Application Deadline: January 6th 2019
The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum is an annual initiative of the President of the Council. It has evolved into a key platform where young people can contribute to policy discussions at the United Nations through their collective ideas, solutions and innovations.
The year is reaching its end and the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum will soon take place. This year it will take place 8th – 9th April in New York, at the UN Headquarters. We hope that you will join the preparatory process and that some of you will also be attending in person! We plan to host a Youth Blast on the 7th of April and a Strategy Meeting on the 10th of April.
As the main platform for youth to share their ideas at the global level, the Forum allows representatives of youth-led and youth-focused organizations and networks, youth advocates and other youth stakeholders to dialogue with Member States, and to explore ways and means of promoting youth development and engagement.
Participants take part in brainstorming sessions, interactive speaker panels and discussions with Member States on the annual ECOSOC/High-Level Political Forum themes. Other gatherings held in the framework of the Forum, including side events, encourage participants to further engage with one another on a wide range of topics.
The ECOSOC Youth Forum is an annual initiative of the President of the Council. It has evolved into a key platform where young people can contribute to policy discussions at the United Nations through their collective ideas, solutions and innovations. It gathers hundreds of young people from around the world engaged in intergovernmental policy processes.
The 8th Annual Forum will be take place under the theme of ‘Youth: Empowered, Included and Equal’, with specific focus on the SDGs under review at the 2019 High Level Political Forum: 4 (education), 8 (decent jobs), 10 (reducing inequalities), 13 (climate action) and 16 (peace), as well as the various means of implementing the 2030 Agenda.
The ECOSOC Youth Forum’s attendance is by invitation only. Given the UN MGCY’s role as the General-Assembly mandated, official, and self-organized space for facilitating meaningful engagement of young people in various intergovernmental and allied processes related to sustainable development, we would like to provide all youth-led or youth-or-child serving entities, as well as individual young people (via Children Youth International), an opportunity to participate in the forum.
Requirements:
Participation in the forum is by invitation where youth participants are selected by National Youth Councils, regional youth organizations, as well as youth-led and -focused organizations and networks affiliated with the Major Group for Children and Youth (UN-MGCY) and the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations (ICMYO)
Note that there is NO financial support available from the UN or UN MGCY for the Youth Forum. You are encouraged to fill out the forum only if you think you will be available and able to attend the forum. For those not able to join, we will look to engage you remotely through online discussions and live web streaming of the forum
To express interest in attending the forum please fill out this forum – LINK
Speakers / Facilitation for the ECOSOC Youth Forum opening plenary, opening panel, thematic breakouts, regional breakouts as well as closing, are currently under discussion and selection. In order to be a speaker, you need to be fluent in English and have relevant knowledge / experience. Relevant knowledge do this year relate to the goals under review, as well as the theme of the ECOSOC Youth Forum. There are also need of facilitators with regional representation.
If you wish to express your interest to speak please indicate that in the attendance form above (LINK).
Join an Organizing Committee to contribute to the planning process
UN MGCY will create a small organising committee of UN MGCY members and the Organising Partners and GFPs who together will facilitate and carry out preparations as well as coordination during the forum.
Please apply to be part of the OC by filling out this form, LINK
The deadline to fill in the form to express interest to attend, as well as speaking and joining OC is the 6th of January. If you have any questions, please contact the OPs at op@childrenyouth.org
Apply Now for the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2019
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2019