UNDP Youth Champions Highlight India’s Perspective at UN General Assembly

Actors Sanjana Sanghi, Prajakta Koli and Bhumi Pednekar represented different aspects of UNDP India’s outreach, using their respective platforms to discuss the role of young people and citizens in advancing a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Sanghi, a UNDP India youth champion, called for a shift in how young people are viewed in development programmes, arguing that they should be treated not only as beneficiaries but also as partners and decision-makers.

On September 16, she participated in a high-level dialogue titled “A Generation at the Crossroads: Dynamics Facing Youth in Asia and the Pacific”, alongside UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo, UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja and permanent representatives from countries across the region.

Drawing on her work with young changemakers through Youth Co:Lab, Sanghi emphasised the importance of giving young people greater access to opportunities and a meaningful role in decisions that directly affect their lives. She also took part in a conversation with De Croo during the General Assembly session on what young people need to shape their futures.

Sanghi later joined the UN Peace Circle at UN Headquarters on September 21 to mark the International Day of Peace. The event brought together UN Under-Secretary-General Melissa Fleming, UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Mary Maker, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Muzoon Almellehan and youth representatives involved in the UN’s “Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World” campaign.

During the session, Sanghi spoke about the importance of investing in young people, including through education and health, while reiterating the need for youth to have a role in decision-making rather than being treated solely as recipients of development initiatives.

She also participated in the discussion “Powering the Transition: India’s Climate Economy and What it Means for the Global South”, which examined green growth, decarbonisation, climate finance and the need to ensure that the transition to a lower-carbon economy remains equitable.

Sanghi also met UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, with discussions focusing on climate action and the potential role of young people in driving more sustainable development.

Meanwhile, UNDP India Youth Climate Champion Prajakta Koli served on the high-level judging panel for the 2026 UN SDG Action Awards. According to UNDP India, she became the first Indian to join the jury, which recognised individuals and initiatives working to translate the Sustainable Development Goals into action.

The UN SDG Action Awards recognise efforts that use innovation, creativity and collective action to advance the objectives of the 2030 Agenda.

UNDP India Advocate for the SDGs Bhumi Pednekar also participated in engagements around the General Assembly, drawing attention to the urgency of climate action and the role individuals can play in protecting the environment.

UNDP India said the participation of the three advocates reflected different approaches to bringing development issues closer to the public, while highlighting a common emphasis on youth agency, climate action and the SDGs.

The agency said greater opportunities, platforms and decision-making space for young people would be important to ensuring that they can contribute meaningfully to shaping the policies and decisions that influence their future.