In a landmark moment for Indian youth leadership, the Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA) represented India at the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from April 15–17. The forum convened youth leaders, policymakers, and UN agencies from across the globe, all united by a shared mission: to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Why ECOSOC Matters
As the UN’s foremost platform for youth engagement in global policy dialogue, the ECOSOC Youth Forum is a beacon for youth empowerment. This year’s theme—“Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda”—highlighted the critical role of youth-led innovation in tackling pressing global challenges. With representatives from over 100 countries, the forum provided a dynamic space for exchanging ideas on education, employment, health, climate action, and gender equality. The spotlight was firmly on grassroots solutions driven by young changemakers—showcasing how local actions can create global impact.
CYDA’s Role: Raising Grassroots Voices on the Global Stage
Representing CYDA, Priya Kothari, Director, International Relations, CYDA said “ I had the privilege of contributing to key sessions, amplifying the voices of India’s youth, especially those from marginalized and rural communities” . She said that CYDA’s interventions focused on three core areas:
- Gender empowerment and health through our flagship WASH Mitra program.
- Leadership development in tribal and rural communities.
- Youth mental health, skilling, and livelihood creation.
CYDA emphasized a vital message: youth should not merely be seen as beneficiaries of development programs—they must be recognized as designers, implementers, and decision-makers in shaping their futures.
Key Side Event Engagements
Championing Youth Centrality in Livelihoods
In collaboration with Generation Unlimited (GenU), the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), CYDA participated in a high-impact session advocating for youth leadership in education and employment reforms. We stressed the need for:
- Youth to co-lead the design and execution of systems.
- Public-Private-Youth Partnerships (PPYPs) to ensure inclusive governance.
- A focus on emotional well-being, non-formal learning pathways, and youth-driven policy-making.
Launch of the Inter-Agency Evidence Synthesis Report
CYDA also attended the launch of “What Works to Amplify the Rights and Voices of Youth in Education and Employment?”—a groundbreaking report by UNFPA and the UN Youth Office. Using AI-powered analysis of over 300 UN evaluations, the report offers evidence-based strategies to embed youth voices in education and employment. CYDA had the honor of sharing the impact of our WASH Mitra initiative, which has empowered thousands of adolescent girls and young women with knowledge, leadership, and resources in menstrual health and sanitation.
Looking Ahead: Turning Global Insights into Local Action
Building on the momentum from ECOSOC, CYDA is committed to:
- Forging international partnerships to strengthen community-based youth and gender programs.
- Hosting regional dialogues to localize global best practices across Indian states.
- Contributing to youth policy platforms leading up to the 2025 High-Level Political Forum.
Young people are not just leaders of tomorrow—they are active co-creators of change today. CYDA remains steadfast in its mission to place youth at the heart of development, ensuring that grassroots voices from India continue to shape both national and global futures.
