The launch event of the report, "Change-Makers: Empowering Youth for Inclusive Societies," highlighted the challenges faced by young people globally and the need for tailored interventions to address their exclusion. Key recommendations of the report include designing comprehensive support programs, increasing funding for young women, investing in civic engagement and social cohesion, recognizing youth as agents of change, utilizing digital opportunities for marginalized groups, and better tracking impact for youth in development initiatives.
There are 1.2 billion young people aged 15-24 globally, with 20% not in education, employment, or training. Around 85 percent of the world’s youth reside in low- and middle-income countries and 600 million young people are living in fragile or conflict-affected settings. In addition to their poverty status or location, certain youth are at greater risk of exclusion due to social identities such as gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, and race.