The term green colonialism is used in contemporary environmental and decolonial scholarship to describe how climate action, conservation, and “green” development can reproduce historical patterns of colonial extraction.

In the supposed interest of mitigating climate change, mines, dams, wind parks, carbon credit schemes, and beyond are being implemented around the world, frequently as mega-projects decided upon without consent and accountability. Local communities are rarely consulted, their land is often classified as 'unoccupied' or "empty", and those who resist are frequently criminalised.

This is what YTN report “Green Colonialism: The Concept, The Pratice and the Narrative” and the tracker #TraceTheGrab intends to document. To demonstrate that these are not isolated cases, but part of a systemic and transnational pattern.

The United Nations is currently undergoing one of the most significant reform processes in its history. Through the UN80 Initiative, the organization is seeking to respond to a serious financial crisis by reducing costs, reviewing mandates and restructuring parts of the UN system.

However, debates about efficiency and institutional reform cannot be separated from wider questions of funding and power. The UN’s financial architecture gives a small number of major donor states considerable influence over which programs, regions and policy areas receive funding. These arrangements have developed within an international system shaped by colonial-era inequalities and continue to affect the representation and decision-making power of Global Majority countries.

YTN’s second policy brief, Funding and Power at the UN: A Decolonial Contextualization of UN80 and the UN Funding Architecture, examines these issues by connecting the current UN80 reform process to the longer history of the UN’s governance and funding structures. It considers how voluntary and earmarked contributions shape institutional priorities, how funding shortages affect different UN mandates, and why previous commitments to localize and decolonize international assistance have produced limited structural change.

On May 13, YTN Research Officer, Fernanda Samperio, and YTN Chief of Impact & Programs, Beatriz Carvalho, attended the online panel “Diálogos en torno a la descolonización de los estudios de paz y conflictos” (Dialogues on decolonizing peace and conflict studies) organized by the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) in Ecuador. Being from Mexico and Brazil respectively, they were interested in hearing from fellow Latin American scholars to gain knowledge and insights that stem from a shared colonial history in the region but that also has its specificities.

Youth Transforming Narratives is pleased to announce its participation in the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), to be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from March 9 through March 19, 2026, reinforcing our continued commitment to advancing young women’s leadership and participation in decision-making.

Using the Democratic Republic of Congo as a key case study, the session delved into complex issues such as the evolving nature of conflicts, the significant role first responders play in influencing the actions of key conflict actors, the prioritization of humanitarian aid over peace-building efforts during conflict escalation, and the importance of trauma healing in post-conflict recovery.

Brussels, Belgium – As we finalise our reflections on last year’s highlights, one training that still resonates with us is our transformative session on facilitation through a decolonial lens. Led by the incredible Rachel Nelems, a globally respected political campaigner and decolonial activist, this session wasn’t just about learning how to facilitate effectively—it was about unlearning, questioning power structures, and ensuring that our spaces truly reflect the values we stand for.

The session on December 2nd, 2024, challenged us to rethink what it means to guide discussions, hold space, and create truly inclusive conversations. Rachel reminded us that facilitation isn’t just about structure—it’s about responsibility. It’s about recognizing historical and systemic imbalances and actively working to dismantle them in the ways we engage, listen, and lead.

Amman, Jordan - As the YTN team delves into the new year with great spirits and lots of excitement, we are currently recapping on some of last year's highlights. One of them was, certainly, our fantastic two-part Theory of Change (ToC) training. Last October, the incredible Safiya Ibn Garba, an expert in sustainable development and women’s empowerment, led this training. In so doing, YTN’s efforts to equip our youth leaders with the strategies they need to create real social impact were undoubtably strengthened.

The Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN) webinar, titled “Amplifying Youth Leadership to Catalyze the YPS Agenda” showcased the convergence of youth voices, perspectives, and ambitions from across the globe. Drawing participants from diverse nationalities and professional fields, particularly peacebuilding, international relations, law, and education, the event highlighted the indispensable role of youth in advancing sustainable peace. Attendees expressed enthusiasm for the platform's ability to propagate networking, research, and training opportunities tailored to their aspirations.

Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN) is proud to announce the successful completion of its third in-house training on the Optimization of Linkedin, led by Trainer and LinkedIn expert Shallom Abla Lumor. This training is part of YTN’s ongoing efforts to empower youth leaders and further its mission to promote peace and security on a global scale. It is the third training in a series of professional and career growth trainings for YTN’s staff and volunteers.

Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN) is excited to announce the huge success of its International Youth Day event, with over 150 registered young leaders, activists, and changemakers from around the world. This year’s theme was “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Inclusion in Peace and Security for Sustainable Development” which emphasized the critical role that youth play in advancing global peace and security.

Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN) is proud to announce the successful completion of its second in-house training on Youth & Peacebuilding agenda, led by Peacebuilding Advisor, Greshma Raju. This training is part of YTN’s ongoing efforts to empower youth leaders and further its mission to promote peace and security on a global scale.

Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN) is thrilled to announce the resounding success of its inaugural launch call, which brought together passionate young leaders from around the globe. The event, held virtually, marked a significant milestone in the journey to create a global network of empowered youth leaders dedicated to shaping a brighter, more inclusive future.

Youth Transforming Narratives (YTN) is proud to announce the successful completion of its first in-house training on the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda, led by Executive Director Balkis Chaabane. This training is part of YTN’s ongoing efforts to empower youth leaders and further its mission to promote peace and security on a global scale. It is the first training in a series of professional and career growth trainings for YTN’s staff and volunteers.

Founded by a dynamic international team of young passionate and committed leaders, YTN aims to redefine global responses to the world’s most pressing issues. Building on the principles of decolonization, localization, and youth leadership, YTN is determined to challenge the narrative, take the lead in transforming the current existing structures, and bridge the South-North gap to re-shape future engagement.