CITES Global Youth Summit 2025
27 - 31 May 2025 | Singapore
Following the CITES Youth Leadership Programme held in Singapore in April 2024, founding members of the CGYN will organize the inaugural CITES Global Youth Summit in mid-2025, with support from the National Parks Board (Singapore’s CITES Management Authority), the CITES Secretariat, and partners. Hosted in Singapore, this Summit will aim to:
(i) empower young leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks on CITES necessary to address wildlife trade challenges;
(ii) foster collaboration among young professionals from diverse backgrounds and learn from experts on emerging issues and understanding various topics discussed at CITES; and
(iii) develop practical solutions to wildlife trade challenges, encourage participants to share their success stories, discuss regional action plans, identify regional leaders, and contribute to addressing illegal wildlife trade.
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​CGYS will achieve these aims by being a platform for youths to:
1. Strengthen the CITES Global Youth Network (CGYN) as a platform for youth engagement and leadership;
2. Empower young leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to address wildlife trade challenges;
3. Foster collaboration among young professionals from diverse backgrounds; and
4. Develop practical solutions and regional action plans for addressing wildlife trade issues.
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Throughout the programme, youths will also be guided to implement a youth project to contribute to the implementation of CITES in their country or organization. Youth projects may address one of the five pillars of CGYN: Governance, Capacity Building, Research & Innovation, Networking & Collaboration, and Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA). Youths are expected to commit to the programme at least until December 2025. Youths will report on the progress and outcomes of their initiative to the Standing Committee and will continue engaging with youths around the world, for capacity-building in CITES-related matters. The target audience for this programme are final-year university students or early-career youths aged 18 to 30, with an interest in wildlife conservation, sustainable wildlife trade, and environmental policy, particularly in CITES. Youths are expected to have relevant experience in these areas. The participation of youths with proven leadership skills in these areas would also be advantageous.
Registration
Interested Parties and observer organizations are urged to submit their nominations through the online registration form at tinyurl.com/citesyouth2025.
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Registration will close on 22 February 2025. Youth nominations who wish to be considered for financial support must register via the online form by 20 November 2024, 23.59 hours (CET).
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A nomination letter dated and signed by an authorized official of the Management Authority or observer organization containing the names, functional titles, contact telephone and email of each of the designated participants is required to be attached in the registration form.
As places are limited, early registration is encouraged. The Secretariat will support the selection process led by the CGYN organizing committee, who will review the nominations and select the participants based on the relevant experiences and potential for implementing youth initiatives relating to CITES in their countries. Due consideration will be given to balancing geographical representation and gender diversity. Subsequently, the organizing committee will strive to communicate confirmation of participation by the last week of March 2025.
Practical Information
The programme will be conducted in-person and in English.
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All participants are responsible for arranging their own visas and flights on time and covering the visa-related costs. Participants are encouraged to apply for their visa upon confirmation of participation by the Secretariat. Participants seeking an invitation letter to be issued specifically for the visa application purposes may contact cites@nparks.gov.sg.
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Travel costs, including flights, meals, and personal expenditure, should be borne by youths or their governments or organizations. The organizing committee will provide same-gender, twin-sharing accommodation for the youth delegates. Subject to the availability of funds, travel support may be provided to selected youths. Further information will be communicated to applicants as soon as possible.