DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 21 -- ACROCSS the world, young people are standing at the center of one of the defining questions of our time: how can societies turn a rapidly growing youth population into an engine of opportunity, innovation and sustainable development?

For millions of young people, the challenge is not a lack of ambition. It is the gap between their aspirations and the opportunities available to them. They want quality education, decent employment, access to technology, good health, financial independence and the chance to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

Yet many continue to face barriers that include unemployment, limited access to finance, inadequate skills, inequality, climate-related pressures and exclusion from...