The young generation are no longer content to sit aside, waiting for adults to shape their digital future. From Colombia’s rural area to Tanzania’s workshop, young people are taking action to build their data-driven solutions from the ground up. 

At a recent UN webinar hosted by the Secretary-General’s Data Strategy team, two youth leaders from the Commitment to Data Governance Fit for Children showed what this looks like in practice. Speaking directly to UN professionals worldwide, they talked about the power of data—a tool that can strip opportunities from marginalized communities or open pathways to inclusion and justice and called for greater investment in strengthening youth engagement.  

Their ask was clear: Find us. Trust us. Let us lead. 

Reflections from the Frontlines 

Juan Felipe, a youth leader with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited from Colombia, spoke about the role of inclusive data practices in creating real change in rural communities. “Data helps us understand local contexts,” he said. “But the value isn’t just about the numbers; What’s more important is that data allows us to see what’s really happening.”  

Speaking from personal experience, Juan explained how data-driven policies often fail to capture “the full reality in society”, especially in underdeveloped regions where data infrastructure is outdated or incomplete. When data isn’t inclusive, vulnerable populations, such as children, are often underrepresented from the narrative. He urged policymakers and researchers to move beyond spreadsheets: Go to the field. Talk to young people directly. The problems we face don’t always show up in reports. 

With limited resources and communication channels in rural areas to convey their voices upwards, Juan stressed the need for decision-makers to take the initiative in engaging these communities. He also pointed out that young people are eager to speak up. They care deeply about their countries and are driven to build a better world for all. Reflecting on his own journey, he added: “I love Colombia, I love the opportunity to participate in meaningful discussions, and I love the mission to fight against social injustice. From local to global, we are the same.” 

Navina, a Tanzanian feminist and Data Values Advocate from the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data (GPSDD), believes co-creation is key to meaningful youth engagement.  

In her initiative, Data Power Tanzania, she brought together dozens of young feminists across the country to discuss critical topics such as data ethics, AI bias, and digital safety.  “This was not a lecture style project, but rather, it was interactive in nature,” she explained. By listening closely to young females, assessing their needs, and identifying key gaps, Navina’s team and attendees co-designed a workshop, which not only helped address questions young people have, but also provided hands-on data skills training to empower them to address real-world challenges. 

“Youth and children should not be excluded from data governance discussions with the assumption that these topics are complex for them.” Navina said. Drawing on her own experience, she pointed out that while data governance may sound like a big term at first, it can always be broken down and connected to local issues to make it more relatable. There are always data-related issues that concern different groups in the community, from data privacy to data protection. 

Recognized for their impactful work, Juan and Navina were invited to join the United Nations World Data Forum (UNWDF) as youth representatives for the Commitment to Data Governance Fit for Children — an initiative led by UNICEF that aims to protect and promote children and youth’s rights in the evolving digital age.  

A Platform Like No Other 

In a packed hall of 2,700 attendees, 18 young leaders took the mic and seized their moment. For the first time at the UN World Data Forum, young people’s voices generated so much momentum.

Sitting face-to-face with high-level decision-makers — including Piedad Urdinola Contreras, Head of Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), and Ola Awad, President of the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics — the young advocates didn’t hold back. They raised tough questions on issues like gender discrimination in data collection and the global gap in AI development. Not to provoke, but because they understood that genuine change begins with open and honest conversations. 

During an intimate, cross-generational breakfast discussion with senior policymakers from the UN agencies, government ministries and big tech organizations, the young representatives also didn’t shy away. They actively walked to those who inspired them, asking thoughtful questions from lessons learned in their career to how data can be used to create better outcomes for the greater society. 

At the heart of their advocacy was the Declaration of Children, Adolescents, and Youth on Responsible Handling of Data. Presented during the Forum’s closing ceremony and again in a closed-door session with the High-Level Group for Partnership, Coordination, and Capacity Building under the 2030 Agenda, the declaration urged leaders worldwide to ensure data serves the young generation, no matter where they are.  

During the webinar, Juan and Navina reflected on their work with the Commitment to Data Governance Fit for Children and discussed what still needs to be done moving forward in the field of data governance. 

They spoke about the need to institutionalize youth participation in global platforms like the UNWDF and beyond. The brilliance of youth leaders shouldn't depend on being “invited” to events. Their voices should be part of the conversation from the start, embedded into governance structures, advisory boards, and accountability frameworks. The reality is far from ideal. “There were so few of us young people at the conferences — we could easily spot each other in the hallways,” Navina said. 

The Commitment to Data Governance Fit for Children makes a real effort to include diverse voices, offering translation services during discussions. But as Juan pointed out, language remains a barrier for young people to participate on global stages, especially for those growing up speaking non-mainstream languages. And it’s not just about English — even within translated spaces, the language of data governance can often be overly technical and hard to grasp. True inclusivity means using clear, accessible language and creating relatable resources that meet young people where they are. 

Funding was another big issue they raised. As Navina reflected, many young people doing meaningful work in their communities are missing from these global spaces simply because they can’t afford to be there. “The voices of young people are huge, but those who appear? The number is very small,” she said. It’s not that young people don’t care, but that the broader system hasn’t yet made it a priority to support them. That needs to change, especially for young people in the Global South. 

Let the Youth Lead 

The stories of Juan and Navina are a snapshot of something bigger happening around the world: the next generation is more confident than ever and ready to take control of their own future. 

The webinar also echoes a trend that’s hard to ignore: Young people are increasingly being recognized as capable and legitimate stakeholders in shaping global policies. 

This shift in recognition is just the beginning. When young people are truly heard and given the space to lead, data governance finds its most passionate allies: a strong force full of fresh ideas and the courage to challenge the status quo. And when they are brought into the process from the start, data governance transcends technical implementation; It becomes a powerful tool for genuine inclusion and meaningful change. 

That’s the vision behind UNICEF’s work and the Commitment to Data Governance Fit for Children it leads. It’s already starting to take root. 

*** 

The UNWDF Commitment to Data Governance Fit for Children is a pioneering initiative spearheaded by UNICEF that unites a diverse group of organisations and young leaders, committed to ensuring that children’s rights are prioritised in the rapidly evolving world of data and AI.  

This commitment brings together:  

• Youth representatives ‒ from Generation Unlimited's Young People’s Action Team, Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data’s Data Values Advocates, Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Envoy’s Young Leaders for the SDGs, UNICEF Colombia’s Red Nacional de Participación Adolescentes en Movimiento por sus Derechos ‒ to amplify youth perspectives and co-create solutions for positive change;  

• UNICEF’s Data Governance Fit for Children Programme to advocate for programmes, policies and systems that are grounded in child and youth rights;  

• DevelopMetrics to integrate ethical AI, supervised machine learning, and fine-tuned large language models in collaboration with youth at the onset of AI development;  

• Highway Child to ensure that children’s voices are authentically represented and that the information they share through in creative content is safeguarded;  

• Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority to promote responsible government AI systems that prioritise child wellbeing needs and provide a data driven perspective to decision making;  

• The GovLab to empower children by ensuring data and technology are used to make more effective, equitable, and legitimate decisions that solve public problems;  

• The Datasphere Initiative to empower diverse youth communities by equipping them with knowledge and tools to amplify their participation in data governance and AI policy discussions  

• and The Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data to amplify youth voices and empower young people to engage meaningfully in data governance, strengthening their ability to lead impactful, multi-stakeholder collaborations. 

(Lead image by Jordan Elliott on Unsplash)

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