(All times are in U.S eastern time.)

7:50-7:55     Opening ceremony | WATCH THE REPLAY!

Welcome and run down of the activities by the Master of Ceremony.

•    Alice Vandenberghe, YS23 Steering Committee Co-Communications Lead
•    Marco Fayet, YS23 Master of Ceremony

7:55-8:05     Introduction of the 2023 Youth Summit Theme by the Manager | WATCH THE REPLAY!

•    O'Neall Massamba, YS23 Steering Committee Manager

8:05-8:15     Opening remarks by Keynote Speaker | WATCH THE REPLAY!

•    David Malpass, President, World Bank Group

8:15-9:00    Roundtable – Celebrating 10 years of the WBG Youth Summit: Bringing youth-led local solutions to the global stage | WATCH THE REPLAY!

For 10 years, the WBG Youth Summit has brought together young people from all over the world to exchange ideas, explore innovative solutions, and learn from each other's experiences. This session celebrates this milestone with a conversation among former Youth Summit Managers and Pitch Competition Finalists, as well as senior WBG leaders. This dynamic roundtable discussion will highlight the importance of youth-led local solutions with a global impact and showcase the support provided by the WBG to young innovators through community-driven development projects and the WBG Youth Summit. 

•    Mamta Murthi, Acting Managing Director of Development Policy and Partnerships
•    Ousmane Diagana, Vice President of the World Bank for West and Central Africa
•    O'Neall Massamba, Moderator, YS23 Steering Committee Manager
•    Hope Ndhlovu, Founder and CEO of TUVERL
•    Kilian Koffi, MBA Candidate, Columbia University
•    Zenna Law, Co-founder and CEO of Pinkcollar

9:00-10:00    Plenary Session 1 – Setting the Community Agenda: How Local Development Strategies Have a Global Impact | WATCH THE REPLAY!

A deep dive into the theme of this year’s Summit, this session will highlight how local development solutions can sustainably eliminate poverty and reduce income inequality on a global scale. In alignment with the World Bank Group's community-driven development approach, the Summit will use the lens of local voices, experiences, and solutions to discuss three critical development challenges: (1) fragility, conflict and violence (FCV), (2) climate and energy; and (3) jobs and skills. This plenary conversation is an opportunity to discuss community-driven development projects with young innovators, a WBG representative, and a representative from the private sector.

•    Sofyan Yusufi, Deloitte Principal - Risk and Financial Advisory Leader for International Development Organizations Practice
•    Patrick Barron, World Bank’s Global Lead for Social Cohesion and Resilience 
•    Sera Bulbul, Research and Advocacy Associate for the Hunger Project & the Movement for Community-led Development
•    Julie Ryan, Moderator, Risk Communications Officer 
•    Menno Pradhan, Professor of Economics at the University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
•    Sara Boughedir, Program Officer on Forced Displacement, Center for Mediterranean Integration

10:10-11:05    Activity 1 for Online Delegates – Youth, Jobs, and Conflict: Navigating Complex Delivery Systems | WATCH THE REPLAY!

Fragility, conflict and violence are not static or linear – nor are development solutions. WBG research consistently shows that locally led development solutions are the most effective to reach remote or insecure areas in FCV locations. Local solutions through community-driven development are highlighted in the World Bank’s FCV strategy as one of six areas for special emphasis. This session will focus on insights, lessons learned, and best practices for strengthening delivery systems and strategies for youth employment and education. 

•    Heela Yoon, Founder of Afghan Youth Ambassadors for Peace Organization
•    Ivanna Khrapko, Chairman of the Youth Council of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine 
•    Lucky Omaar, Project Manager, Women, Peace and Security Project
•    Noris Moreno, CEO of Más Resilientes
•    Sylvie Umwere, Moderator, Admin & Client Support of the World Bank

11:10-11:40    Fireside Chat 1 – Breaking the Cycle: Grassroots Solutions to Gender-Based Violence | WATCH THE REPLAY!

