Returning for its 10th edition, the World Bank Group Youth Summit aims to engage youth on the most pressing topics facing their generation, bringing together thousands of participants from around the world.
The Summit will take place on May 25-26, 2023, with activities and engagements in different regions and at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington DC.
About the World Bank Group Youth Summit
Established in 2013, the Youth Summit is an annual event hosted by the World Bank Group to engage with youth globally on the most pressing issues facing their generation. As the largest youth worldwide annual gathering at the World Bank Group, the primary goals of the Youth Summit are to:
Empower youth to explore innovative ideas to tackle development challenges
Provide youth with the tools to build and engage in impactful projects
Promote dialogue between youth, the WBG, and other key stakeholders globally
The 2023 World Bank Group Youth Summit themed ‘From the Ground up: Local Solutions to Drive Global Impact’ is dedicated to ensuring development solutions are generated locally, elevated globally, and scaled cross-regionally. In alignment with the WBG’s decentralization approach, the Summit will honor local ownership, local knowledge, and local solutions as the pathway to responsively tackle global development challenges.
WHY IS IT RELEVANT?
Climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic. War and forced displacement. Energy shortages. Worldwide inflation. By 2023 these overlapping crises have caused the biggest setback to ending global poverty since 1990 – making international development more relevant than ever.
Young people are among the most vulnerable to these crises. Youth unemployment is at its highest level since 1991. Almost half of the global refugee population is under 18. And as climate change worsens, our future looks less and less certain.
As the WBG pushes to correct course on poverty reduction and support resilient recovery, the Summit will localize the spotlight, shifting power to youth on the ground. Young people bring some of the boldest solutions at the local level. In towns and villages around the world, youth are finding innovative ways to use technology, such as creative solar panel delivery, female-led education platforms, and much more.
YOUTH SUMMIT 2023: Six New Moments
10 Year Anniversary Celebrations to commemorate 10 years of the World Bank Youth Summit through interspersed reflection moments with former YS managers, delegates, and pitch competition winners, as well as a closing anniversary celebration.
Lightning Talks to spark new conversations among YS in-person and virtual delegates by elevating, sharing, and presenting innovative solutions through powerful, bite-sized presentations.
Hybrid Regional Events to enhance localized engagements and ensure local voices are elevated throughout the YS.
Networking speed dating and delegate buddy program to promote greater collaboration, professional development, and community amongst YS delegates.
Case Challenge Winners present to WBG team to ensure that proposed case challenge solutions are shared with Task Team leaders and team members who could carry the work forward.
Speaker/panelist diversity with targets of 50% women, 50% youth (35 or under), 25% from FCV countries, 20% indigenous community members, and all WBG regions represented.
The 2023 WBG Youth Summit Competition is a call for innovative and action-oriented solutions from young people that aim to address some of the world's most pressing challenges through grassroots-based local solutions with the potential to make a global impact.
The competition will provide a global platform for young problem-solvers around the world to showcase their unique, innovative solutions in the form of a pitch deck.
The competition rewards the most innovative idea that fosters one of the themes below:
Local solutions to address challenges faced by Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) affected regions. Submissions under this pillar may include but are not limited to Famine, Drought, Food Security, COVID-19 pandemic setbacks, Displacement, Refugees.
Solutions that address Climate change challenges and support Energy transition and security. Submissions under this pillar may include, but are not limited to: Climate resilience, financing, transition, efficiency, energy management and policies, adaptation to climate shocks.
Solutions that focus on job creation and skill development for financial independence. Submissions under this pillar may include but are not limited to Entrepreneurship, financial independence, education and skill development, and employment
Procedure & deadlines
STAGE 1 – Information Session on February 13, 2023
Watch the replay of this event to learn more about the theme of the competition and how to participate.
STAGE 2 – Submit your proposal (Deadline: March 11, 2023, 11:59 pm EST)
Applicants and pitch decks will be evaluated by an expert committee. Shortlisted individuals/teams will be announced by early April and will proceed to the next stage.
Applications can be submitted in Arabic, English, French or Spanish, and you can use the pitch deck template for guidance.
STAGE 3 – Refine your Idea & Prepare your Pitch (April)
Individuals/teams shortlisted in Stage 2 will receive feedback on their pitch deck and may be asked to submit further information and refine their pitch deck.
STAGE 4 – Pitch your Idea at the Youth Summit.
Finalists will join the 2023 WBG Youth Summit at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington D.C. Travel expenses will be covered, including lodging for up to three nights for one representative from each team, subject to the WBG COVID restrictions.
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