The 1st Global Development Public Policy Youth Innovation Contest Held

On July 21, the final of the inaugural Global Development Public Policy Youth Innovation Contest was held at Renmin University of China.

After six months of competition, this global event focusing on "Food Security and Poverty Eradication" drew worldwide attention. Following multiple rounds of judging, 15 finalist teams gathered in Beijing.

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the 10th anniversary of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a core component of achieving the SDGs, "food security and poverty eradication" remains a formidable challenge.

"Youth and innovation are natural partners," stated Francis Garry, Co-Chair of the Academic Committee of the UN SDGs and Leadership Development Center. "We urgently need to seek inspiration and momentum from young people to address these two critical issues and achieve the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development."

"Young people are astute observers at the forefront of the era and pioneering visionaries of future landscapes. Facing unprecedented global changes, we need more public policies that combine theoretical value with practical significance, and we must continuously invigorate the field of public policy with youthful energy," emphasized Zhang Donggang, Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of Renmin University of China. He pledged to transform the contest into a vital platform where youth empower global development and foster mutual progress.

"This contest is not just a competition but also a platform for dialogue and exchange among young people worldwide," noted Carlos, FAO Representative in China. Amid the daunting journey toward achieving the 2030 SDGs, innovative solutions proposed from a youth perspective can offer valuable references for international leaders and policymakers.