Young people today face a wide range of interconnected challenges that impact their physical, mental, and social well-being, including rising mental health pressures, social exclusion, economic uncertainty, digital risks, and climate-related stress. These challenges are further shaped by broader factors such as education, employment opportunities, social protection systems, and access to inclusive services. In response, the UN Youth Strategy “Youth 2030” emphasizes the need for stronger evidence and cross-sector partnerships to improve youth health and mental health outcomes.
To support this goal, UN agencies including UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, UNDP, and the UN Youth Office, along with youth and professional networks, are jointly leading a meta-synthesis of evaluation evidence across the UN system to identify what works in advancing youth health. The findings will be shared at a side event during the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum, bringing together young people, policymakers, and development practitioners to discuss how evidence can be translated into effective policies and programmes.
The event will focus on sharing key insights from the synthesis, exploring practical policy implications, strengthening youth participation in decision-making, and promoting inclusive approaches that integrate lived experiences. It also aims to identify priority areas for improving partnerships, evidence use, and implementation strategies to better support youth health outcomes in line with the 2030 Agenda.
