Our strategic priorities

Our mission is to empower children and young people by ensuring they have a meaningful and effective voice in decision-making processes that impact their lives.

In line with this mission, our strategic priorities are guided by the needs and aspirations of children and young people. We also invest in the priorities identified by our partners, ensuring a collaborative and comprehensive approach to our work.

For information on the priorities of children and young people, see reports from consultations with more than 20,000 children in over 80 countries over the course of 2023-24 here.

Education

  • Children and young people are calling for education systems that prepare them for adulthood in both theory and practice. According to our consultation in Europe, a staggering 33% of children did not find learning in school useful for their future. They want to learn critical life skills such as project and budget management, presentation skills for job interviews, and digital literacy for the safe and responsible use of digital platforms.

    At the same time, many schools, both public and private, struggle with medium and poor PISA ratings, bullying, harassment, and preventing school dropout.

    We support schools and their students by ensuring that teaching and educational methodologies meet the diverse needs of the students. We focus on integrating critical thinking, creativity, and life skills development into the curriculum, and we boost school motivation by involving students directly in the decision-making processes related to their education.

Cities & urban environments

  • Despite children and young people increasingly connecting with peers globally, their daily lives are rooted in local realities. These realities are increasingly urban. By 2030, 60% of urban residents will be children.

    Cities and urban spaces are intersections of a wealth of actors whose decisions directly or indirectly impact the lives of children, young people, and their families. These actors include local governments, sports and youth clubs, businesses, and urban planners. This diverse network offers numerous opportunities for intergenerational decision-making through various platforms, such as youth councils that inform and engage with local governments, consultations on child-friendly policies and budgets, participatory decision-making in sports and youth clubs, and collaboration with businesses on urban planning, play opportunities, and environmental issues.

    With a proven track record in helping cities and communities become more child- and youth-friendly, we are committed to leveraging these opportunities to create environments where young people can thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Health and mental health

  • Children and young people are calling for education systems that prepare them for adulthood in both theory and practice. According to our consultation in Europe, a staggering 33% of children did not find learning in school useful for their future. They want to learn critical life skills such as project and budget management, presentation skills for job interviews, and digital literacy for the safe and responsible use of digital platforms.

    At the same time, many schools, both public and private, struggle with medium and poor PISA ratings, bullying, harassment, and preventing school dropout.

    We support schools and their students by ensuring that teaching and educational methodologies meet the diverse needs of the students. We focus on integrating critical thinking, creativity, and life skills development into the curriculum, and we boost school motivation by involving students directly in the decision-making processes related to their education.

Climate change

  • For years, many children and young people have spent their Friday afternoons demonstrating in the streets and calling for governments to take immediate action regarding the deteriorating climate. Today, they sue their governments at the international human rights courts.

    We do not think that should be necessary. Children and young people have a right to be heard in decision-making impacting their lives, and nobody disagrees that it very much is the children and young people of today – and their children – that suffer the most from the climate crisis. UNICEF estimates that almost half of the world’s children live in areas of extremely high risk for climate-related disasters.

    We therefore support initiatives aimed at strengthening intergenerational decision-making and focusing on identifying both immediate and long-term solutions.

    We particularly believe that more investment must be made in:

    • Ensuring that the perspectives of young people are included in environmental policy discussions and decisions.

    • Encouraging and supporting youth-led environmental projects and movements.

    • Environmental education: Equipping children and youth with knowledge about climate change and sustainability, informed by their perspectives.

Digital safety

  • In an increasingly digital world, safeguarding children and youth online is crucial.

    Children and young people call for more education on safe and responsible use of the internet and action from service providers, guided by their insights and experiences.

    As a welcomed development, many technology companies are demonstrating interest in ensuring that children and young people are protected from harm and that digital platforms meet international child rights standards as well as increasing national and regional policy and legislation.

    We are therefore happy to be collaborating with partners on strengthening digital literacy and online safety by working together with children and young people in identifying solutions that protect them from online threats such as cyberbullying, exploitation, and privacy breaches.

Inclusion of underrepresented groups

  • Our consultations with children and young people demonstrate that they face multi-faceted discrimination. This is notably the case for young children below the age of 13 and young girls and young women, as well as children from minority, underrepresented and vulnerable groups such as, children and young people on the move, living in institutions or on the street, with disabilities, LGBTQI+, and from different socio-economic backgrounds.

    Despite the goodwill of many stakeholders, ensuring inclusive voices in participatory processes and later civic and political particularly remains a significant challenge.

    This is notably the case for children from minority, underrepresented, and vulnerable groups.

    We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every child and young person, regardless of their background, is heard.

    Our focus is diversified and includes:

    • Diverse and inclusive representation in consultations, boards, and other advisory bodies: Ensuring diverse and inclusive representation is our highest priority in our Child and Youth Advisory Board and other advisory boards we've established. This commitment also extends to the consultations we've conducted with over 20,000 children and young people in more than 80 countries during 2023-24.

    • Cultural sensitivity and awareness: We promote understanding and respect for diverse cultures and backgrounds within all our programs.

    • Advocacy and guidance: We ensure that the policies and programs we work to inform represent the diverse needs of children and young people.

    • Policy development: We support the creation and revision of policies to ensure they are inclusive and equitable for all children, particularly those from marginalized or vulnerable groups.

    • Research and data analysis: We conduct thorough research and data analysis to identify the specific needs and challenges faced by different groups of children and young people. This evidence-based approach ensures that our advocacy is grounded in reality and addresses the most pressing issues.

    • Tailored learning and support: All our programs and direct engagements with children are adapted to the different groups and individuals we work with. This involves mapping learning needs and requires support mechanisms to ensure their participation is meaningful, ethical, safe, and, most importantly, a positive experience.