Round Table China UN 80 Series: the power of youth
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Oct 24, 2025 In a lively discussion, Dong Xiaoman, a former UNOPS and UN Youth Office staff member, shares her journey fueled by a passion for international relations. She highlights the critical role of youth in sustainable development and the innovative ideas they bring. Dong emphasizes the need for genuine youth engagement beyond tokenism, aided by financial support and capacity building. She also shares insights on integrating Chinese concepts into UN discourse and reflects on how young leaders can tackle global challenges in areas like climate action and digital rights.
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From UNV To UN Youth Office
- Dong Xiaoman traced her UN journey from a UNV role to UNOPS and later a JPO at the UN Youth Office.
- Her path combined academic research on refugees with practical UN project work leading to youth engagement roles.
UN's Dual Strengths And Limits
- The UN still shines in technical and humanitarian coordination but struggles with overlapping mandates and slow decisions.
- Its legitimacy depends on being more responsive and result-oriented while keeping universal convening power.
Push For Structural UN Reform
- The UN needs structural reform to reduce overlapping mandates and bureaucracy paralysis.
- Leaders should merge agencies and streamline processes to make the organization more action-oriented.