Reports & Publications

Young people are central to the future of societies and economies, The report estimates that unsuccessful youth transitions could cost the global economy approximately US$45 trillion between 2026 and 2030, . Globally, the annual economic losses associated with barriers to successful youth transitions are estimated at approximately US$8.7 trillion in 2026, rising to roughly US$10.5 trillion by 2030. Aggregated over the 2026-2030 period, the cumulative cost of inaction reaches approximately US$45 trillion in present value terms, representing…, The report also posits that better youth transitions could unlock trillions of dollars in additional economic output, . Scenario analysis shows that reducing youth disengagement and enabling more young people to move into productive employment could generate between US$1.1 trillion and US$14.4 trillion in additional economic output globally over 2026-2030. However, realizing this potential requires stronger youth-centric systems, greater labour market absorption…, The report concludes by setting out four investment priorities, : expanding labour demand and job creation; strengthening transition systems; improving productivity and job quality; and enabling more inclusive transitions. It also examines financing pathways ranging from domestic resource mobilization to private-sector and innovative financing mechanisms. While the analysis is global, the report provides a…, The Present of our Future:A Global Case for Investing in Youth 1 Foreword Young people are among the worlds greatest sources of human potential. They bring ideas, energy, creativity and ambition that can shape more prosperous, inclusive and sustainable societies. Yet for millions of young people, the transition from education and learning into…

By 2035, billions of young people will enter the workforce while technological and green transitions transform the global economy.  In this position statement developed by representatives of the Generation Unlimited Global Leadership Council Global Leadership Council , youth leaders from around the world share a collective vision for ensuring that…

Youth-led research has an increasingly important role to play in shaping more effective, inclusive and future-ready youth employment and livelihoods policies. As young people navigate rapidly changing labour markets shaped by digitalization, artificial intelligence and the green transition, policymakers and practitioners need timely, relevant and…

The University Content Collaboration (UCC) initiative partners university students with UNICEF's Generation Unlimited (GenU) to explore evidence gaps in youth skills and livelihoods – producing applied, practice-oriented research with actionable insights for programmes, partnerships, and policy.  GenU supports each student researcher team in a…, : Building Youth Resilience Through High-Quality Work-Based Learning (WBL): Case Studies on Germany and China by Jiner Fan & Xingxuan Xi from Columbia University SIPA and Northeastern University. , Thought Piece, : From Learning to Earning: Making TVET Work for Migrant Youth in Colombia by Maria Hernández-Pinto & Maria Alejandra Salinas from Georgetown University. , Research Brief, : AI and Youth Employment Across Geographies: Implications for Entry-Level Work by Yejin Lyu & Ahin Jung from Columbia University., Case Study, : From Service to Salary: How Community-Based Research is Shaping Youth Employment – A case study from the American University in Washington, DC by Samantha Chai & Sharaf Tariq from Georgetown University. The views expressed in these products are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position of UNICEF's Generation…, RESEARCH BRIEF AI and Youth Employment Across Geographies: Implications for Entry-Level Work By Yejin Lyu & Ahin Jung from Columbia University Produced under the University Content Collaboration (UCC), a youth-led research initiative hosted by UNICEF Generation Unlimited (GenU) About the University Content Collaboration (UCC) University…

Young people in different regions face distinct barriers to opportunity, shaped by local labour markets, education systems, and economic realities. UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU) develops global solutions designed to respond to those differences, expanding access to job-relevant skills, decent work, entrepreneurship and livelihood pathways…

Nigeria’s digital economy is expanding rapidly, bringing new opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and education. But for many girls and young women, those opportunities remain out of reach. This report shares the findings from a Youth Participatory Action Research and Evaluation (YPARE) initiative under UNICEF Generation Unlimited’s…, of training, devices, transport, and internet access, Limited infrastructure, , including unreliable electricity and low computer access, Gender stereotypes, that push girls away from digital skills and spaces, Social media, influences awareness, participation, and confidence in digital skills, Digital skills training, boosts employability, confidence, networks, and adaptability The message is clear: when girls can access inclusive digital learning opportunities, they are better positioned to earn, lead, and thrive in a fast-changing economy. Grounded in youth voices, the report offers practical actions for governments, educators, employers, NGOs and young women…, From Access to Employment: Addressing the Barriers to Digital Skills Development for Nigerian GirlsGirls' Education and Skills Partnership (GESP) A Youth Participatory Action Research and Evaluation (YPARE) April 2026 AcknowledgementThis unified research report was made possible through the collective effort, dedication, and intellectual…

