Applications are now open for the 2025 Cohort of the United Nations Young Leaders for the SDGs Programme

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Closing Date: 18 April 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025 Cohort of the United Nations Young Leaders for the SDGs Programme

Overview

The Young Leaders for the SDGs initiative recognizes exceptional young people who are leading efforts to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Every two years, 17 young leaders are selected to work with the United Nations and its partners to accelerate SDG implementation and engage other young people in this crucial work.

From food to fashion to finance, the Young Leaders for the SDGs come from many different backgrounds, represent every region in the world and help young people worldwide in support of the Goals. As a community, they work to support efforts to engage young people in the realization of the SDGs both through strategic opportunities with the UN and through their existing initiatives, platforms and networks. Over their two-year term, they:

Champion the SDGs through high-profile advocacy, storytelling and strategic collaborations in ways most accessible and relatable to young people across different contexts;
Engage in global conversations, including at UN and international events, to amplify youth perspectives on sustainable development;
Inspire and mobilize their communities, using innovative approaches to drive action toward the Goals;
Collaborate with the UN and its partners, contributing to key initiatives and global moments related to youth and the SDGs;
Uphold UN values, demonstrating integrity, leadership and accountability in all their engagements.

The initiative offers Young Leaders a range of benefits designed to support and amplify their impact. It provides a global platform to showcase and elevate their existing work, along with access to the United Nations system and its network of partners. Young Leaders can take advantage of capacity-building opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge, connect with a dynamic network of changemakers, and participate in key events at the UN and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

As a Young Leader for the SDGs, you are expected to:

Actively represent the Young Leaders initiative by engaging in
high-profile activities over the course of the two-year term, including participating
in speaking engagements, advocacy campaigns, and other strategic collaborations.
Participate virtually and/or in-person at select events, both at the United Nations
and in other global spaces, to amplify youth perspectives on global issues.
Serve as a youth advocate in various speaking engagements recommended by the
UN Youth Office, championing youth priorities on international platforms.
Create and share compelling content to highlight your advocacy work and inspire
broader engagement.
Actively engage with the broader cohort and the UN Youth Office throughout the
full two-year term.
Submit biannual progress reports to reflect on your contributions and impact.
Uphold the highest professional and ethical standards, embodying the values
and principles of the United Nations

Young Leaders Through the Years

In September 2016, the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth unveiled the Young Leader for the SDGs — 17 young change-makers whose leadership is catalyzing the achievement of the Goals. Since then, a new cohort of Young Leaders has been selected on a biennial basis for their leadership and contribution to a more sustainable world.