Beyond a Seat at the Table: What HLPF 2026 Taught Me About Meaningful Youth Participation
Mabintou Ouattara
Field Engineer, EIT; SDG 10 Lead, UNAC SDG council
One of the questions I carried with me to the High-level Political Forum was who is still being left behind?
As the SDG 10 Lead on the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) SDG Council, that question shapes much of my work. SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, is often discussed as a standalone goal, but in reality it cuts across every aspect of sustainable development. Whether we are talking about climate action, infrastructure, decent work, education, or innovation, inequalities determine who benefits from progress, who has access to opportunities, and whose voices are missing from the conversation.
Representing Canadian youth at the 2026 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) gave me the opportunity to explore those questions alongside government representatives, UN officials, civil society leaders, and young people from around the world. More importantly, it gave me the opportunity to contribute to those conversations from both an engineering and a youth perspective.
A Memorable Moment
The most memorable moment of the week was drafting and delivering the bilingual formal youth response during an official HLPF side event co-hosted by UNA-Canada, the Government of Canada, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on sustainable cities, infrastructure, and partnerships. Instead of simply responding to the panel, I wanted to challenge how we think about implementation. I spoke about planning people as intentionally as we plan projects, making youth participation permanent rather than occasional, recognizing libraries, makerspaces, schools, and accessible healthcare as essential social infrastructure, and creating realistic implementation pathways as we approach 2030. For me, it reinforced that youth perspectives should not be an afterthought. They should help shape the decisions being made from the beginning.
Another highlight was participating in a youth roundtable with Canada’s Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, Annie Koutrakis. Opportunities like this are rare. Rather than speaking to young people, the discussion created space to listen to young people, to speak with young people. I hope this becomes a lasting part of future HLPFs and inspires similar conversations here in Canada.
I also had the opportunity to meet Canada’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations, ambassador David Lametti, and the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, Gregor Robertson. During our conversation, I shared why I believe we need to expand our definition of infrastructure. Roads, bridges, houses, and transit systems are essential, but so are libraries, makerspaces, community learning spaces, and accessible healthcare facilities. These places expose young people to new possibilities, reduce barriers to opportunity, and strengthen communities. We also discussed the importance of ensuring that rural, remote, and Indigenous communities are not left behind when infrastructure investments are made.
Multilateralism and National Reviews
One experience that stayed with me was watching Member States vote on the HLPF Ministerial Declaration in the General Assembly Hall. Seeing multilateralism unfold in real time reminded me that global cooperation is rarely simple. It is built through dialogue, compromise, and a shared willingness to keep moving forward despite differing priorities.
I was equally interested in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs), where countries reported on their SDG progress. While many presentations showcased important achievements, I found myself wishing we heard more directly from young people and from communities that continue to experience barriers. Honest reflection on challenges is just as valuable as celebrating success, because transparency creates opportunities to learn from one another. With Canada preparing its own VNR next year, I hope we embrace both our achievements and the areas where more work remains.
Three Lessons
Looking back, three lessons stand out.
First, implementation matters just as much as ambition.
We already have many of the ideas, technologies, and commitments we need. The challenge is turning those commitments into realistic plans with accountability, measurable outcomes, and the resources to deliver them.
Second, meaningful youth engagement must move beyond consultation.
Young people should help define problems, design solutions, implement initiatives, and evaluate results. Participation should be continuous, not occasional.
Finally, sustainable development is ultimately about people.
Infrastructure is not only about what we build; it is about who gains opportunities because of what we build. Investing in schools, libraries, healthcare facilities, and makerspaces is also investing in future engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, and community leaders. As I shared during my youth response, you cannot choose a pathway you were never given the opportunity to see.
What Comes Next
Returning to Calgary, I am bringing these lessons back into my work as an engineering professional, as SDG 10 Lead with the UNA-Canada SDG Council, and as Executive Director of the Ubora Women’s Initiative. I want to continue advocating for youth-centred policymaking, stronger investment in social infrastructure, and implementation plans that recognize the realities many communities continue to face as we work toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
Message to Other Young People
If I could leave one message for other young people, it would be this: don’t wait until someone tells you you’re ready. Start where you are. Ask questions. Share your ideas. Get involved in your community. The Sustainable Development Goals belong to all of us, and building a more equitable future will require every one of us to help shape it.
Author Profile
Mabintou Ouattara
She/Her
Field Engineer, EIT; SDG 10 Lead, UNAC SDG council
Calgary, AB
SDGs of Interest: 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 17
Mabintou Ouattara is an engineering professional, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) Lead with the United Nations Association in Canada’s SDG Council, and Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Ubora Women’s Initiative. Recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 30 Under 30, she advances the Sustainable Development Goals through engineering, youth engagement, and inclusive leadership, with a focus on reducing inequalities and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities. In 2025, she represented Canada as a delegate to the United Nations CSW69, contributing to international discussions on gender equality and women’s rights.
