Hosted by the United Nations Foundation, the Unlock the Future coalition is more than an alliance – it’s a powerhouse of ambition and hope.
We bring together the world’s largest youth and child-focused organizations under one banner, leveraging their shared convening power to champion the rights and voices of next and future generations.
Formally launched in 2022, Unlock the Future’s member networks collectively reach almost one billion people worldwide. This unprecedented global partnership is united by a bold commitment: to unlock a better future by placing young people at the heart of decision-making and action.
In 2015, world leaders set out the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a roadmap for a future where humanity and the planet thrive in harmony. Yet progress has stalled, with only 17% of those goals on track. Young people today face crises not of their making, from climate change to inequality, but their ideas and energy are too often left out.
Unlock the Future exists to change that. We harness young people’s potential, talent, and leadership – especially in the “young countries” of the Global South – to accelerate action on the SDGs and drive solutions that leave no generation behind.
We serve as a bridge between youth-led movements and the halls of global power, ensuring the world’s youngest and future citizens have a real say in shaping the policies that impact their lives. Our message is simple but urgent: let young people lead the way in building a just, sustainable future for all.
The Unlock the Future coalition unites young people, civil society, and global institutions to amplify youth voices and ensure they shape critical global decisions—especially those affecting future generations. At the heart of this effort is our ambitious Road to 2100 strategy, guiding collective action toward the final SDG Summit in 2027 and paving the way for a more inclusive and future-focused global governance system beyond 2030.
From global forums to local communities, the Unlock the Future coalition is already turning ideas into action.
We have convened a series of National Town Halls across 18 countries (and counting), from Brazil to India to Sweden. These youth-led dialogues bring young people face-to-face with UN officials, government leaders, and policymakers in their own communities.
Each Town Hall is uniquely tailored to its country – participants share bold ideas and solutions on issues like climate, jobs, or education, and work side-by-side with senior leaders to chart a better course to 2100. By engaging everyone from teenagers to grandparents, the town halls bridge generations and turn local voices into global action.
Insights from these forums are already informing national policies and feeding into international discussions, underscoring the coalition’s role in making sure community voices resonate on the world stage.
Recognizing that transformative change requires sustained investment, the Funders Collective brings together philanthropic partners and funders committed to supporting youth-led solutions.
By pooling resources, ideas, and networks, this initiative provides young changemakers with flexible and sustainable funding to tackle the world’s toughest challenges – from climate resilience to social justice – ensuring youth-led innovation has the backing it needs for real impact.
Global policies often feel distant or complex. Story Lab bridges this gap, transforming intricate UN processes and policy issues into accessible, engaging narratives.
Through compelling content – articles, animations, infographics, and reports – Story Lab ensures young people around the world understand how international decisions affect their lives, and empowers them to actively shape the global agenda.
Developed by Engine Room changemakers, a youth-led platform supported by Unlock the Future, the Learning Agenda identifies critical questions young people worldwide believe we must address by 2100. Structured around the “5 Ps” – People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships – it sets the frame for solutions and innovations for the future informed by youth insights and lived experiences.
Unlock Declaration II (2023): Unveiled at the 2023 SDG Summit, Declaration II mobilized thousands of young changemakers, urging world leaders to recommit to SDGs through enhanced youth leadership, innovative financing, and strengthened youth representation at all governance levels.
Unlock Declaration I (2021): Launched alongside the UN Secretary-General’s landmark Our Common Agenda, Declaration I outlined a bold, youth-driven vision, urging world leaders to prioritize intergenerational solidarity and sustainability in global governance.
Join the Unlock the Future coalition in reshaping the future. Whether you’re a young changemaker, civil society organization, policymaker, or funder, your involvement can drive transformative change:
Together, we can ensure young people lead the way towards a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for everyone, everywhere.