On 7 May, UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, Mr Ahmad Alhendawi, visited Istanbul, Turkey, where he kicked off the activities of the Summit by delivering the Secretary-General’s message to the Second Annual Child and Youth Finance International Summit & Awards Ceremony. The commitment of the UN towards responsible finance was reinforced in  the UN Secretary-General’s message. “Access to financial and social assets is essential to helping youth make their own economic decisions and escape poverty,” he said. “The United Nations is also playing its part.

The UN Capital Development Fund and the United Nations Children’s Fund are working with non-governmental organizations and other partners to promote child- and youth-friendly banking principles as well as school curricula that encourage financial competency and social responsibility. I commend these efforts and encourage you to keep working together to shape our common future.”

You can learn more about the Summit here