What we see
- Institutions fail to deliver
- Talent is misallocated and pressured by AI
- Geopolitical and climate crises are amplified
Conference of Youth Policy Implementation
Z-COP
A five-day annual summit to assess needs, design implementation paths, prepare organisations, and practise the delivery pipeline — built on respect, coordination, and the belief that the people closest to the problems are best placed to solve them.
August 31 – September 1, 2026Coordinated at national level, amplified globally
The problem
Institutions fail to deliver. Talent is misallocated. Crises amplify.
Our response
- Creating an autonomous system of action
- Supporting policymaking from ideation to execution
- Inspiring opportunities for the next generation — monitored, customisable, adaptable
Delivery pipeline
Three platforms. One mission.
From policy insight to community implementation — all connected.
The Network
The Global Call
A youth mobilisation network active in 170+ countries. Identifies local priorities, connects civic actors, and drives change agendas at every level.
Strategic Partner — The Policy Bridge
MESA Institute
An independent think tank — the table for the next generation. MESA bridges the generational divide between youth and the institutions shaping their future, turning the priorities surfaced by The Global Call into rigorous, adoptable policy.
The Action Layer
On My Way
Makes implementation visible. Post action items, track commitments, connect actors to opportunities and funding.
Local coordinators animate local hubs, convening ministers and youth leaders. People share insights on The Global Call. With our partner MESA Institute, those insights become policy direction. Programmes are implemented using On My Way.
Four themes — one arc
Each day works through one scale of change
Self creates the individual foundation. Community creates collective infrastructure. Institutions provide the lever for scale. Systems is where structural change becomes real.
Day 0 · Aug 30
Setting the Stage
Landscape review
Review of all pre-submitted insights. Platform and pipeline orientation. Mapping of national programmes across all four theme areas.
Day 1 · Aug 31
Self
Individual · Family · Immediate relationships
What at the individual level prevents young people from acting on sustainable development challenges?
Day 2 · Sept 1
Community
Neighbourhood · Local group · Youth council
What at the collective level prevents communities from organising around sustainable development priorities?
Day 3 · Sept 2
Institutions
Schools · Local government · Ministries · NGOs
What at the institutional level blocks youth from influencing sustainable development decisions?
Day 4 · Sept 3
Systems
National policy · Economic structures · Global cooperation
What structural conditions prevent lasting change? How do programme portfolios form a coherent national response?
Programme
Z-COP 2026 schedule
August 31 – September 1, 2026. The Global Call synchronises at 7:00 AM San Francisco time across all national hubs each day.
Day 1
August 31Global Call synchronized at 7:00 AM San Francisco time across all national hubs.
| 8:30–10:00 | Breakfast & Welcome / Policy to Programming Sessions I: Leadership Insights | Welcome; review of Global Call data; presentation of submitted youth policy brief proposals; theory and inspiration from successful examples. |
| 11:00–11:45 | Regional Gathering (Coordination Call) | Call connecting the hub with other national/global hubs for coordination, inspiration, shared review. |
| 11:45–12:30 | From Policy to Activities | Workshop translating action-plan policies into concrete on-the-ground activities. |
| 12:30–13:15 | Break / Lunch | |
| 13:15–14:15 | Thematic On My Way Workshops (Programme Implementation) | Hands-on in-country implementation workshop, locally relevant activity per country. |
| 14:15–15:00 | Reflection & Feedback Session | Youth reflect on what worked and did not; review Phase 1 outcomes (OMW & MESA). |
| 15:00–15:45 | Stakeholder Mapping & Gap Analysis | Initial mapping of stakeholders and gaps to fill per project; draft outline of the 21-day post-COP outreach plan. |
| 15:45–17:15 | Action Plan Update & Feedback | Touchpoint with focal points to reconcile discrepancies and answer questions; opportunity to submit requests via the activity-book submission form. The action plan is reviewed overnight and an updated version is shared the next morning. |
Day 2
September 1Global Call synchronized at 7:00 AM San Francisco time across all national hubs.
| 08:30–09:30 | Inspiration & Outlook for the Day | Presentation of the action plan (incorporating overnight feedback) and draft programmes. |
| 09:30–10:15 | OMW Implementation Workshop with MESA Insights | Identification of local policy stakeholders who can help implement policy change. |
| 10:15–11:00 | Implementation Workshop II: Funding | Identifying funding sources, pitching programmes, securing stakeholder buy-in. |
| 11:00–12:00 | Policy to Programming Sessions II: Mapping & Timelines | Mapping policies to implementation (2-3 breakout sessions); output: a calendar of implementation and funding milestones. |
| 12:00–12:30 | Distribution of Action Plans & Draft 21-Day Activation Plan | Touchpoint with focal points to reconcile discrepancies and answer questions. |
| 12:30–13:15 | Break / Lunch | |
| 13:15–15:15 | National Action Plan Review & Ownership | Final review and additions to the national action plan incorporating the two-day outcomes. |
| 15:15–16:00 | OMW Action Plan (21-Day Activation) & Stakeholder Mapping | Discussion and revision of the 21-day plan and stakeholder mapping. |
| 16:00–16:30 | Closing Session | Closing remarks and reflections. |
Three principles: the work is cumulative — nothing starts from scratch. The platform is the record — if it is not on On My Way, it did not happen. The pipeline must stay in sync — The Global Call, our partner MESA Institute, and On My Way aligned before each day's programme begins.
The ask
Commit to a National Action Plan
The National Action Plan is the spine of the Z-COP programme — drafted before the summit, reviewed and confirmed by focal points during the two days, and updated afterward as the country's implementation record.
Engage with the pipeline
Become a natural partner
Ask for your onboarding meeting. National focal points, youth organisations, and government bodies each have defined roles before, during, and after the Z-COP.