The largest worldwide annual gathering of youth, hosted by the World Bank Group (WBG), will engage young people globally to address intractable issues.
In 2024, themed ‘Powering Progress: Youth Leading the Digital Transformation’, this 11th annual summit asks young people to use technology to solve development challenges.
With 2.6 billion people offline globally the digital divide impacts progress and limits educational opportunities for young people. The WBG Youth Summit in May will confront the divide; engaging young people, aged 18 to 35, to pitch solutions that address digital access and development opportunities through the use of AI and sustainable and green technology.
The summit presents creative opportunities for international educators to expose students to the ongoing work of the WBG, align curriculum activities to the initiatives activities and themes and to engage in or follow the summits progress. As an educational tool led by youth, for youth and applied to uplift youth in a global setting, it will be impactful through its interdisciplinary focus and support of global citizenship.
The Summit’s mission is to:
- Empower youth to explore innovative ideas that 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
Aligned with the World Bank’s Digital Development Practice, the summit focus on three subthemes:
- Digital Access and Inclusion
- Artificial Intelligence
- Sustainable Technology for a Livable Planet
In 2024 the summit asks participants to draw specifically on the perspectives of youth in areas affected by fragility, conflict and violence, women in technology and rural youth. Pioneering ideas will be invited to focus on these perspectives; to tackle the digital divide, promote inclusive and sustainable development, and explore opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies.
Aiming to empower youth to harness the potential of technology, the summit brings together young minds, global experts, and a wide range of stakeholders to shape the future and drive progress towards a more inclusive and sustainable world.
An excellent forum for young Australians and students to engage their international counterparts and to showcase the knowledge, creativity and capability of the Australian education system on the global stage.
You can watch and review the 2023 Summit here
For further information check out the FAQ (also available in French Spanish and Arabic) here
Applications for the 2024 Summit close on 1 March here
