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Popular Discussions 💬

  • Gladys Llanes

    Elevate your youth employment expertise this July with this new ITC-ILO course!⚡#ForumFriday

    Dear YouthForesight Community, The International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC-ILO) is inviting you to take your expertise to a new level with this free, self-paced course, "Promoting Youth Employment: Challenges, Policies and Emerging Opportunities". Learn ILO’s approach to promoting youth employment, combining analysis of labour market challenges with practical insights into policies and emerging opportunities, with a strong focus on inclusion, gender equality and decent work. 👇 By the end of the course, you will be able to: Understand the main challenges affecting youth employment globally Explain key labour market concepts used by the ILO Identify effective policy approaches to support young people’s access to decent work Recognize the employment potential of emerging sectors such as the digital, green and care economies Understand why inclusion, gender equality and decent work are central to youth employment strategies 🌐 The course is available in English, Français, Español, Português. 🤓 Check out the course now
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    07/03/2026
  • Gladys Llanes

    Call for applications for the Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme

    Dear Community, UNESCO is pleased to announce the global call for applications for the second edition of the Youth for Peace: UNESCO Intercultural Leadership Programme. Applications are open until 19 July 2026 at 23:59 CEST, Paris time. This year’s theme, Human Connection and Dialogue in the Age of AI, explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping communication and social relations, while raising urgent questions around trust, bias, representation, and inclusion. Over the course of the programme, 50 selected participants will: Strengthen their capacity as intercultural leaders through a series of high-level online masterclasses and peer-to-peer exchanges (Oct-Dec 2026); Design and lead a dialogue-based community initiative aligned with the programme’s annual theme, supported by seed funding of USD 10,000 (Jan-Jul 2027); while receiving ongoing mentorship and leadership development opportunities from an international network of experts and practitioners; Contribute to international conversations on peace, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue through participation in the UNESCO Global Youth Dialogue for Peace in China (Q3-4 2027) Join a global community of emerging intercultural leaders and become part of UNESCO’s Global Youth Alumni Network; 👉 Learn more and apply here. 🗓️ Applications are open from 22 June to 19 July 2026 (23:59 CEST).
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    06/26/2026
  • Chiara Curcio

    Help shape future case studies on Green Industrial Transformation and Youth Employment

    Dear YouthForesight community, As part of our commitment to connecting members with opportunities to contribute to cutting-edge research and policy discussions, we are pleased to share a new research initiative developed through a partnership between the ILO and GIZ. Through this initiative, the ILO is launching a series of case studies to explore how green industrial transformation is reshaping key sectors and creating employment opportunities for young people. The research aims to identify the institutional, policy and systemic factors that drive positive youth employment outcomes and to generate actionable recommendations for policymakers and industry stakeholders at both national and global levels. To help inform the selection of sectors and countries for the study, we would be grateful for your input through this short survey. 👉 Participate in the survey here Your insights are particularly valuable in ensuring that the research focuses on sectors with strong potential to generate decent jobs for young women and men while advancing the green transition. For your reference, an extract from the Terms of Reference can be accessed here. The ILO will launch a Request for Proposals once the sector and country selection process has been completed. Please note that the survey will remain open until 1 July 2026. Thank you in advance for your contribution. With best wishes, The EC–ILO Youth Employment Expert Network Team ⚡Participate in the survey⚡
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    06/25/2026
  • Gladys Llanes

