What works to amplify the rights and voices of youth in health?
Lessons from the meta-synthesis of United Nations evaluations to advance the effective action for youth health and mental well-being by 2030.
Young people today face increasingly complex and interconnected challenges that shape their physical, mental, and social well-being. Alongside traditional health risks, they experience growing pressures related to mental health, social exclusion, economic uncertainty, digital environments, and climate-related stress. These issues are closely linked with broader determinants such as education, employment, social protection, and access to inclusive services.
The UN Youth Strategy, Youth 2030, calls for strengthened evidence and partnerships to advance youth health and mental health across sectors. In response, the evaluation offices of UNFPA and UNICEF — together with the UN Youth Office, UNDP, WHO, EvalYouth Global Network, International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations, and UN Major Group for Children and Youth—are co-leading an inter-agency meta-synthesis of evaluation evidence from across the UN system.
From Evidence to Action: What Works to Advance Youth Health and Mental Health
This side event will provide an opportunity to share emerging insights from the meta-synthesis and engage youth, policymakers, and practitioners in dialogue on how evidence can drive more effective and inclusive action for youth health worldwide.
What to Expect
Join youth leaders, policymakers, practitioners, and development partners for a critical dialogue to:
- Share insights from the inter-agency synthesis on youth health and mental health;
- Explore the policy and programme implications, including how evidence can inform effective and scalable interventions;
- Facilitate dialogue between young people, policymakers, and practitioners, translating evidence into actions;
- Highlight youth perspectives and lived experiences to inform policy and programme design; and
- Identify priorities for strengthening partnerships, evidence use, and implementation approaches to advance youth health outcomes within the 2030 Agenda
Programme
Speakers from UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Youth Office, UNDP, youth leaders, and government representatives.
Date & Time
14 April 2026 (Tuesday) | 1:00 - 2:30 PM Eastern Time
Venue
📍 UNICEF House, Danny Kaye
