Delegations — Y7, Y20 and the UN fora
Delegations
Every year YAS selects the young people who speak for Italy in the official youth engagement groups of the G7 and the G20, and in delegations to United Nations fora. Every seat is assigned through an open, public call.
The mandate
The Y7 and the Y20 are the channels through which each G7 and G20 presidency hears from young people — engagement groups with the same standing as those for business, labour or science.
Being a delegate is not attending a conference: it is a months-long negotiation with the delegations of the other member countries, ending in a Final Communiqué addressed to the Heads of State and Government. YAS organises the Italian participation, in collaboration with the Sherpa Office of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Where delegations go
The Y7 and Y20 mandate is the core. Around it, YAS fields youth delegations to UN processes.
- Y7
The G7 youth summit, hosted by each presidency in turn. A year-long process: positions, negotiation, a communiqué to the G7 leaders. YAS chaired it in Rome in 2017 and 2024.
G7 — every cycle - Y20
The G20 counterpart, with delegations from all member countries. YAS chaired the first Italian edition in Milan in 2021.
G20 — every cycle - CSW
The UN Commission on the Status of Women, at UN Headquarters in New York. A youth delegation each session — CSW69 and CSW70 so far — with a published policy paper.
United Nations - COP
The UN climate conferences: remote participation at COP29, an in-person delegation at COP30 in Belém, with a post-COP Thematic Debrief on the record.
United Nations - WFF
The World Food Forum flagship event at FAO in Rome, with a YAS delegation every October since 2024.
FAO
How selection works
The path from call to summit, as it runs for every delegation.
- 01
The call opens
Published on this site and announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which relays it through Italian embassies and universities. The call states the criteria, the commitment and the deadline.
- 02
You apply
A written application: your background, a CV, motivation essays. Some calls also ask for a short video.
- 03
Interviews and selection
Applications are reviewed by the YAS staff; shortlisted candidates are interviewed. Outcomes are communicated to everyone who applied.
- 04
The process
Delegates prepare with the team, then negotiate for months with the other countries’ delegations — drafting positions, defending them, converging on a text.
- 05
The summit, and after
The process closes at the summit, where the Final Communiqué is agreed and handed to the presidency. Many delegates stay on: most of the YAS team arrived this way.
Who can apply
Each call publishes its own criteria. As a reference, recent Y20 calls asked for ages 18 to 30 and fluent English, with around seven hours a week to commit through the cycle. An Italian passport is not required.
When a call opens, it appears in Opportunities. A free account gets you an email at that moment.
See open calls →