In preparation for the upcoming Summit of the Future, UNOPS (United Nations Office for Project Services) is making a concerted effort to include the perspectives of young people in discussions about multilateralism and sustainable development.

To achieve this, UNOPS has launched the Youth Engagement Platform, a new advisory group aimed at aligning the organization’s initiatives with the 2030 Agenda.

Introducing the UNOPS Youth Platform: “30 Below 30, to Get 2030”
The platform, dubbed “30 Below 30, to Get 2030,” aims to leverage the talent and insight of young leaders globally, helping to shape UNOPS' contributions to sustainable development. By promoting collaboration, innovation, and strategic input, this initiative seeks to co-create impactful solutions with UNOPS and its partners, driving progress toward a more sustainable and equitable future by 2030.

Ensuring that young perspectives are integrated into the organization's strategic planning is the primary goal of the UNOPS young Platform. The platform will give UNOPS vital guidance as global issues change, ensuring that the issues and opinions of younger people are at the centre of international decision-making.

Goals Anticipated
The platform aims to provide youth-driven perspectives on UNOPS's engagement in the Summit of the Future, with the goal of shaping UNOPS contributions.
The input gathered from this young involvement will help UNOPS determine the strategic priorities for the future.

 Selection and Composition
Thirty young leaders under thirty who are at least seventeen years old will make up the UNOPS Youth Platform. The terms of members will be for one year, with the option of renewal contingent on the Summit of the Future's results.

The selection process for UNOPS staff includes 15 internal members, representing diverse identities like geographic location, race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and 15 external members, representing diverse backgrounds and expertise. Diversity is a key criterion, and selected members must demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable development, particularly from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities, through academic, professional, or community involvement.

The platform's members will advise UNOPS, provide insights on global challenges and opportunities, collaborate on solutions, and act as ambassadors, representing UNOPS at external events to advocate for sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda, while also representing UNOPS at external events.

Governance and Support
The platform will be overseen by a UNOPS steering committee with support from designated focal points across the organization. The group will meet twice annually, with one in-person meeting in May and a virtual meeting in November. The inaugural meeting is scheduled for early September in Copenhagen, ahead of the Summit of the Future.