Gender-based violence affects one in three women worldwide according to the WBG. This somber and dark problem devastates potentially every aspect of a survivor’s life including health, education, and financial security. This fireside chat between two well-regarded experts will discuss innovative ideas and best practices at the local level, as well as obstacles that need to be overcome to end gender-based violence.

•    Maria Gonzalez de Asis, Practice Manager, World Bank Social Sustainability and Inclusion Unit
•    Raaga Akkineni, Moderator, 2023 Pitch Competition Co-Lead
•    Hanna Lemma, Founder and Director, Addis Powerhouse
•    Iryna Pavlyk, GBV specialist from UN Women Country Office, Ukraine

11:40-12:30    Plenary Session 2 – Rising Seas, Rising Tensions: The Intersection of Fragility and Climate Change | WATCH THE REPLAY!

This plenary session will present the intersectional challenges of climate change and areas affected by FCV. Climate change can exacerbate FCV situations by leading to droughts, floods, and food insecurity. Environmental shocks such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions have devastating effects on local communities already affected by instability and violence. The WBG predicts that climate change could force 216 million people across six world regions to move within their countries by 2050. Additionally, access to food is becoming increasingly unreliable because of both FCV supply shocks and extreme weather events driven by climate change. To deliver durable development outcomes that ensure peace, stability and security, it is vital to act decisively to address both FCV and climate change. Local solutions may provide the most effective and long-lasting strategies. 

•    Louise Cord, Global Director for Social Sustainability and Inclusion, World Bank
•    Srujani Shrawne, Moderator, Pitch Competition Co-Lead for the 2023 World Bank Group Youth Summit   
•    Amina Bintaleb, YOUNGA Youth Delegate 2021 for the UN General Assembly
•    Binta Bajaha, Special Assistant to Emergency Director at World Food Program
•    Jevanic Henry, Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Fellow
•    Opira Bosco Okot, Founder of the Leads and Climate Change Activist 

15:05-16:35    Activity 2 for Online Delegates – Green Jobs, Golden Experience: Youth and the Green Transition | WATCH THE REPLAY!

Green jobs are decent jobs to preserve or restore the environment. Promoting green jobs can be a powerful tool to address many global issues such as rural poverty, unemployment, climate change, and food insecurity. The transition to green jobs is projected to generate over 24 million full time jobs by 2050. Green jobs, in addition to providing innovative solutions to climate change and preventing environmental degradation, can help solve the rural youth unemployment crisis. Green jobs can also strengthen energy security and solidify energy sources in rural areas. Let’s explore how youth are already creating, promoting, and taking green jobs around the world.

•    Elizabeth Ruppert Bulmer, Lead Economist in the Jobs Group at the World Bank
•    Gibson Kawago, Founder and Chief Technical Officer of WAGA
•    Hanyuan Karen Wang, Founding Member of Carbonbase
•    Yurshell Rodriguez, Environmental Engineer
•    Vicky Aridi, Moderator, Program Manager for YEO 2030 Initiative & Advisor for Green Jobs for Youth Pact

MORNING SESSIONS

Opening of Day 2. Welcome and run down of the activities by the Master of Ceremony | WATCH THE REPLAY!

•    Alice Vandenberghe, YS23 Steering Committee Co-Communications Lead
•    Marco Fayet, YS23 Master of Ceremony

Opening remarks and Q&A with Keynote Speaker | WATCH THE REPLAY!

•    Axel van Trotsenburg Senior Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank

Poetry Reading 

•    Shenna Ross, Senior HR Assistant

Plenary Session 3 – My House, My Community, My Action: Locally Led Climate Adaptation | WATCH THE REPLAY!

This session will highlight the importance of locally led climate adaptation initiatives and their potential to empower vulnerable groups on the frontlines of climate change, including women, youth, indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. The session will introduce principles for locally led adaptation action, designed to guide the development of effective and equitable climate adaptation strategies at the community level. The principles recognize the value of local knowledge, participation, and ownership in building resilience to climate impacts, with the involvement of local actors in decision-making around climate finance seen as a key success factor. The panelists will also represent different vulnerable groups on the frontlines of climate change. They will showcase innovative adaptation solutions developed in their local communities, including nature-based solutions. 

