International Council for Youth Diplomacy · Our Programmes
From debate arenas to research cells — explore the full spectrum of what ICYD offers. Every programme is structured, led, documented, and designed to build real skills.
Where positions are defended with precision, and young people learn that governance is a skill — not a privilege.
Debate.
Deliberate.
Decide.
Monthly structured debates on global and national issues. Two sides. One resolution. Real research required — no opinion without evidence.
Monthly · All MembersFull UN parliamentary procedure. Position papers, speakers lists, draft resolutions — not a simulation of the thing. The real thing.
Diplomatic · FormalMock legislative sessions where members draft bills, debate policy, and vote on resolutions — published as official Youth Parliament outputs.
Legislative · PublishedMembers assigned real government portfolios. Draft, defend, and debate actual policy positions as cabinet ministers. Shadow Government format.
Portfolio-Based · EliteLive crisis scenarios. Real-time negotiations. High-pressure decision-making. Mandatory debrief after every session — because reflection is part of the exercise.
Crisis Format · IntenseCurated, coached, and recorded presentations by ICYD members. Every speaker goes through prep sessions. Every talk is published on YouTube.
The audience asks the questions. The speaker has 15 minutes to build a talk from scratch and deliver it live. No preparation. Full intellectual agility.
A structured three-session program covering vocal delivery, argument construction, and live practice. Certified on completion.
Logical fallacies. Argument evaluation. Evidence vs opinion. Applied to real current issues — not classroom hypotheticals.
Every paper, brief, and resolution produced by our members goes on record — because thinking that stays private changes nothing.
KEY PRINCIPLE
"Every output carries the author's name and ICYD's academic mark — because ownership of ideas matters."
Members draft policy briefs, opinion papers, and committee resolutions. Everything published carries the author's name and ICYD's academic mark.
Ongoing · Open to All500–1500 word evidence-based analyses on climate, AI, education, and diplomacy — each concluding with a real policy recommendation.
Published · Peer ReviewedOpen competitions for members to sharpen their analytical and written voice. More formats coming as ICYD grows.
Competitive · RecognizedA quarterly team competition. A real problem is given. Teams of 2–4 build a solution. A judging panel evaluates. Winners are recognized.
Quarterly · TeamsStructured panel discussions on the most pressing developments in AI and emerging technology. Evidence-based. Forward-thinking. No hype allowed.
Panel Format · Open48 hours. A real problem. A tangible solution. The best outputs are submitted to real institutions — not left in a Google doc.
Rigorous intellectual exchange between scientific evidence and belief-based perspectives. The most sensitive — and most important — conversations we host.
High Stakes · ModeratedRecorded debates, talks, and discussions — produced to a professional standard and published online. ICYD's public intellectual face.
Published · YouTubeICYD's flagship annual publication. Research-driven. Member-authored. Launched every year at the Annual Youth Summit. Goes on record permanently.
Annual · FlagshipEverything produced here compounds. Papers build on papers. Fellows mentor researchers. The knowledge doesn't disappear — it accumulates.
Youth-written papers, position documents, and research publications — all peer-reviewed and permanently archived under the author's name.
For advanced members ready to lead original research under supervision of the Director of Academia. Selective. Mentored. Published.
A curated collection of the best member contributions from across the year — published, distributed, and archived. Your name in print.
Mini-masterclasses and skill modules on research, public speaking, governance, and leadership — accessible to all members, always.
Certification Programs
Every certification is earned through participation, contribution, and demonstrated skill. No shortcuts. No certificates for showing up.
Requires: Participation + Contribution + Demonstrated Skill
The biggest event on the ICYD calendar. Where the year's work is presented, the State of the Nation Report is launched, and ICYD's best voices take the stage. The moment the institution becomes visible to the world.
ICYD's public-facing event. Open to all. Designed to recruit new voices and show the world what youth-led governance looks like in practice.
Internal workshops for members at every level — because building leaders is not a one-time event, it's a continuous commitment.
ICYD steps outside its walls. Outreach initiatives connecting the Council's work to the communities around it. Quarterly cycles.
All these programmes are not open at the same time. They are launched according to our scheduled timeline.
The programmes that are currently active or open for applications are listed on the homepage, and you can access those programmes directly below.