Report on International Youth Day 2025: Aligning Local Youth Action with the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Thematic Focus

International Youth Day (IYD), observed annually on August 12, will focus in 2025 on the theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond.” This theme underscores the indispensable role of young people in the localization and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The event, spearheaded by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), aims to celebrate and amplify youth contributions to global sustainable development.

The Critical Role of Youth in SDG Implementation

The 2025 IYD theme highlights the function of youth as essential partners in translating the global ambitions of the 2030 Agenda into tangible, community-level outcomes. Their engagement is positioned as a necessity for successful SDG implementation.

• Bridging Policy and Practice: Youth leverage their creativity, unique insights, and deep community connections to bridge the gap between global SDG frameworks and local realities.
• Localizing SDG Targets: With over 65% of SDG targets directly linked to the actions of local and regional governments, youth participation is critical for aligning development efforts with community needs and ensuring progress on the goals.
• Partners in Development: Young people are not merely beneficiaries but are crucial partners in the process of adapting and implementing the SDGs, ensuring that national and international commitments are met effectively at the grassroots level.

Local Governance as a Catalyst for Youth-Led SDG Action

The report for IYD 2025 emphasizes the foundational role of local and regional governments in empowering youth to contribute to the SDGs. These authorities are uniquely positioned to foster an environment conducive to youth engagement and leadership in sustainable development.

• Inclusive Policy and Resource Allocation: Local governments are called upon to create inclusive policy environments, allocate dedicated resources, and establish formal mechanisms that facilitate youth participation in local planning and decision-making processes related to the SDGs.
• Strategic Partnerships: By integrating youth priorities into local and regional development strategies and forging partnerships with youth organizations, authorities can co-create impactful solutions that accelerate SDG attainment.
• Nurturing Future Leaders: Providing spaces for innovation, mentorship, and civic engagement helps nurture a new generation of community leaders and changemakers committed to the principles of sustainable development.

Strategic Significance and Global Milestones

The 2025 observance of IYD is situated within a significant global context, reinforcing its connection to long-term sustainable development frameworks.

1. World Programme of Action for Youth: The event coincides with the 30th anniversary of this programme, which serves as a guiding framework recognizing youth as key actors in achieving sustainable development and promoting participatory governance—principles central to the 2030 Agenda.
2. Second World Summit for Social Development: Discussions and outcomes from IYD 2025 will provide substantive input for the preparations of the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled for November in Doha.

Commemoration Events and Support Resources

The official commemoration and associated activities are designed to support global participation in advancing youth-led SDG initiatives.

• Official Commemoration: The primary IYD 2025 event will be held on August 12 in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with UN-Habitat.
• Knowledge Products for SDG Advocacy: To support Member States, UN entities, and youth partners, a suite of resources will be developed, including multimedia storytelling, infographics, and a digital engagement toolkit, all aimed at promoting local youth actions for the SDGs.

Conclusion: A Call for Investment in Youth for the 2030 Agenda

As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches, IYD 2025 issues a definitive call for tangible investment in inclusive policies and programmes. Such investments are critical to effectively leverage the power of local youth actions to accelerate progress and achieve the global goals.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses and connects to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on the mechanisms and partnerships required for their implementation at a local level, with a special emphasis on youth engagement.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This goal is central to the article’s theme. The text repeatedly emphasizes the importance of “local youth actions,” “local governance,” and “community-driven realities.” It highlights the role of “local and regional governments” in creating inclusive environments and mentions a collaboration with UN-Habitat, the UN agency for human settlements. The statement that “over 65 per cent of SDG targets linked to local governance” directly connects the youth actions to the sustainable development of communities.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article strongly connects to SDG 16 through its focus on building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at the local level. It calls for “inclusive policy environments,” “mechanisms for youth participation in local planning and decision-making,” and “participatory governance.” These concepts are at the core of SDG 16, which aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  This goal is a foundational element of the article’s message. The entire theme of “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs” is predicated on collaboration. The article explicitly mentions the need to foster “partnerships with youth organizations” and describes how “development partners,” “local and regional governments,” and “young people” must work together to translate global goals into local impact.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus on youth participation in local governance and partnerships, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Target 11.3: Enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management.

   The article directly supports this target by advocating for local governments to “establish mechanisms for youth participation in local planning and decision-making.” This call for involving youth in the planning process is a clear reflection of enhancing participatory and inclusive settlement management.

2. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

   This is arguably the most relevant target. The article’s core message is about making decision-making more inclusive by involving young people. Phrases like “integrating youth priorities into local and regional strategies,” fostering “civic engagement,” and recognizing youth in “participatory governance” all point directly to achieving this target at the local level.

3. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

   The article underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships. It calls for authorities to collaborate with young people and “foster partnerships with youth organizations” to “transform their ideas into impactful solutions.” This aligns perfectly with the goal of building effective partnerships between public institutions (local governments) and civil society (youth and youth organizations).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official, numbered UN indicators. However, it implies several qualitative and quantitative measures that could be used as indicators to track progress towards the identified targets.

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.3 & 16.7:

  The article suggests progress can be measured by the existence and effectiveness of established mechanisms for youth participation in local planning and decision-making. The text states that local governments are “uniquely positioned to… establish mechanisms for youth participation.” An indicator would be the number of municipalities that have created such formal structures (e.g., youth councils, youth advisory boards) and the degree to which their input influences policy, as reflected in the “integration of youth priorities into local and regional strategies.”

• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17:

  Progress can be measured by the number and quality of partnerships between local authorities and youth organizations. The article calls for governments to “foster partnerships with youth organizations.” An indicator could be the number of formal collaborations, joint projects, or funding agreements between municipal governments and youth-led or youth-focused civil society groups aimed at implementing the SDGs.

• Implied Indicator for Overall Youth Engagement:

  The article points to measuring the level of “real investments in inclusive policies and programmes that leverage local youth actions.” An indicator could be the proportion of municipal budgets or development program funds allocated to youth-led initiatives and youth engagement platforms for SDG implementation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: un.org