Virtual Event Support for a Side Event to CSodD64

Mission and objectives Think Tank AlterContacts contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through research, publications, initiatives and facilitating constructive dialogue on International Development worldwide. Our key initiatives are aimed at Eradicating Ignorance, Empowering Entrepreneurship and helping organizations to instil the mindset of sustainability, track and measure their contribution to the UN SDGs. Think Tank AlterContacts is a collaboration of rare experts that provide advice, generate ideas and explore solutions to specific problems on demand. We provide access to one thousand years of accumulated experience distributed globally in a network of networks. We bring together unique and diverse talents, skilled experts who make things happen without stealing the spotlight, passionate about what they do and really care about who they do it for. We run our activities from savings of co-founders and on volunteer contribution of the experts. We hope with UNV Online Volunteering service we can find people who will support us in our mission to build a better future for humanity.

ContextTo shape the future in a sustainable, inclusive and fair manner, people who will be directly affected by it – youth – should be closely involved in its design and implementation. In line with the CSocD64 priority theme “Advancing Social Development and Social Justice through Coordinated, Equitable, and Inclusive Policies”, this Virtual Side Event – hosted and facilitated by Think Tank AlterContacts, NGO in Special Consultative Status with the ECOSOC – aims to engage young people in defining their future and the new framework Beyond GDP. CONTEXT As stated in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Pact for the Future and Our Common Agenda, there is an urgent need to develop measures of progress that go beyond gross domestic product (GDP), which overlooks many aspects that sustain life and contribute to human well-being, while placing unjustifiably high value on activities that deplete the planet. In May 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed the Independent High-Level Expert Group Beyond GDP to develop a new framework that would better reflect human well-being, equity, and sustainability. In support of that effort and building on the insights from the Interim Report of the HLEG Beyond GDP, this Virtual Side Event is meant to contribute to promote people-centred and integrated approaches in achieving social development for all; and help understand what truly matters to young people – “how we define progress in our lives, communities, countries and the world.” As mentioned in the written statement by AlterContacts submitted to the High Level Political Segment 2025: in collaboration with local governments in the Mediterranean region of Europe, we have tested various methods for youth engagement and the results speak for themselves. Early involvement of young people in the local decision-making can educate them about sustainable issues of their villages and towns better than any school. Potentially forming young leaders who will choose to stay and bring sustainable development to their settlements. KEY OBJECTIVES In support of the World Programme of Action for Youth, with this Virtual Side Event we aspire to: Engage young people in defining a new framework for measuring truly sustainable development with people and planet at heart; Encourage a new systemic approach to problem-solving, ideation, solution design, and entrepreneurial thinking; Get the young people acquainted with the SDG framework, how it can be used to address the key issues “hands-on”; Provide them with a forum to be an active citizen; Facilitate networking among the participants that can help in their professional lives. PARTICIPANTS This interactive online event will bring together participants across different languages, geographies, and sectors, including youth, civil society, academia, private sector, NGOs, and local and regional authorities. We hope for balanced participation of women and men, with special focus on youth and students. The invited speakers and facilitators are women between 25 and 37 years old.

Task DescriptionWe are looking for Online Volunteers to support our team with the implementation of the Virtual Side Event to the 64th Session of the Commission for Social Development, hosted by AlterContacts, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC. It will take place on February 6, 2026, from 17:30 to 18:45 CET (Amsterdam time). The topic of the event is \"Beyond GDP: The Voice of Youth in Advancing Social Development\". We expect 300-400 online participants for this session. To make sure that they all get heard, we will be hosting breakout rooms with 3-5 people in each. It means that we might have around 80 to 100 breakout rooms. That is where we need the assistance of Online Volunteers. We are looking to onboard 90 Online Volunteers in order to support a smooth and effective flow of the event and breakout rooms. Each Online Volunteer (one per breakout room) will support the event in the following ways: 1) Facilitate introductions of 3-5 participants of the breakout room; 2) Remind of the questions that need to be answered; 3) Make sure everyone has an equal time to share their opinion. 4) Take notes of the insights and observations shared by the participants of the breakout room. The event has a goal of making people feel heard and their opinion on Beyond GDP taken into account. We will be grateful to have a team on Online Volunteers helping us make it happen.

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