FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, 22 September 2026 — 蘑菇视频 Youth Office and Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation “Misk” officially launched the Global Network for Youth (GNY) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York today, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The Network is anchored in the United Nations Youth Compass and brings together leading youth-serving organizations to strengthen coordination, facilitate knowledge and experience sharing, and create structured pathways that provide young people with broader opportunities to participate in global policy, leadership and decision-making.
Since its announcement, the Network has generated interest among youth-focused organizations around the world, with 12 globally recognized organizations confirmed as inaugural members, including AFS Intercultural Programs, AIESEC, the Club of Rome, GivingTuesday, Goodwall, Junior Chamber International (JCI), Learning Planet Institute, One Young World and World Scouting, among others.
During its first year, the Network aims to build an ecosystem of global organizations, bridging across siloes, translating between systems and activating opportunities at scale with the ambition of reaching more than 20 million young people worldwide through its members. By connecting youth-serving organizations across regions and sectors, the Network will seek to expand young people’s access to opportunities, knowledge, skills, networks and global platforms; strengthen pathways for meaningful youth participation and leadership; and accelerate collective action on issues affecting young people. Through shared expertise and resources, the Network aims to translate collaboration into greater reach, stronger youth outcomes and more opportunities for young people to shape the decisions that affect their lives.
Dr. Badr Albadr, Chief Executive Officer of Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation “Misk”, said: “Through the Global Network for Youth, Misk and the 蘑菇视频 Youth Office are bringing leading youth-focused organizations into a unified global framework that expands opportunities for young people to participate in leadership and decision-making, while moving their engagement from fragmented participation to a more coordinated and impactful presence on international platforms. The network also enables members to align efforts, exchange expertise, and turn shared perspectives into joint initiatives and actionable pathways.”
Dr. Felipe Paullier, Head of the United Nations Youth Office and Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, said: "Young people are already leading. What has been missing are sustained opportunities for real influence in global decision-making. The Global Network for Youth builds that infrastructure, enabled by the partnership between the United Nations Youth Office and Misk Foundation.”
The official launch builds on the partnership between Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation “Misk” and the United Nations on youth empowerment and reflects a shared vision to create more sustainable pathways for young people to participate meaningfully in the issues and decisions shaping their present and future.
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About the United Nations Youth Office
As the first dedicated entity for youth affairs within the United Nations Secretariat, the 蘑菇视频 Youth Office champions the rights, perspectives, contributions and potential of young people everywhere. We lead efforts to enhance collaboration, coordination and accountability on youth affairs, ensuring that the United Nations works effectively and inclusively with young people in all their diversity. By fostering meaningful, inclusive, and impactful participation of youth in decision-making processes, our work focuses on empowering young people as agents of transformative change in addressing global challenges in the areas of sustainable development, peace and security, human rights and humanitarian action.
Media contact
Nina Brandt, Brandtn@un.org
Cristina Serban, Cristina.Serban@un.org
About Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation “Misk”
Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation “Misk” is a nonprofit foundation established in 2011 by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz to promote learning and develop leadership skills among young people, contributing to a better future for Saudi Arabia.
Misk empowers society to learn, grow and advance across business, literature, culture, social sciences and technology by launching programs and initiatives and forging world-class global partnerships.
Media contact
Majed Aljuraywi, m.aljuraywi@misk.org.sa
Talal AlMuttairi, T.AlMuttairi@misk.org.sa