The Youth Network on Beyond GDP's Contribution to the Elements Paper

Following the first Stakeholder Consultation for the UN Intergovernmental Process on Beyond GDP, Spain, in its capacity as co-facilitator and with the support of the UN Interagency Secretariat, launched a Call for Contributions by all stakeholders to inform the preparation of an Elements Paper. The "Youth Moving Beyond GDP" initiative was honored to contribute its perspectives and actionable insights to this Elements Paper and thus continues to actively engage with and leave its mark on the international movement on Beyond GDP. Find the whole contribution of the Youth Network at the bottom of this page!

Process and Methodology

The Youth Network's contribution to the Elements Paper was developed through written survey responses to the guiding questions issued as part of the Call for Contributions. These responses were collected and synthesized to identify recurring themes, shared priorities, and actionable proposals. To maximize the impact of the contribution, the global survey mainly focused on two critical areas where policy meets action: National Implementation and International Policy Applications.

To ensure legitimacy and diversity of perspectives, this survey-based consultation process was designed in an inclusive and participatory manner. The quality, depth, and passion reflected in the inputs received serve as a homage to the tireless dedication of young people around the world to shape development governance of both today and the future.

Youth Network Recommendations

Building on its substantive and highly significant engagement with the work of the High-Level Expert Group on Beyond GDP, including its final report (read our full analysis here), the Youth Network's contributions to the Elements Paper reiterate the three guiding principles of its Policy Recommendations: human rights, intergenerational justice, and country-owned yet globally relevant indicators.  

To ensure both the legitimacy and applicability of the outcome, the Youth Network calls for a values-based and participatory Intergovernmental Process that allows for meaningful intergenerational participation and co-creation. In addition, the final outcome of the process should be politically ambitious, economically credible, statistically rigorous, and institutionally realistic.

The Youth Network advances four priorities, each with detailed subdomains and actionable ideas, which should guide the effective national operationalization of a Beyond GDP framework and inform international cooperation in a coherent, equitable, and non-punitive manner:

1. Establishing a coherent framework that balances global comparability with national ownership;
2. Aligning public planning, resource allocation, and international support with multidimensional well-being;
3. Institutionalizing inclusive data governance and co-design cycles; and
4. Fostering iterative learning, piloting, and global solidarity.

Download and read the Youth Network’s full contribution at the bottom of this page!

Important note: Given its synthetic and action-oriented nature, the contribution of the Youth Network may not fully reflect the views of each individual member. Rather, it should be understood as a collective input that brings together diverse intergenerational perspectives across regions, backgrounds, and contexts, contributing to greater ownership, feasibility, and acceptance of a Beyond GDP framework among young generations, which will be critical to its effective implementation and enduring long-term relevance.

Background on Elements Paper Process

After the presentation of the final report of the High-Level Expert Group on May 7, 2026, the Intergovernmental Process on Beyond GDP was formally launched, with the appointment of the Mission of Spain as co-facilitator of the process.

An initial step to this Intergovernmental Process is the development of an Elements Paper, outlining the key themes, issues, and questions to structure the upcoming Member States discussions and establish a shared understanding of direction. The consultation informing the Elements Paper, to which the Youth Network contribution responds, shows the diversity of Member State and stakeholder perspectives across four key areas:

1. Political vision, strategic direction and normative anchor
2. Conceptual framework, measurement and governance
3. National implementation
4. International policy applications

After the collection of stakeholder contributions, the Elements Paper will consolidate these inputs and will be used to prepare a more detailed document, serving as the basis for the subsequent intergovernmental negotiations. We are proud to see that the Youth Network stands ready to continue contributing throughout this process by providing a valuable, often under-represented, and inherently forward-looking perspective to the global discussion on how progress should be defined and measured.  

Thank You Note to the Youth Network

We express our deepest appreciation to the Youth Network for their exceptional engagement in shaping an intergenerationally just vision for redefining progress beyond GDP. Your contributions make clear that the Intergovernmental Process should not be a mere technical adjustment of statistical datasets or accounting rules. Instead, it should serve as a catalyst and platform to redefine progress and advance a new development paradigm with an innately intergenerational outlook.

Your active involvement in the process ensures the transformation of development governance from top-down extraction to a model vested in participatory accountability where the voice of young and future generations is not only heard but actively included.  Thank you for your continued dedication and unwavering commitment to inspire lasting change at the global stage. We are excited to see how you continue to advance this movement.

To download the Youth Network’s contribution, click below!