IYC Signs Formal Partnership Agreement with the International Diplomatic Union (IDU)

New York / Brussels — The International Youth Council (IYC) Headquarters, New York, is pleased to announce the signing of a formal Partnership Agreement with the International Diplomatic Union (IDU), a leading global diplomatic platform committed to promoting peace, dialogue, and international cooperation across the globe.

This formal agreement establishes a strategic institutional relationship between two organisations united by a shared conviction: that diplomacy, at its most effective and sustainable, must be inclusive of young people — and that the next generation of global leaders must be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and experience to navigate the complex landscape of international relations and multilateral governance.

About the International Diplomatic Union

The International Diplomatic Union is a leading international organisation in the field of diplomacy, officially recognised in the Kingdom of Belgium within the European Union, with its headquarters located in the Belgian capital, Brussels. It seeks through its activities to enhance international relations and establish platforms for humanitarian consultation among nations at various parliamentary, economic, political, cultural, scientific, and developmental levels.

The IDU plays a pivotal role in facilitating high-level diplomatic communication among nations and global organisations, including the United Nations, the European Commission, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Its work contributes to enhancing international trade, economic cooperation, international security, and addressing global issues such as climate change and global security.

The IDU places special emphasis on international law and the rules governing diplomatic relations, training and qualifying specialised personnel capable of performing their roles in ministries, parliaments, embassies, and governmental and non-governmental international organisations.

The IDU Diplomatic Excellence & Statecraft Programme

Central to this partnership is IYC’s joint commitment to the IDU Diplomatic Excellence & Statecraft Programme — a rigorous, high-level capacity-building initiative designed to prepare emerging leaders for meaningful roles in international diplomacy, multilateral affairs, and global governance.

The Programme equips participants with deep grounding in the theory and practice of statecraft, covering international relations frameworks, diplomatic protocol and negotiation, the architecture of multilateral institutions including the United Nations system, the role of civil society in global policymaking, and the ethical dimensions of diplomatic leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Through this partnership, IYC will channel young leaders from its global network of chapters across UN Member States into this Programme — ensuring that the next generation of diplomats is not only technically skilled, but values-driven, inclusive, and deeply committed to the principles of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

A Statement of Shared Purpose

H.E. Eng. Sadham Dhikran Zarjahan, Chief Executive Officer of the International Youth Council, commented on the partnership:
“The International Youth Council has always believed that diplomacy is not a privilege reserved for a select few — it is a practice and a discipline that must be opened to the brightest and most committed young people from every corner of the world. Our partnership with the International Diplomatic Union, and our joint commitment to the Diplomatic Excellence and Statecraft Programme, is a concrete step toward realising that vision. We look forward to working together to build a new generation of diplomatic leaders who are ready to serve peace, cooperation, and sustainable development on the global stage.”

What This Partnership Means for IYC’s Global Network

For IYC’s chapters and national representatives across UN Member States, this partnership opens significant new opportunities. Young leaders within the IYC network will gain access to world-class diplomatic training and professional development through the IDU Diplomatic Excellence & Statecraft Programme. The partnership also creates new platforms for IYC’s youth representatives to engage in high-level diplomatic dialogue, multilateral conferences, and institutional capacity-building initiatives convened by the IDU across its global network of partners and member states.
This collaboration directly supports IYC’s strategic objectives of strengthening youth participation in international decision-making, building institutional leadership pipelines, and advancing the SDGs through a new generation of diplomatically empowered young leaders.