    What I Learned at ILC 2026, A young leader's reflection with Nea Laine

    Hello everyone! 🌍 As the annual International Labour Conference (ILC) 2026 nearly comes to a close, we sat down with one of the youth representatives actively taking part in the discussions. We’re excited to feature Nea Laine, representative of the Finnish National Youth Council 🇫🇮, as she shares her experiences, engagement, and reflections from the conference. Read our conversation below 👇 — and feel free to join in by sharing your own insights and reflections too. 💬 ✦ 💬 ✦ 💬 YouthForesight: Could you briefly introduce yourself and the organization you represent? Nea: Hello! My name is Nea Laine. As Finland's Youth Delegate for Decent Work, I bring the perspectives of Finnish youth to both the international and domestic tables where today's labor market is discussed. My mandate represents over 1 million members across 130 youth organizations through Finland’s National Youth Council and Sector. 💬 ✦ 💬 ✦ 💬 YouthForesight: As a youth representative, how would you describe your level of engagement at this year’s ILC? Nea: It was great! Our delegation was given the opportunity to deliver a youth statement in one of the committees, and together with the Danish youth delegates, we had highly meaningful conversations about the topics on this year's agenda with Nordic and international representatives. Because this was only the third time Finland has sent a youth delegate to the ILC, and given that youth are not directly represented there, we are currently doing our best to find collaborative ways to represent young people as impactfully as possible. 💬 ✦ 💬 ✦ 💬 YouthForesight: Which key discussions at the ILC do you think young people should be more involved in? Nea: While the specific topics change almost every year, young people are deeply impacted by the labor market as a whole, regardless of the immediate matter at hand. On this year's agenda, the discussion surrounding social dialogue and tripartism is highly relevant, especially as the world of work is changing at a rapid speed. 💬 ✦ 💬 ✦ 💬 YouthForesight: What outcomes are you hoping for from this year’s ILC Nea: Expanding briefly on my previous point, social dialogue must be modernized to include youth voices. These principles should be advanced through trusted national processes that give young people a real say in shaping their professional lives, and it would be great to see this explicitly stated in the official text. Regarding this year's core conference negotiation, the platform economy, I support the consolidation of a principle-based, universally adaptable global framework for platform workers. Clear, predictable baselines for worker classification and human-in-the-loop algorithmic oversight are also highly relevant for young workers in the platform economy. 💬 ✦ 💬 ✦ 💬 Were you at the ILC 2026 too? Share us your thoughts and experience!
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    06/11/2026
  • Gladys Llanes

    Roundtable discussion, grant, and youth advisory opportunities you won't want to miss next week! #ForumFridays 🚀

    Hi YouthForesight Community! 😀 Make the most of next week with these 3 opportunities to learn, connect, and engage. ➡️ Join the PROSPECTS4Youth Intergenerational Network Virtual Roundtable Designed to advance young people’s engagement, education, skills development and employment in forced displacement contexts, the roundtable will explore collaborative solutions and mobilise collective action that can support young people in forced displacement contexts realise their true potential. 🗓️Date: June 10 🕒Time: 14:00 CEST 📍Online via Zoom → Register Here ➡️ Apply to The Pankaj Award to End Conflict Regent Global is investing $250,000 to support young leaders working to prevent and resolve conflict worldwide. One winner will receive $100,000, while other finalists will receive $10,000–$50,000 to advance their initiatives. Finalists will also receive a fully funded scholarship to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town (3–6 November) and gain lifetime membership in the global One Young World Ambassador Community, connecting them with 20,000+ changemakers across 190+ countries. 🗓️Apply until June 15 → Apply Here ➡️ Join UNICEF YuWaah's Young People's Action Team (YPAT) Are you passionate about advocating for the needs of young people from your communities and voicing their concerns with decision-makers on national and global platforms? If you're aged 15–29 and eager to contribute to shaping strategies and programs focused on employment, career guidance, skilling, entrepreneurship and community action for young people, then this is the perfect opportunity for you! Please note: Young people based in India for the duration of 2026-2027 are eligible to apply. 🗓️Apply until June 21 → Apply Here 💬 Which topic are you most excited to explore next week? Join the discussion on YouthForesight and be part of shaping the future.
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    06/05/2026
  • Gladys Llanes

    🔥Q: What should be the top priority for improving youth employment outcomes in West Africa?

    Thank you for joining today’s webinar exploring youth labour market trends across WAEMU countries and the evolving realities young people face in accessing opportunities. 💬 The rich discussion highlighted key issues including informality, skills mismatch, rural employment challenges, and gender and disability disparities, all connected to the future of work in West Africa. Here are some key insights you might have missed: ✨ Personal Reflection 👉 What are YOU working on right now that would benefit from this webinar's discussion? 👉 And what practical NEXT STEPS would be valuable to you from this webinar? We’re excited to turn our engagement into something impactful—and to explore how we can collaborate, connect and move forward together. Tell us in the comments below! 👇
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    05/20/2026
  • Gladys Llanes

