From 2 to 6 February 2026, the Global Learning Forum (GLF) 2026 brought together adolescents, practitioners, city actors and partners from the six countries and 17 cities across the Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA) network for a week-long, youth-centred learning journey, hosted in Ghana.
Over five days, adolescent leaders and project teams from Ghana, Senegal, Colombia, Ecuador, India and Vietnam came together with the HCA global team and Fondation Botnar to share experiences, reflect on practice, and explore how cities can become healthier, safer and more inclusive for young people.
A shared learning journey
The first four days of the Forum took place in the city of Ho where one of HCA’s Ghana projects operates. The focus was on internal learning and exchange across the HCA network. Through dialogue, storytelling, peer learning and reflection, participants explored:
- how adolescents build and apply skills through city-based projects
- what adolescent-friendly urban spaces and services look like in practice
- how young people influence decision-making and governance in their cities
- how change can be sustained beyond individual projects and pilots
Learning took place through participatory formats designed to centre lived experience – including peer exchanges, gallery walks, youth-led films and collective reflection moments captured on the Learning Wall.
A field visit and informal moments of connection complemented the sessions, grounding discussions in real places and relationships and strengthening trust across countries and teams.
Urban Youth Dialogue: young people take the stage
The Forum culminated on 6 February with the Urban Youth Dialogue, a public, youth-led event held in Accra.
Adolescents from the six participating countries took centre stage to lead an international dialogue on what makes cities healthier and more inclusive for young people. The half-day event brought together around 150 participants, including young people, policymakers, urban practitioners, civil society actors and researchers.
Through interactive formats including Cityscaping, Futurescoping and an adolescent panel discussion (a highlight!) young people shared everyday realities from their cities and worked alongside adult decision-makers to imagine adolescent-friendly urban futures. The day concluded with individual pledges to advance adolescent health and wellbeing in city, national and global contexts. Insights from the dialogue will feed into ongoing learning and policy discussions within the HCA programme.
Looking ahead
GLF 2026 reinforced that meaningful youth participation is not symbolic – it is essential for shaping cities that respond to the needs, voices and potential of adolescents.
By linking lived experience, shared learning and advocacy, the Forum strengthened connections across the HCA network and laid the groundwork for continued collaboration, learning and action beyond the week in Ghana.
Check the GLF 2026 webpage for more details: https://glf2026.healthy-cities.org/