•    Stéphane Hallegatte, Senior Climate Change Adviser, World Bank
•    Bianka Kretschmer, Moderator, Adaptation Fund Climate Change Specialist
•    Arno Fontaine, Founder of ThinkCity
•    Fatou Jeng, Founder of Clean Earth Gambia
•    Joshua Amponsem, Founder of Green Africa Youth Organization
•    Joyce Mendez, United Nations Secretary General’s Youth Climate Advisor

Fireside Chat 2 – Keeping the Lights On: Community Leaders and Green Energy Security | WATCH THE REPLAY!

This session will explore local leaders and activists in clean energy innovation. Reliable and sustainable energy systems exist when climate change, energy security, and private sector development all come together to succeed. 

•    Stanley Anigbogu, Founder of LightEd
•    Aditi Maheshwari, Senior Operations Officer of IFC Climate Business Department
•    Kaihao Cai, Moderator, IMF Research Analyst
•    Neha Juneja, Co-Founder of Greenway Appliances

Activity 3 for Online Delegates – Budding Start-ups, Blooming Innovation: Navigating the Journey of Youth Entrepreneurship | WATCH THE REPLAY!

Young people face more challenges to entrepreneurship than ever – education, access to financing, regulatory business protections, mentors, and much more. Policymakers could do more to help youth entrepreneurs create sustainable businesses by improving entrepreneurship education, training programs (outside of education), entrepreneurship coaching and mentoring, business incubators, and start-up financing.

•    Alieu Jallow, Founder of Startup Incubator Gambia
•    Dr. Adereni Abiodun, Founder and CEO of HelpMum
•    Lemnec Tiller, Co-Founder of Wayuuda Foundation
•    Richa Gupta, CEO of the Labhya Foundation
•    Leila Fall, Moderator, World Bank Human Development Analyst 

Live Presentations by Pitch Competition Finalists | WATCH THE REPLAY!

Listen to the inspiring six final teams of the 2023 WBG Youth Summit Competition pitch their innovative ideas live. Beginning this spring with more than 1,300 proposals, six finalist teams made it to the final round of the 2023 WBG Youth Summit Competition. No one is in a better position than young people to innovate and overcome obstacles in an era of fast-paced, technology-driven change.

AFTERNOON SESSIONS

Plenary Session 4 – A Decentralized Approach to a Sustainable and Resilient Recovery | WATCH THE REPLAY!

After the outbreak of Russia’s war in Ukraine, multiple environmental disasters, and the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 70 million people than previously projected could be driven into poverty. WBG research shows that community-driven decision-making ensures a more equitable and long-lasting recovery from such crises. While initial efforts have rightly focused on mitigating immediate impacts, there is now a need to focus on comprehensive support to transform local economies for longer-term economic recovery and resilience. This session will hear from local leaders and activists on their unique approaches to a resilient recovery from crisis in their community. 

•    Loli Arribas-Banos, Practice Manager for Social Protection and Jobs at the World Bank
•    Sarah Sladen, USAID's Agency Youth Coordinator
•    Varalakshmi Vemuru, Practice Manager, Social Sustainability and Inclusion, World Bank
•    Iman Hamidaddin, Moderator, World Bank External Affairs Consultant
•    Eddy Frank Vásquez-Sánchez, Founder of Juventud Sostenible

Breakout Session 5 – Final round of the Case Challenge Solutions’ Presentations | WATCH THE REPLAY!

Final presentation for the case challenge! 7 winning teams from each regional group will present their final solutions in the Summit. With experts from the World Bank Group and other institutions, youth representatives from more than 100 countries, and more than 250,000 watching online, it’s a good time to showcase your solution as a team and more importantly, to manifest the voice from youth group. In this session, each team will make the final presentation and the audience will vote for their favorite team. 

Lightning Talks | WATCH THE REPLAY!

In-person delegates now have the opportunity to make lightning talks. Each speaker gets 60 seconds to discuss an idea, issue, or opinion. These talks will spark new conversations and give delegates the opportunity to present on a World Bank stage.

Pitch Competition and Case Challenge Awards Ceremony | WATCH THE REPLAY!