Youth Lead the Way: Unpacking the Digital Pact and the Pact for the Future

From 3-5 September, 2025, young leaders, SDG Supporters, and UN representatives gathered in Kafue district, South of Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, for a dynamic youth workshop focused on the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future. The event aimed to translate global agreements into local action, empowering Zambia’s youth to shape national development priorities.

Local Action Meets Global Vision

Organized by the United Nations in Zambia through the office of the Resident Coordinator, in partnership with a local youth-led Non-Governmental Organization, Youth on Sustainable Development (YSD), the workshop brought together over a dozen youth-led organizations and four UN Zambia SDGs Supporters. Participants explored how Zambia’s youth can align with the ambitions of the Pact for the Future, adopted at the 2024 UN Summit of the Future in New York.

“The Pact for the Future is not just a global document; it’s a tool for accelerating national development,” said Emmanuel Chinyama, Senior Economist in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. “Our youth have a critical role to play and must not be left behind.”

Dialogue, Creativity, and Action

Sessions included firsthand accounts from youth delegates who attended the 2024 Summit, and a bold visioning exercise titled “What If…?” that imagined Zambia in 2030 with all 17 SDGs achieved. Themes of equitable education, climate resilience, and digital inclusion emerged strongly.

“Young people are not waiting on the sidelines,” said Olivia Tutu, Co-Founder of YSD.
“We’re ready to design solutions, lead initiatives, and hold ourselves accountable.”

SDGs Hot Seat & Action Commitments

In the SDGs Hot Seat, UN Zambia SDGs Supporters— B Flow, Florence Jedidiah Mulenga, Susan K. Phiri and Abel Hangoma responded to rapid-fire questions from youth participants.

“Every action matters,” emphasized Florence Jedidiah Mulenga.
“The SDGs are realized through the daily choices and commitments of ordinary people.”

A highlight was the “My Action Step Video Booth,” where each participant recorded a personal commitment—from launching digital literacy clubs to advocating for climate justice. These videos will be featured in a national awareness campaign.

Next Steps

By the end of the workshop, youth participants had pledged to sustain momentum through:

• A digital knowledge hub
• A youth action plan
• Accountability check-ins within six months

The workshop showcased the power of intergenerational collaboration, blending youth energy with institutional expertise to drive Zambia’s development forward.

“We’re turning the Pact for the Future into a living, local movement for change,” one participant concluded.