Youth Localizing the SDGs: 2025 International Youth Day to spotlight local solutions

Each year on 12 August, International Youth Day (IYD) brings global attention to the challenges and opportunities facing young people. Spearheaded by UN DESA, IYD celebrates youth contributions to all aspects of global development. 

The theme of this year’s IYD, Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond, highlights the unique role of youth in translating global ambitions into community-driven realities. As development partners work to translate and implement the global goals within specific local contexts, aligning them with community needs while maintaining consistency with national and international commitments, young people are critical partners. They bring creativity, insight, and deep community ties that help bridge the gap between policy and practice. With over 65 per cent of SDG targets linked to local governance, youth engagement is not a luxury—it is a necessity.

The 2025 IYD will also underscore the essential role of local and regional governments. Being the closest to the communities they serve, they are uniquely positioned to create inclusive policy environments, allocate resources, and establish mechanisms for youth participation in local planning and decision-making. By integrating youth priorities into local and regional strategies and fostering partnerships with youth organizations, authorities can collaborate with young people to transform their ideas into impactful solutions. When local governments provide spaces for innovation, mentorship, and civic engagement, they not only accelerate SDG implementation but also nurture future community leaders and changemakers.

This year’s IYD takes on added significance as it coincides with the upcoming 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth. It remains a guiding framework for recognizing youth as key actors in sustainable development and participatory governance—principles directly echoed in this year’s theme. Discussions related to the 2025 IYD theme will also inform preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development to be held in Doha in November.

The official 2025 IYD commemoration will take place on 12 August in Nairobi, Kenya, in collaboration with the UN-Habitat. Various knowledge products—including multimedia storytelling, infographics, and a digital engagement toolkit—will also be developed to support the celebration of the 2025 IYD by Member States, UN entities, and youth partners. More information will soon be available on DESA’s IYD webpage.

As the world embarks on the final stretch toward 2030, IYD 2025 calls for real investments in inclusive policies and programmes that leverage local youth actions for the SDGs.

Photo Credit: UNICEF