JCI and AIESEC Unite at ECOSOC Youth Forum to Champion Youth Innovation

During the 2026 ECOSOC Youth Forum, Junior Chamber International (JCI) and AIESEC International co-organized the side event “Empowering the Architects of Tomorrow: Synergizing Youth Talent and Entrepreneurship for the 2030 Agenda”, bringing together youth leaders, institutional representatives and global partners to explore how collaboration can empower the next generation of innovators and changemakers.

Hosted at the Japan Society in New York alongside the ECOSOC Youth Forum, the event created an important platform for dialogue on youth entrepreneurship, the future of work and cross-sector partnerships. Aligned with SDGs 8, 9 and 17, the discussion highlighted the importance of partnerships in creating opportunities for young people to lead sustainable and inclusive development.

Opening remarks were delivered by Alejandra Castillo, 2026 President of JCI, and Abdul Wasay, Global Vice President for Business Development at AIESEC International, who emphasized the need to strengthen ecosystems that support youth leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Moderated by Nihal Zoroglu, the panel featured:

• Matthew Hunter, Partnerships Lead at UN Youth

• Desiree Junfijiah, Future Generations Next Generation Fellow at the United Nations Foundation

• Alyssa Cortez Peralta, Engagement Coordinator at UN Global Compact Network USA

• Somto Nwadike, President Elect of AIESEC USA

• Anirudh Sistla, Chair of the JCI Sustainability Commission

• Kate Landon, Executive Director of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation

Together, panelists explored barriers youth face today, including limited access to opportunities, investment and skills development in the era of AI and digital transformation.

Audience engagement through Mentimeter revealed a highly diverse and action-oriented group of participants, many identifying themselves as changemakers, entrepreneurs and innovators. Responses also highlighted confidence, finance and access to opportunities as some of the biggest challenges youth face in driving change.

Closing remarks were delivered by Elvin Teo, Secretary General of JCI, who reinforced the importance of continued collaboration and investment in youth leadership to advance the 2030 Agenda.

By convening this side event during the ECOSOC Youth Forum, JCI and AIESEC reinforced the value of partnerships in ensuring youth voices remain at the center of global conversations and sustainable development efforts.