UN's Big Brainstorm - Feb 13-27

Calling on all young thinkers and activists interested in tackling the biggest challenges facing young people today. The Big Brainstorm is a chance to explore ideas for a landmark report being prepared by the UN Secretary-General, which will make recommendations to “advance our common agenda to respond to current and future challenges.”

Big Kick-Off | 13th February

• To kick off the Big Brainstorm, join us to explore how the international community can listen to and work with young people.

Big Pitch | 27th February

• Your chance to present your ideas, with prizes for the most innovative and actionable ideas.

Spotlight Sessions | Throughout

• Get involved in topics including climate change and education. Listen to talks from experts, participate in creative exercises, and see what Action Groups have been working on.

We’ll be following an Open Space Principle – everyone is welcome to:

• Form an Action Group.
  Gather your ideas and present them at the ‘Big Pitch’.
• Join someone leading a group.
  Share your ideas and help present at the ‘Big Pitch’.
• Join us for Spotlight Sessions or the Big Pitch.
  Share your opinions and vote for your favourite ideas.

Register your interest in the Big Brainstorm here!!

You’ll need a stable internet connection to watch sessions and interact with your Action Group. The main events of the week will be hosted in English. Action Groups can work in any language as long as one person can present ideas at the Big Pitch in English.

The Big Brainstorm is part of the "Our Common Agenda" Project. Our Common Agenda has been launched in response to the request by member states at the 75th session of the General Assembly for the 
Secretary-General to report back within a year with ‘recommendations to advance our common agenda and to respond to current and future challenges’. The development of the agenda is being supported by an integrated team led by the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, with the UN Foundation, and the Igarape Institute. Southern Voice, ACCORD, and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore (NUS) will also act as key partners. Our Common Agenda is a multi-track process with four tracks - Member States, Thought Leaders, We the Peoples, and Young Thinkers, feeding into a final report from the Secretary-General. The Young Thinkers track will focus on the half of the world’s population who are under the age of 30 and the 10.5 billion who are yet to be born this century. This will be a space for young people to put forward recommendations on how to: provide better education and skills training; guarantee jobs and economic opportunities; promote active citizenship and participation; and protect the futures of young people. We are also looking for ideas on how the international community can better ‘listen to and work with young people’ in line with the 12 commitments outlined by member states in a declaration to mark the 75th anniversary of the UN.