The World’s Toughest Job - Our Future Agenda

Ethiopia

On November 16, 2024, the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy, Ms Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, supported by the United Nations Foundation, the World Economic Forum and Global Shapers will convene a High-Level Ministerial Youth Town Hall titled: “Multilateral Governance: Reigniting Youth Leadership for Today and the Future.” The Town Hall will spotlight Africa’s Panel of the Future, highlighting the need to transform multilateralism, placing youth leadership at the center, including the priorities of African young people to be integrated into future policies. The discussions will enable views from young people, ministers, policy makers, heads of state and stakeholders across various sectors.

Plastic Pollution INC-5/Republic of Korea

This Town Hall aligns with the Youth and Stakeholder Assembly on Plastic Pollution, taking place on November 24 in Busan, Republic of Korea. This strategic gathering will bring together youth voices and diverse stakeholders, providing an intergenerational platform for coordinating and amplifying advocacy efforts for a plastics free future.

Find out more about Plastic Pollution INC-5

Costa Rica

The Intergenerational Peace Conference of San José will focus on engaging participants in an interactive and intergenerational dialogue, presenting solutions and good practices to advance the commitments from the Future Summit. The event will take place on December 10, International Human Rights Day, and follows the 76th anniversary of the abolition of the Army in Costa Rica.

USA/Mexico

This Town Hall, organized by the UCSD Design Lab, UN Foundation, World Design Capital, YMCA of San Diego County, and YMCA of the USA will engage an intergenerational, binational audience to capture perspectives on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. A series of events are taking place in the region between September and November 2024, and a culminating Town Hall will be held on December 7.

More: Invitation, Survey

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Poland

This Town Hall will take place alongside the 2024 European Scout and Guide Academy, a unique event designed to provide participants with high quality training and networking opportunities around the core priorities of the WAGGGS and WOSM European Regions.

South Africa

This Intergenerational Dialogue, co-hosted by the UN Foundation, YMCA South Africa, Engage South Africa, and the Leading Like Mandela Institute, will take place at the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, South Africa on November 30, 2024. This event is structured around six critical and forward-thinking dialogue themes, which will be led by an intergenerational pair of facilitators.

Spain

This Town Hall, organized by the Federación Española de Guidismo, took place on October 19-20, 2024 as part of the organization’s 40th anniversary. Around 100 young leaders and subject matter experts gathered in El Escorial, just outside of Madrid, to discuss and amplify the visions of the local communities across Spain regarding the Sustainable Development Goals.

African Union

On September 27, 2024, the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC), in collaboration with the African Union Chairperson’s Special Envoy on Youth (AU OYE) and BBC Africa, gathered 12 Young Africans alongside UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed to engage on the Future of Africa. During this Town Hall Discussion, which occurred on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, young people provided their perspectives on pressing issues and offered solutions to promote growth, prosperity and a sustainable future across the continent. Among them were members of the newly launched Africa’s Panel of the Future, supported by the UN Foundation, who engaged in a reflective discussion on the critical role African youth play in addressing the climate crisis and shaping global governance.

In the Press: The Herald; AllAfrica; Lerenifleur224; TheObserver; SpikedMedia; Bambouguinee.com; Pan African Visions; Spiked Media (Intl Girl Day); sportywaynewsnet; gemnation

Sweden

On September 11, 2024, Shared City Foundation, in collaboration with the UN Foundation, hosted “För en bättre framtid” (For a Better Future), a Town Hall centered on promoting global cooperation for a better future. The discussions addressed a range of global challenges such as poverty, hunger, education, health, climate change, and peace. The Town Hall gathered participants across generational boundaries and diverse sectors, exploring how Sweden can face the great challenges of our time with courage, hope, and purposeful action.

Blog

Sierra Leone

On August 27, 2024, the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, in partnership with Purposeful and the United Nations Foundation, hosted various stakeholders to discuss the future of peace and national cohesion in Sierra Leone. The event aligned with a historic milestone for Sierra Leone, as it was elected to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the period of 2024-2025.

Livestream

Mexico

The Intergenerational Assembly: Building a Collective Vision For The Future, hosted by Enseña por México, took place in Tlatelolco, Mexico City on August 29, 2024, where 150 children, youth, policymakers, educators, and experts gathered to envision a future where Mexico had the opportunity, support, and sustainability to thrive. The town hall focused on key issues for the country such as intergenerational justice, youth activism, climate action, peace and security, global governance, youth and education, sustainable development and technological innovation. This event provided a platform for strengthening a community of changemakers from every generation who are passionate about empowering young leaders and driving sustainable change.

Report

Egypt

From August 17-23, 2024, Scout leaders from 176 Member Organizations participated in three International Town Hall sessions. These sessions were organized in collaboration with the UN Foundation at the 43rd World Scout Conference in Cairo, Egypt, engaging over 1,500 delegates from 174 countries. Seasoned decision-makers, young leaders, and attendees committed to making a positive impact in their communities were invited to share their expertise, including 18 speakers and government officials from both the Global North and South who used the platforms to address key issues shaping the future.

Coverage:

Leaders of the present and future to meet for a pivotal intergenerational town hall. Read…

UN Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed highlights Scouts as key leaders in tackling global challenges, praises World Scouting’s role in youth empowerment. Read…

In the News

Brazil

The Brazil Futures Town Hall was hosted by Observatorio Internacional da Juventude in partnership with the Igarapé Institute on August 16, 2024. The event, which occurred in Rio de Janeiro in alignment with the Rio de Janeiro World Capital campaign, gathered approximately 60 young activists, peace promoters, and representatives from youth organizations committed to promoting peace. It facilitated open dialogue and generated recommendations for international forums on key issues, including food security and food systems, constitutional rights for intergenerational justice, energy transition, and climate security.