As organizations strive to deliver more inclusive, relevant, and future‑fit solutions, the question is no longer whether young people should be involved, but how they are meaningfully embedded in the systems, structures, and decisions that shape their futures. When youth are excluded, programmes risk becoming less responsive, less innovative, and…, , Generation Unlimited has intentionally cultivated a robust and cross‑cutting Youth Centrality approach. This ensures that young people are not positioned at the margins of development efforts but embedded throughout governance, programming, partnership‑building, and implementation. Within Generation Unlimited’s model, youth are not simply…, The Y in the PPYPInstitutionalizing Youth Centrality in GenU's PPYP Model A partnership with, for, and by Young People April 2026 Generation Unlimited 2 Contents 1. Introduction to Generation Unlimited a. Understanding Youth Centrality 2. Why do we need a Y in the PPYP? 3. From Engagement to Centrality a. Challenges and opportunities in adopting…

The assessment shows that the BeGreen Africa programme is making, in Kenya’s waste‑management sector. Within just two years, supported businesses, created more jobs, generated higher revenues, and processed more waste than initially expected, , proving that Kenya’s youth can drive both economic and environmental change. Over time, many enterprises have been able to, embed employment within their operating models, , maintaining stable teams even as business activity expands or contracts. This stability supports both productivity and longer‑term livelihood prospects for the young entrepreneurs and their employees. Overall, the findings point to a programme that is, strengthening youth‑run enterprises, , improving their ability to generate income, support local markets, and contribute to more sustainable waste‑management practices. The BeGreen Africa programme is building a foundation for, more resilient, community‑anchored livelihoods, that have the potential to grow even further over time.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding, reshaping systems across education, livelihood, healthcare, finance, communication and beyond. Children and young people are growing up at the centre of this transformation, engaging with AI as an increasingly integral part of how they learn, communicate, access information and imagine their…, brings together these hopes and concerns, calling for AI that is safe, inclusive, transparent and grounded in children’s rights. It urges leaders to ensure that AI strengthens learning, creativity and opportunity while safeguarding the dignity, protection and well‑being of every child and young person., Statement from Children and Young People for a Safe, Inclusive and Empowering AI FutureWe, the children and young people, are not passive users of technology butinformed participants, protected contributors, and empowered beneficiaries. We call on government bodies, private sector and technology companies to ensure that AIsystems are inclusive by…

The world is home to the largest generation of young people in history, with 1.2 billion youth today and numbers rising to 1.3 billion by 2030, the vast majority living in the Global South. Yet millions of young people face significant barriers in their transition from learning to earning, including high levels of unemployment, rapid technological…, outlines an action‑driven plan to unlock this potential by equipping, 144 million young people, — with at least, 60% young women, — with market‑relevant, job‑ready skills, and connecting, 6 million, to quality employment and entrepreneurship pathways. Grounded in public‑private‑youth partnership and anchored in UNICEF, the strategy focuses on strengthening national systems, expanding access to skills aligned with labour‑market needs, and advancing opportunities in three priority areas:, AI and digital transformation, ,, green skills and livelihoods, , and, targeted pathways for adolescent girls and young women., GenU will deliver impact at scale by leveraging EdTech, JobTech and AI, expanding global and national programmes, and working through public, private and youth partners to advance sustainable, systems‑level change. 

Generation Unlimited (GenU) is UNICEF's global public-private-youth partnership for youth skilling and livelihoods, turning a generation at risk into a generation of opportunity. Together with governments, businesses and youth, GenU scales solutions and strengthens systems to connect the world's largest generation of young people to skilling,…