    3️⃣ Youth Programming Events Next Week to Add to Your Calendar 🔔 [#ForumFridays]

    Hi YouthForesight Community! 👋 As the week winds down, we’re keeping the momentum going. To help you stay ahead and make the most of next week, we’ve rounded up 3 upcoming events for meaningful engagement in youth programming and advocacy. 1️⃣ Webinar: Youth Labour Market Trends in West Africa presented by ILO and Mastercard Foundation 📅 Date: Wednesday, 2o May 2026 🕐 Time: 15:00–16:30 CEST ✅ Register Here Why This Matters? Young people in West African Economic and Monetary Union WAEMU countries continue to face major barriers to productive and sustainable employment, driven by informality, low-productivity jobs, and inequality across gender, disability, and location. This webinar will present new ILO and Mastercard Foundation findings on youth labour trends across eight countries to inform policy dialogue and strengthen evidence-based responses. ➤ Learn More ↓↓↓ 2️⃣ Hybrid Event: World Bank Group's East Asia and Pacific Youth Forum – #FutureMakers: Youth Driving Jobs 📅 Date: 2o-21 May 2026 🕐 Time: 08:00–15:00 GMT+7 ✅ Register Here Why This Matters? The East Asia and Pacific Youth Forum 2026 brings together youth, government, business leaders, and World Bank Group experts to explore the future of jobs in the region. Participants will gain insights on emerging job trends, develop skills through interactive sessions, and expand their professional networks. ➤ Learn More ↓↓↓ 3️⃣ ILO "SKILLS Bridge" Masterclass: Harnessing Private Sector Power to Build the Workforce of Tomorrow: Driving Productivity, Decent Work and Social Justice through Skills 📅 Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2026 🕐 Time: 12:00–13:30 CEST | 10:00–11:30 GMT ✅ Registration (FREE): Webinar Registration - Zoom Why This Matters? This masterclass will highlight effective models of private sector leadership, innovative partnerships that are helping to future-proof workforces, close skills gaps, and create pathways to decent work. It aims to inspire action and support more inclusive, resilient, and skills-ready labour markets. ➤ Learn More 🔔 Never miss an event! Always stay up to date at YouthForesight's engage section for upcoming youth activities and engagements. 🥳
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    05/15/2026

Join a Space 👋

Events 📆

Youth Labour Market Trends in West Africa: Insights for Policy and Practice

📅 Date: May 20, 2026 🕐 Time: 15:00 - 16:30 CEST ✅ Register to the webinar 🎧 Simultaneous interpretation in English and French will be provided. Background: Across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), young people face persistent challenges in accessing productive and sustainable employment opportunities. Despite periods of relatively strong economic growth, labour markets remain characterised by high levels of informality, a strong concentration of employment in low-productivity agriculture and significant disparities across gender, disability status and location. Rapid demographic growth further intensifies pressure on labour markets, making youth employment a central development priority for the region. Strengthening the evidence base on these dynamics is essential to better understand the constraints faced by young people and to inform effective policy responses. To contribute to this effort, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has undertaken a new phase of analytical work covering the eight WAEMU countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Building on a long-standing collaboration, this work includes the production of comparable country briefs drawing on newly available harmonized household survey data. The resulting analysis provides updated and comparable insights into youth labour market trends and serves as a basis for dialogue on policy and programme responses. Objectives: The webinar aims to: Present key findings from the latest ILO statistical analysis of youth labour market trends across the eight WAEMU countries; Provide a platform for dialogue among policymakers, practitioners and youth representatives on the implications of these trends; Strengthen the link between evidence and policy discussions on youth employment. Audience: We welcome governments, regional organizations, youth groups, development partners, researchers and private sector to join. Agenda & Speakers: Welcome and opening remarks ​Ms Fanfan Rwanyindo Kayirangwa, ILO Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa ​Dr Eunice Muthengi, Director Evidence & Learning Insights, Mastercard Foundation Presentation: Youth labour market trends in WAEMU Mr Niall O’Higgins, Senior Employment Research Specialist, ILO ​​Discussion: Implications for youth employment policies and programmes ​Moderator: Ms Sara Elder, Head, Employment Analyses & Economic Policies Unit, ILO ​Panellists: - ​Ms Maurice Lorka, Program Lead, Policies WAEMU, Mastercard Foundation - Mr Ali Madai Boukar, Employment & Socio-Economic Recovery Specialist, ILO - Representative, WAEMU Commission - Youth representative Q&A with audience Closing
05/20/2026 1:00 PM
Online via Zoom
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🚨Don’t Miss: Nothing About Youth Without Youth (Webinar)

