Annual Report 2025
2025 at a glance
From reflection to momentum
2025 was shaped by shared reflection and learning through dialogue, aligning actions, clarifying priorities, and building momentum towards impactful action.
Strategic partnership with WHO to advance young people’s wellbeing
We launched a partnership with WHO, committing CHF 8 million to strengthen structural conditions for young people’s health, linking urban, mental and digital wellbeing globally.
Learning from ten years of health research investment
Following a decade of investment in biomedical and health research, 31 grants were reviewed to assess their contributions to the research and development value chain, yielding practical insights to support early-stage research and improve health outcomes for young people.
Contextual insights for strategic development
Throughout 2025, we gained deeper contextual insights to inform our strategic development. This was facilitated through dialogue and engagement with partners and young people, including a visit by our Foundation Board to Ghana.
Deepening our rights-based approach to youth participation
To embed meaningful youth participation and build on our experience with partners and programmes, we developed a youth participation framework that would guide our work. Grounded in a rights-based approach, it aims to shift unequal power structures, hold duty-bearers accountable, and support young people in claiming their rights and exercising their agency.
Advancing collaboration across OurCity partners
The OurCity Global Gathering in Barranquilla convened five cities to align young people-generated data and priorities with municipal strategies. The exchange reinforced long-term pathways and a coherent approach to youth-centred urban development.
Youth mental health underpinned in historic global political declaration
Through sustained partnerships in the Being Initiative, we contributed to shaping key policy messages in the historic UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health — the first to centre mental health at heads-of-state level, reinforcing rights-based approaches and addressing root causes.