In the Press: Diariodorio

In the News

India

On the International Youth Day, August 12, 2024, over 200 students, policymakers, diplomats and social influencers came together to discuss India’s future at Youth Sabha 2047 in New Delhi. The event, co-hosted by the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) and the United Nations Foundation, included diverse panel discussions, fireside chats, and in-depth breakout sessions focused on cities, health, oceans, food, and energy. Prominent speakers included the UN Resident Coordinator Mr Shombi Sharp, UNSG’s SDG Advocate Ms Dia Mirza, and Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian in space, among others.

In the press: Mint, Economic Times, The Print, NDTV, Telegraph India.

Watch

Indonesia

The Unlock coalition hosted a two-part intergenerational town hall in Indonesia, focusing on the theme “Standing Strong with Girls and Youth in Indonesia Towards 2100 Vision.” The first event, held on July 30 in partnership with Plan International, emphasized youth empowerment and included insights from UNDP’s SDG Push Diagnostics and Signals Spotlight platforms into discussions. The second town hall, held on September 7 in Jakarta, attracted hundreds of participants and featured youth activists alongside high-level representatives from the Ministry for Human Development and Culture and UN Women Indonesia.

Report

USA

On June 2, 2024, UNA-USA hosted an Intergenerational Town Hall as part of their 2024 Leadership Summit in Washington, DC. Each year, the summit brings together over 250 activists, and during this year’s Town Hall sessions, intergenerational Americans shared their ideas for what the United States, and the world, should look like by 2100. They shared bold visions that reflect a deep commitment to the principles of justice, equity, and sustainability.

Our Future Agenda

The World's Toughest Job Exploring what the world expects from the next United Nations Secretary-General

This year, the world will choose the next United Nations Secretary-General.

In the run-up to the appointment, we’re exploring what this role demands today and what the world expects from the person who holds it next.

This is a job that affects millions across borders and generations, so it’s critical that global, intergenerational insights are helping define its expectations.

On this page find out more about how you can get involved and help us create a global snapshot of young people’s expectations, priorities and perspectives for the next Secretary-General.

We will translate your ideas, goals, and ambitions into clear recommendations for the UN’s new leader – including through an Open Letter – as we look to reimagine how global leadership is defined in the years ahead.

Events

Decoded

Survey

Connect

The Job Description

Read and share a job description for the next United Nations Secretary-General, shaped by over 2,000 young people worldwide.

Moving beyond titles, resumes, and individual candidates, it sets out what this role demands in a world facing conflict, climate pressure, deepening inequality, and growing distrust in institutions.

Read now

Survey

What do you think the world needs from its next UN leader? Share what you expect from the next Secretary-General through our survey.

Putting aside job titles, resumes, and individual candidates, we want to know what you really think, with a focus on values, priorities and trust in global leadership.

Take the Survey

Events

Virtual Dialogue Series on the Next UN Secretary-General

In 2026, the United Nations will select its 10th Secretary-General, a role often described as the world’s top diplomat. But what does that job actually involve? What kind of leadership does this moment demand? And how should young people and young countries shape expectations of the office?

The World’s Toughest Job is a four-part intergenerational dialogue series as part of a broader effort by the United Nations Foundation. Each session unpacks a different dimension of the Secretary-General’s role to demystify the job and surface priorities that reflect the realities of a rapidly changing world.

The Role

What the UN Secretary-General actually does: how global priorities are set and cooperation is kept moving in a divided world.

Watch Now

The Trade Offs

How decisions are really made inside the UN, why trade-offs shape outcomes, and what judgment looks like when power is shared.

Watch Now

The Leadership

The qualities that matter most in global leadership today and what young people expect from the person representing We the Peoples.

Watch Now

The Vision

How the UN Secretary-General helps anticipate what’s coming next and protect the interests of future generations.

Watch Now

Insights will feed into a youth-led open letter and final synthesis report on how leadership of the office is understood from day one.

Decoded

Who is the United Nations Secretary-General? What do they actually do? How much power do they really have?

Whether you’re unfamiliar with the role or just need a refresher, this series of explainers sets outwhat the Secretary-General does, how the position works, and why the next selection matters for people everywhere.

The Role

What the UN Secretary-General actually does and why the role is often misunderstood.

Dive In

The Selection

How the UN Secretary-General is chosen, and why the selection process might feel so opaque.

Dive in

The Trade-Offs

How leadership operates inside the UN and why it doesn’t work like your government.

Dive In

The Vision

Moments when the UN Secretary-General shaped the world and what the next tipping point could be.

Dive in

Ethiopia

Plastic Pollution INC-5/Republic of Korea

Costa Rica

USA/Mexico

Poland

South Africa

Spain

African Union

Sweden

Sierra Leone

Mexico

Egypt

Brazil

India

Indonesia

USA

The World's Toughest Job Exploring what the world expects from the next United Nations Secretary-General

This year, the world will choose the next United Nations Secretary-General.

The Job Description

Survey

Events

Virtual Dialogue Series on the Next UN Secretary-General

The Role

The Trade Offs

The Leadership

The Vision

Decoded

The Role

The Selection

The Trade-Offs

The Vision

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