Our Work

Overview

The Children and Youth Constituency for Sustainable Communities (CYCSC) conducts its activities primarily around relevant UN system meetings and processes (see below under 'Avenues of Engagement'). Our activities encompass one or more of our four Areas of Work (see below).

CYCSC's typical activities include drafting position papers, delivering statements, organizing side events at relevant meetings/conferences, hosting youth consultations, and organizing webinars.

Areas of Work

Policy and Advocacy

CYCSC facilitates the collective participation of young people in official, formal and informal avenues of policy design, implementation, monitoring, follow-up, and review at all levels as related to sustainable urban and territorial development, and advocates for the meaningful participation of young people within these processes.

See here for some past examples of CYCSC's statements delivered at various UN system meetings.

Knowledge

The CYCSC provides a platform for dialogue to create an evidence base for best practices on sustainable urban and territorial development. This includes the assessment of existing knowledge, the generation of new knowledge, the identification of emerging issues, the effective use and dissemination of knowledge, and encompasses inputs from formal, informal, traditional and indigenous forms of knowledge.

See here and here for some past examples of CYCSC's knowledge generation and mobilization work..

Action

CYCSC provides a platform that encourages members to lead, join, showcase and share innovative and effective actions and programmatic work aimed at addressing policy and practise in relation to sustainable urban and territorial development.

See here and here for some past examples of CYCSC working to showcase youth-led actions.

Capacity-building

CYCSC facilitates capacity-building activities for young people to enhance their understanding, knowledge, and skills in relation to sustainable urban and territorial development, meaningful engagement, and the UN system.

See here for some past examples of CYCSC's capacity-building work.

Avenues of Engagement

General Assembly of Partners

The General Assembly of Partners (GAP) is an innovative, inclusive and independent multi-stakeholder partnership platform that convenes more than 1,100 unique organizations with over 58,000 networks working on sustainable urban development. CYCSC serves as the GAP's Children and Youth Partner Constituent Group (PCG).

Frequency: Ongoing

More information: https://generalassemblyofpartners.org/

New Urban Agenda

Follow-up and review of the New Urban Agenda is a continuous process, which includes report by the UN Secretary-General's on implementation once every four years ("Quadrennial Reports"). Quadrennial reports will be published in 2022, 2026, 2030, and 2034.

Frequency: Ongoing

More information: https://unhabitat.org/about-us/new-urban-agenda

Upcoming work:

Preparation for the 2022 Quadrennial Report is underway. The report will be reviewed at a High-Level UN General Assembly & ECOSOC Segment currently scheduled for May 2022.

World Urban Forum

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization, and is convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat).

Frequency: Bi-annual (every 2 years)

More information: https://wuf.unhabitat.org/

Upcoming work:

The next session of the World Urban Forum (WUF11) is occurring in June 2022 in Katowice, Poland.

UN-Habitat Governing Bodies

UN-Habitat's three governing bodies are: the Executive Board, the Committee of Permanent Representatives. and the UN-Habitat Assembly.

Frequency: Varies

More information: https://unhabitat.org/governance

Upcoming work:

The next session of the UN-Habitat Assembly is scheduled for 2023.

High Level Political Form

The HLPF is the main United Nations platform on sustainable development. The HLPF has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level. CYCSC participates in the HLPF via the Major Group for Children and Youth.

Frequency: Annual

More information: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf

Upcoming work:

Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) is scheduled for in-depth review at the HLPF in 2023.

ECOSOC Youth Forum

The ECOSOC Youth Forum is the main global platform for youth to share their ideas and solutions related to sustainable development and other topics. The Forum's main focus is the role of youth in the monitoring, review and the implementation of the Agenda and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CYCSC participates in the ECOSOC Youth Forum via the Major Group for Children and Youth.

Frequency: Annual

More information: https://www.un.org/ecosoc/en/ecosoc-youth-forum

Upcoming work:

Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) will likely be a focus area the 2023 ECOSOC Youth Forum, in alignment with its review at the 2023 HLPF.