas—to advance sustainable development.

• Showcase Scalable Youth Solutions: Present youth-led models using technology, culture, and innovation infrastructure to improve livelihoods, local economies, and community resilience.

• Strengthen Partnerships: Expand cooperation across governments, UN agencies, NGOs, private sector, arts communities, and academic institutions to support youth-led innovation.

• Enhance Access to Ecosystems: Promote training programs, funding pathways, mentorship networks, and cross-regional collaboration to empower young innovators.

• Advance 2026 Follow-Up: Identify priority areas and develop actionable steps aligned with the ECOSOC and HLPF 2026 cycles.

3. Format & Expected Outcomes

Date & Time: 3:00pm to 4:30pm, 26 January 2026  (EST, New York)

Format:

This interactive session will feature short talks, youth innovation showcases, and solution-oriented discussions. Young innovators, community leaders, and technical experts will present practical examples and lessons learned, with inputs from governments, UN agencies, foundations, and academic partners. The emphasis will be on dialogue, collaboration, and building new partnerships rather than formal speeches.

Expected Outcomes:

• Launch: Announcement of the Global Youth Leadership Academy—a collaborative platform connecting youth innovators with technical mentors, funding partners, and cross-regional cooperation opportunities.

• New partnerships: Commitments from governments, UN entities, youth networks, and NGOs to support youth-led innovation programs aligned with SDGs 6, 7, 9, 11, and 17.

• Practical plan: Clear priority areas for expanding youth access to training, community innovation labs, and global exchanges.

• Next steps: A simple roadmap and toolkits for pilot collaboration, monitoring impact, and joint follow-up with the ECOSOC and HLPF processes.

4. Organizers

Lead Organizations:

Global Youth Philanthropy

Peaceland Foundation

Partners:

UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

UN Youth Office (participation to be confirmed)

UNDP (participation to be confirmed)

Life Project 4 Youth Alliance

The Sustainable Development Association (Talga) 

SDG Youth Connect

Create International

Jeunes Volontaires pour l'Environnement (JVE International)

Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security at Crop Trust

Kazakhstani Youth Parliament for Water

International Medical Crisis Response Alliance (IMCRA)

5. Participants

UN entities, youth-led organizations, civil society groups, academic institutions, innovation networks, private-sector partners, foundations, and media representatives. Youth innovators and community leaders will be central participants and contributors.

6. Event Details

Date & Time: 3:00pm to 4:30pm, 26 January 2026  (EST, New York)

Location: Bahá'í International Community, United Nations Office, 866 United Nations Plaza, Suite 120

Language: English

Agenda (proposed)

1. Opening Session (20 minutes)

Welcome Remarks 

• Representative from UN Youth Office 

• Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary-General, Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, Council Member, World Agriculture Forum

• Nyamekye Wilson, Founder & CEO at Black Sisters in STEM 

• Nnaemeka Phil Eke-okocha, Local Pathways Program, Project Lead, UN SDSN

2. Keynote Dialogue: Bridging Systems for the SDGs (20 minutes)

A fireside conversation on how youth innovation, food security, climate solutions, and cross-border cooperation act as bridges—physical, social, economic, and digital—toward transformative development.

Speakers: 

• Vijay Karia, CEO, OptiCloud

• Derin Ege Sezgin, President, SDG Youth Connect 

• Willis Ochieng, Executive Director, Creates International

• Céline L'Hermite, UN Representative, Life Project 4 Youth Alliance 

• Youth Representative from Asia

3. Youth Innovation Showcase (10 minutes)

Theme: “Bridging Communities Through Innovation, Art & Technology”Short presentations from 3 young innovators from different countries demonstrating practical solutions in: Clean water; Renewable energy access; Crisis and humanitarian response; Sustainable cities & infrastructure; Community-based innovation labs.

4. Panel Discussion (30 minutes)

“Building Bridges: Youth Leadership for Water, Energy, Innovation & Urban Futures” 

Moderator: James Gutman, Senior Analyst - Investing in Energy at S&P Global

Panelists: 

• Kuanysh Uzbekov, Chairman, United Global South Conference 2025; Policy & Governance Expert, Youth Parliament for Water 

• Madina Kazken, Cleantech & Green Finance Expert 

• Bita Pejam, Canadian corporate leader, public policy advisor, and researcher 

• Jorge Barbosa, Blue Economy Advisor, Saudi Red Sea Authority

Guiding Questions:

 •  How can youth act as “bridge-builders” across sectors, regions, and disciplines?

 • What innovation ecosystems are needed to support youth-led solutions?

 • How can art, culture, and storytelling promote SDG action and shift mindsets?

 • What partnerships are required to upscale youth innovations for systemic change?

5. Partnership Announcements & Next Steps (5 minutes) • Commitments from partners on mentorship, innovation labs, funding pathways 

• Launch of cross-border youth cooperation pilots for 2026 HLPF

6. Closing Remarks (5 minutes)

• Representative from Youth Empowerment, UNDP

• Founder, Global Youth Philanthropy / Peaceland Foundation

7. RSVP & Contact

Please kindly note that they need to complete the official RSVP form by January 21, 2026 via this link (to join us via Zoom, please select to join online): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfBuOGRjEuHDf7fbDtecP4s9tMQ2o1_9ZzCrBWp0_CSqt8QbQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor

Organizing Committee

Global Youth Philanthropy & Peaceland Foundation

Email: events@gypleader.org