To coincide with the High Level Political Forum - an event which took place at the UN in New York to track progress towards the Global Goals - the UNDP, Restless Development and the United Nations Inter Agency Network on Youth Development have launched new guidance to help UN agencies and national offices involve young people in the Global Goals.

UN Youth Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake

We know young people have a key role in making the Global Goals a success. These Guiding Principles have been created for development experts and organisations to see how youth participation and empowerment directly impacts the achievement of the Global Goals.

They will support people to effectively, proactively and responsibly ensure youth participation in the Global Goals so that the collective power of young people can create real, lasting change.

Sarah Haynes, Restless Development Global Advocacy Manager said:

These guiding principles are a big win for young people everywhere. We have been calling for development experts to involve youth in their plans to achieve the 2030 Agenda - and now we have a new tool to help organisations and influencers do that in a meaningful way. Without young people the Global Goals will not be achieved - this marks another step towards making sure they are properly involved.

This is our Youth Power campaign in action, which supports young people to hold their leaders to account on the Global Goals.

The guidance was created by Restless Development and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on behalf of the Working Group on Youth & 2030 Agenda, and highlights principles such as ‘promoting youth participation and empowerment in all phases and levels of 2030 Agenda actions, including planning, implementation and in monitoring and accountability for the Goals.

Visit here for the full list of guiding principles.

Restless Development supported five Youth Advocates at the High Level Political Forum last week. They shared their experiences and showcased the power young people have to ensure the promises of the Global Goals are turned into reality.

Youth Adovocates at the HLPF, United Nations