Established in 2013, the Youth Summit is an annual event hosted by the World Bank Group (WBG) to engage with youth globally on the most pressing topics facing our generation.
The primary goals of the Summit are to (1) empower youth to explore innovative ideas to tackle emerging development challenges, (2) provide youth with the tools to build and engage in impactful projects, and (3) promote dialogue between youth, the WBG, and other key stakeholders globally.
The 2019 WBG Youth Summit will be a two-day interactive event, taking place at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington, DC from December 2-3, 2019.
Applications Close on October 6, 2019 (11:59pm ET)
The two-day Summit will include keynote speeches from leaders in the field, stakeholder discussions for delegates and livestream audience and expert panels that offer targeted insights.
Attendees will enjoy the Innovation Marketplace, where you can learn about partner organizations through interactive exhibits and engage directly with industry leaders.
NEW THIS YEAR: This year’s World Bank Group Youth Summit will feature a new action-based learning component: Smart City Solutions Case Challenge:
Over the course of the Summit, all participants will gain real time experience in a team-based, simulated scenario identifying key challenges and opportunities in the development of a smart city. Through facilitated working sessions led by leading development practitioners, you will work with your peers to develop and present your solutions. The case challenge will provide a unique opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, problem-solving skills, and creativity while co-creating and networking with your peers and experts in the field.
The Summit also includes the live pitch of the finalists of the Youth Summit Competition to an expert judging panel and livestream audience (see below for further information).
2019 Youth Summit Competition
Do you have an idea that has the capacity to leverage technology to build sustainable and inclusive cities that will serve the needs of 1 million inhabitants by 2030?
Deadline for Submission: October 13, 2019 (11:59 PM ET)
Cities are places of opportunity. Globally, 4 billion people – more than half the global population – live in cities. By 2030, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, and a third of the world’s population will be housed in cities with 1 million or more inhabitants. Majority of this growth will occur in developing countries.However, rapid urbanization at this scale presents unparalleled challenges. The increasing population density, shocks from environmental pressures, growing infrastructure demands, and the increased expectations from residents and visitors for basic services are straining already limited resources. This year, the Youth Summit Competition challenges young changemakers to harness smart technology to:
Address the rising impacts of climate change and pollution in urban cities
Promote urban inclusion to enhance social, political, and economic empowerment
These solutions will seek to address problems that lie at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, human development, and sustainable development for cities, which will impact the future of our youth and generations to come.
Eligibility
The Competition is open to individuals or teams of 1-4 people, aged 18 to 35 as of 11:59 pm ET on October 1, 2019 (prior entrepreneurial experience or business background is not required)
Proposals must be the original work of the participant(s), related to one of the themes specified, submitted in English, and applicable to at least one client country of the World Bank
World Bank Group staff, including consultants and interns, are not eligible to participate in the Competition.
Selection Criteria
Clarity, scope and relevance of the problem and of the proposed solution;
Innovation and originality;
Feasibility of implementation and sustainability over time;
Potential for impact; and
Compliance with competition criteria.
For more information about the Summit and the Competition, please visit website or contact youthsummit@worldbank.org.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.