The future of the United Nations Development System must be built with students and young people as active partners, not merely as beneficiaries. This was the message delivered by Falit Sijariya, speaking on behalf of the Global Student Forum (GSF) and the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group (EASG), during the side event "The Future of Multilateralism: Building the UN Development System for the Post-2030 Era" held alongside the 2026 ECOSOC Operational Activities for Development Segment.
The event brought together representatives from across the UN system, Member States, academia, and civil society to discuss how ongoing UN reforms, including the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) and the UN80 initiative, can contribute to a more effective, inclusive, and future-oriented multilateral system.
Representing both GSF and EASG, Falit highlighted that students are among those who will live with the consequences of today's decisions on global governance and sustainable development. He stressed that meaningful student participation must be embedded throughout the design, implementation, and evaluation of international development policies. At a time when many students and young people feel that their voices are not adequately represented in decision-making processes, participation must go beyond consultation alone. Meaningful engagement also requires clear feedback mechanisms that demonstrate how contributions have influenced outcomes, ensuring that students not only have opportunities to speak, but also feel heard and represented within the system.
The intervention underscored the unique role of students as contributors to research, innovation, civic engagement, and democratic participation. As universities and educational institutions continue to play a central role in addressing global challenges, student voices must be recognised as an essential part of shaping the future of the multilateral system.
The discussion explored how the UN Development System can become more anticipatory, inclusive, and accountable in the years beyond 2030. Participants reflected on the importance of ensuring that future reforms are guided not only by institutional efficiency, but also by the perspectives of the communities and generations that will inherit the outcomes.
As a co-sponsor of the event, the Global Student Forum and the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group were pleased to contribute to this important conversation and to ensure that the perspectives of students were represented in discussions on the future of international cooperation.
Through its engagement in the Education and Academia Stakeholder Group and broader UN processes, GSF remains committed to advancing meaningful student participation in global decision-making and building a multilateral system that works for present and future generations.
