Youth

Engagement amongst the youth from the five BRICS countries is a key element of BRICS cooperation. BRICS over the years has encouraged Youth engagement in areas such as culture, education, science, innovation, ICTs, volunteerism and entrepreneurship.

BRICS Chair also organises BRICS Youth Summit, BRICS Young Diplomats Forum, BRICS Young Scientists Forum etc as part of their efforts to promote cooperation among youth and their involvement in youth related policy.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the BRICS countries for cooperation on youth matters at the first BRICS Youth Summit in 2015. The said MoU also highlighted that the meetings of BRICS Ministers and Head of Executive Authorities on Youth Affairs will be convened in every two years or whenever required.

A BRICS Ministers and Heads of Departments for Youth meeting was held at Bela Bela in South Africa in 2018, wherein Ministers committed to strengthen coordination and implementation of the aforementioned MoU on Youth Affairs, build the capacity of the youth through learning sharing of best practices and advocating for appropriate support for the BRICS youth projects and programmes.

BRICS Ministers and Heads of Departments for Youth met virtually on 3 December 2020 under Russia’s Chairship of BRICS 2020 wherein the Indian delegation highlighted the importance of the contribution of the youth across the globe in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.