Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing a crucial moment marked by profound transformations that particularly affect youth. With approximately 160 million young people—close to 25 percent of the regional population—this group faces structural challenges that compromise both their comprehensive development and the progress of the region as a whole.
The recent 2024 Ibero-American Youth Survey, conducted by the International Youth Organization for Ibero-America (OIJ) with support from CAF, reveals contrasting data: while more than 70 percent of young people are confident that their personal situation will improve in the next five years, their optimism regarding the future of their countries is lower, falling below 60 percent. Their main concerns include violence and insecurity, followed by unemployment, the economy, and access to educational and employment opportunities.
“In a context that calls on young people to innovate to maximize their influence in decision-making and strengthen democracy, this forum for dialogue is a great opportunity for youth voices to have an impact on building the future of development,” said Richard Barathe, UNDP Resident Representative in Argentina.
The meeting, which runs until August 29, seeks to analyse the structural challenges facing Latin American youth, with a special emphasis on gaps in inclusion, access to rights, and effective participation in decision-making. The initiative also aims to highlight successful experiences and innovative best practices that have proven effective in promoting youth inclusion and intergenerational dialogue. Participants will also work to develop concrete strategies aimed at an agenda for innovation and strengthening youth policies, integrating rights-based approaches, territoriality, and support in the transition to adulthood.
“It is essential to strengthen effective mechanisms that guarantee the real and meaningful participation of young people at all levels of political and social decision-making. The inclusion and effective participation of youth are essential conditions for ensuring the continued strengthening of democratic governance in the region,” said Christian Asinelli, CAF’s corporate vice president of strategic programming.
The meeting represents a significant step toward recognizing youth not only as beneficiaries of public policies, but also as key actors in driving changes toward sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean. This dialogue is part of the joint CAF-UNDP agenda on the interdependence between governance and development in Latin America and the Caribbean and joins the previous editions in 2023 and 2024 to continue promoting institutional transformations to leverage the set of sustainable development goals (SDGs).
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