Nothing About Youth Without Youth: Advancing Decent Work and Social Justice Together This webinar will explore what meaningful youth engagement looks like in practice and how it advances decent work and social justice with and for young people—especially refugees and forcibly displaced youth whose voices are often excluded from decision-making. Grounded in the principle of “nothing about youth without youth,” the session will share outcomes from the 2026 Gyeonggi-ILO International Labour Festa and present the Youth Call to Action, amplifying young people’s priorities, demands, and solutions for decent work and inclusive labour markets. The webinar will also introduce Meaningful Youth Engagement for Decent Work, a practical training package developed under the PROSPECTS Programme to help youth employment practitioners engage young people more systematically and meaningfully, with a focus on refugees and forcibly displaced youth. 💡OBJECTIVES: Build a shared understanding of meaningful youth engagement beyond tokenism to inform more inclusive youth employment interventions. Foster intergenerational dialogue and exchange of good practices among youth employment practitioners. Amplify youth voices and priorities from the Youth Call to Action in advancing the Global Coalition for Social Justice. Introduce the Meaningful Youth Engagement for Decent Work training package to strengthen practitioners’ capacity to engage young people effectively. 🙋AUDIENCE: Global Coalition for Social Justice members Employers’ and workers’ organizations - Youth networks and refugee youth-led organizations Youth employment stakeholders (policymakers, development practitioners) Organizations supporting forcibly displaced people 📣 DETAILS: Date: 18 February 2026 Duration: 90 min Time: 10.30AM – 12.00PM CET 👉 Register Here
02/18/2026 9:30 AM
Online via Zoom
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📌 Must-attend webinar | 'From Learning to Earning to Justice: Youth-Led Pathways for Gender Equality at CSW70'

This event is linked to the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) process, more specifically contributing to the Global Youth and Adolescents Recommendations for CSW70 through a two-step engagement approach. The online event and the subsequent community forum discussion are designed to strengthen meaningful youth participation by creating clear, accessible entry points for young people, youth-led organizations, and youth-serving organizations to engage in the recommendations-building process. The online event serves as the first step. It will introduce the Global Youth and Adolescents Recommendations process and share how these recommendations inform CSW deliberations, while also spotlighting concrete examples from partners working across education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, and youth engagement. Following the event, participants will be invited to take part in a community forum discussion, which constitutes the second step and is the accessible and concrete way for collecting inputs directly into the CSW70 Global Youth and Adolescents Recommendations. Objectives: To gather youth-driven inputs for the Global Youth and Adolescents Recommendations to CSW70, by providing a structured space for young people, youth-led organizations, and youth-serving organizations to contribute to the CSW recommendations process. To showcase concrete examples of how partners are advancing access to justice for adolescent girls and young women through education, skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, and youth engagement across diverse contexts. To strengthen dialogue between youth, civil society, UN and other partners on how learning-to-earning pathways can address barriers to justice and violence, and how these approaches can be translated into actionable, policy-relevant recommendations. Audience: Primary audience: Young people and young feminists Youth-led, women-led, and youth-serving organizations advancing gender equality and access to justice through learning-to-earning interventions Broader civil society and community actors: Organizations working with marginalized and underrepresented groups, including Indigenous, Afro-descendant, migrant and refugee communities, LBTQI groups and rural and low-income communities Wider stakeholders: Service providers Researchers UN practitioners supporting CSW70 preparations Donors interested in youth-led, justice-oriented and gender-responsive approaches Details: Date: Tue, 27 January 2026 Duration: 1 hour Time: 16:00-17:00 Nairobi | 14:00-15:00 Geneva | 8:00-9:00 New York Register Now Speakers: Alice Shackelford Deputy Director, UN System Coordination Division and Head of the Global Office in Nairobi | UN Women Opening Remarks Ritah Muyambo Programme Specialist, Coordinator, Youth Engagement | UN Women Presenter Ayshka Najib Youth Lead for Feminist Action for Climate Justice with UN Women and the Generation Equality Forum Presenter Valeria Esquivel Coordinator, Gender in Employment Group – EMP/GENDER and Employment, Labour Markets and Youth Branch EMPLAB | ILO Panelist Dr. Jyotsna Jha Director, Skills | Commonwealth of Learning Panelist Zainab Ali Capacity Building Officer | UNDP Panelist Ruth Graham Goulder Senior Adviser, Gender Equality | UNICEF Panelist Urmila Sarkar Deputy Director, Programmes | Generation Unlimited Closing Remarks Deborah Sati Kesmen Member, UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s Girls’ Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) Girls Advisory Panel (GAP) Session Moderator Check the full speakers bio and agenda Register Here
Online via Zoom
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Webinar: Harnessing AI & Digital Solutions to Empower Young Entrepreneurs

