Future Forward: Shaping Adolescent Wellbeing Beyond 2030

There are over 1.9 billion adolescents and youth in the world today. This critical yet overlooked demographic group represents the future workforce, leaders, and parents, making investments in their well-being crucial for sustainable development and societal progress. However, to ensure that the global development agenda, policies and programs are tailored to the unique needs of adolescents, their active inclusion and participation in decision-making spaces is critical. 

Meaningful adolescent and youth engagement (MAYE) empowers adolescents by giving them a voice in decisions affecting their lives, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility. Engaging adolescents in decision-making processes enhances the effectiveness of initiatives, as they understand their realities and can provide valuable insights. Furthermore, MAYE promotes accountability among decision-makers and service providers, as adolescents actively participate in monitoring and evaluating programs, ensuring that resources are used effectively.

The event, through interactive sessions and performing arts, will focus on bringing adolescents, youth and political allies (gathered for the Summit of the Future in New York) together for collective action, sharing lived experiences, expectations from the Summit of the Future and key adolescent and youth priorities in the post-2030 agenda. The session will consolidate the outcomes of the two-day event in a joint outcome document/charter/declaration, building on the existing efforts to promote adolescent well-being globally.