A generation rising for people and planet.,  Two years since its launch at COP28, Green Rising has mobilized nearly 28 million young people to lead grassroots climate action and build green skills for livelihoods. Led by UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited and partners, and championed by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Green Rising invests in young people as catalysts of the green transition…, The journey of Green Rising, The interactive iframe below cannot be accessed via keyboard navigation due to external source limitations., From climate action to green livelihoods, Extreme climate events have thrown up significant challenges, but young people have grabbed and owned opportunities for innovation and leadership. Green Rising launched at COP28 in Dubai to activate 10 million young people toward concrete environmental action, building resilience in communities around the globe and bridging the gap toward skills…, CoBata solves an environmental problem and fills a gap in the Egyptian market,”, she says. Her idea grew via a programme offering training, mentorship, and stakeholder access – supported by Education Above All Foundation and building on initiatives led by Egypt Ministry of Youth and Sports with UNICEF and partners.  Embedded video follows Embedded video follows, Sample of environmental impact, Children and young people have inherited a crisis they didn’t create, yet they are proving the power of individual and collective action. Every step they lead on climate builds green skills and climate literacy while creating tangible environmental results.  Their actions inspire and challenge organizations, businesses, and governments to do more…, Stories of change, From installing solar panels in Mongolia to planting trees in Rwanda; from monthly actions in community groups across Brazil to soak pits in India; from green jobs in Egypt to circular economy entrepreneurs in South Africa, young people are leading the way through Green Rising. Green Rising partners with governments, the private sector and young…, A network of recycling champions brings livelihoods for young South Africans, Aneesha Davids runs a ReChas (Recycling Champions) site in Beaumont West, South Africa, where waste collectors earn money for dropping off recyclables. The programme trains unemployed youth and women in waste management, offers mentorship and startup capital, and equips sites with smart scales and a mobile app to track waste and payments. Aneesha…, “A bottle is not a bottle anymore. Now it can bring value to you.” , Read more here, A monthly national day for youth in Rwanda to plant change, Youth Umuganda is a national holiday that brings young people In Rwanda together for community service. In October 2024, to mark the launch of Green Rising in the country, over 2,000 youth from Gisagara District planted more than 11,000 trees. Since then, young people supported by UNICEF Rwanda with government agencies, the National Youth Council…, Youth power in action: Brazil adolescents lead environmental revival, In Salgado, Brazil, a group successfully advocated and closed an open-air dump harming their community, planting saplings to restore the site. This is part of #EntreNoClima, a movement mobilizing 382,000 young people across 759 municipalities through Climate Action Clubs. Led by adolescent groups under UNICEF’s Municipal Seal Initiative, these…, From anxiety to agency: How youth learnt new green skills via a chatbot, UNICEF's U-Report community for youth engaged 113,000 users via a chatbot equipping them with strategic thinking skills to boost their environmental advocacy, actions, and campaigns. The chatbot guided users to clearly define the problems they aimed to address, explore possible solutions, set specific goals, identify target audiences and potential…, Kenya agripreneurs transform local communities with climate-smart skills, In Kenya’s Kirinyaga County, 27-year-old Grace Nyawira is transforming her community through sustainable farming. On her small horticulture farm, she grows vegetables using regenerative techniques and trains over 130 local farmers, mostly women, on climate-smart practices. Grace also mentors students through school demonstration plots, showing how…, From local cleanups to national movement: India’s youth drive environmental change, In India's West Bengal, Siraj and his friends lead weekly clean-up drives along the Ganga River. Their pro-planet actions are reported on the #MeriLiFE app supported by the government of India. Together, they've removed over 15,000 kilograms of waste while also promoting actions to reduce e-waste, save energy, conserve water, and say no to single-…, Teaching a community the power of simple fixes, In Maharashtra, India, young students from Karmaveer Mamasaheb Jagdale College collaborated with the Department of Botany to raise awareness on water conservation. They inspected the campus, identified leaking taps, and fixed them using simple tools, saving around 2,240 litres of water every day. Their collective effort inspired students and…, Powering the future: Mongolian students bring clean energy to their communities, In Mongolia, 27 young people joined a four-day renewable energy training supported by UNICEF, Generation Unlimited and the Mongolian University of Science and Technology. Focusing on solar energy, they gained practical skills, leadership, and confidence to lead in their communities. Now, they are leading the way, teaching 2,000 more students about…, Data into action: Youth in 20 countries tackle waste through digital mapping challenge, On World Cleanup Day, more that 2,500 young people across 20 countries in Africa and the Caribbean learnt digital mapping skills, identifying and mapping waste hotspots and mobilizing local cleanups to turn data into impact for a cleaner planet. UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, Yoma, and the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap (HOT OSM) launched the Yoma…, A youth-led global movement for climate and justice, By 2030, Green Rising will stand as a defining model of youth climate leadership, mobilizing 100 million young people to protect both people and the planet.  When children and young people especially girls and young women gain opportunities to thrive, communities and countries flourish, giving way to a safe and healthy environment and an economy…, Voices supporting the movement, The interactive iframe below cannot be accessed via keyboard navigation due to external source limitations. Embedded video follows Green Rising is supported by Lead Partners: The interactive iframe below cannot be accessed via keyboard navigation due to external source limitations. Other notable partners:  The interactive iframe below cannot be…