From e-commerce to generative AI, digital tools are reshaping how youth start and scale businesses. But how can we ensure these tools are inclusive and equitable? Join Youth Business International (YBI) and guest speakers for a dynamic conversation exploring: ✔️ Real-world examples from youth entrepreneurs ✔️ Challenges and opportunities in AI access ✔️ Policy & ecosystem insights to drive inclusion 🗓️ 27 Nov | 🕚 11AM-12PM CET 💻 Zoom | 🔗 Register Here
11/27/2025 10:00 AM
Online via Zoom
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Youth Employment in Africa: Book & Repository Launch Celebration

Be part of the launching of ‘Youth Employment Programmes in Africa’ and unveil a new open-access repository showcasing impactful youth employment research across Africa. 🤝 Join the Partnership of Economic Policy (PEP) on November 21, 2025 at 14:00 UTC (5 p.m. EAT) for a 75-minute interactive webinar featuring youth-centered insights, policy innovations, and evidence-based solutions for dignified and fulfilling work for young people. Edited by PEP Research Fellows Ramos Mabugu and Lucas Ronconi, the book ‘Youth Employment Programmes in Africa’ brings together findings from nine countries that participated in the What Works for Youth Employment in Africa initiative. PEP supported this initiative in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The book highlights key lessons, policy insights, and evidence on what is—and is not—working to create meaningful employment opportunities for young Africans through policies. The new open-access repository gathers research outputs from the initiative, organised by country, publication type, and action area. This evolving knowledge hub aims to connect evidence, researchers, and policymakers to scale what works. This webinar will convene youth, youth representatives, researchers, policymakers, and development partners to discuss this new evidence and share practical lessons for improving youth employment outcomes in Africa. 👉 Register here 🔗 Learn more Event Program The event will begin at 14:00 UTC (find your local time). It will be held on Zoom, in English. Welcome and introduction – Prof. Jane Mariara (PEP Executive Director) and a representative from the Mastercard Foundation (TBC) will introduce the What Works for Youth Employment in Africa research initiative. Presentation by the editors – Lucas Ronconi will present the book, highlighting key findings and lessons learned from the comparative research. Panel discussion on Challenges Ahead and Priorities for Moving Forward Panelists: Lucas Ronconi, PEP Research Fellow and book co-editor Hennery Sebukeera, Uganda National Planning Authority and co-author of Chapter 10 Thembelihle Makhubela, Hand in Hand Southern Africa, and co-author of Chapter 9 Lissan Meless, Addis Ababa Revenue Bureau, co-author of Chapter 2 Moderated by Tadzie Madzima, PEP Director of Communications Q&A session with attendees Launch of the Repository Conclusions and closing remarks
11/21/2025 2:00 PM
Online
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About the Forum


YouthForesight Community Forum aims to provide a space for practitioners and broader stakeholders working on young people’s education and skilling, employment, entrepreneurship, and engagement to connect, catalyze partnerships and share knowledge & engagement opportunities. You are invited to join the interactive, interdisciplinary, and digitally connected communities that collaborate to create positive change for young people. 

Learn more about the FAQs in our Get Started Page.

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