Youth Roundtable in Turkmenistan: #YouthLead(ership) – Accelerating Progress on the SDGs through Intergenerational Dialogue

The roundtable featured high-level participation, including:

• Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan

• Ms. Myahri Byashimova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

• Ms. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative

• Ms. Chynar Rustamova, Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO

• Mr. Kemal Goshliyev, Head of UNFPA in Turkmenistan

• Mr. Azat Atayev, Deputy Minister of Education

“Supporting youth initiatives is not only about resources — it’s about trust, recognition, and shared responsibility. Events like the #YouthLead(ership) roundtable create space for intergenerational exchange, where young people can voice their ideas and shape the future alongside national and UN partners.”
— Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan

Participants reflected on the outcomes of last year’s youth dialogues and shared priorities for accelerating SDG progress. The roundtable facilitated meaningful exchange between youth and decision-makers, resulting in concrete commitments to integrate youth recommendations into UN strategies and national development plans.

Young SDG Ambassadors presented achievements from the past 18 months, including their contributions to national and international platforms, training initiatives, and policy dialogues. Their presentations served as both a progress report and a call to action for broader youth engagement.

The event’s centerpiece — an intergenerational panel discussion — enabled young participants to pose questions directly to senior officials on topics ranging from inclusive education and youth participation in decision-making to digital innovation and sustainable development financing. The dialogue underscored the importance of listening, partnership, and shared responsibility across generations.

This roundtable was convened in honor of two global milestones: the 80th anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th anniversary of the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). The global #YouthLead Festival, coordinated by the UN Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and brought together governments, youth organizations, civil society, and the UN system to mobilize bold intergenerational solutions for the 2030 Agenda and the Pact for the Future.