Earlier in 2018 when I presented at a Youth Forum at the UN, I felt inspired to be sitting in the same seats as decision makers. But in June 2018 at the Multi-stakeholder Forum for Science, Technology, and Innovation, the feeling was different – that I could influence decision makers. Influencing decisions and policy means translating the stories and evidence of challenges and solutions that are experienced on the ground into a language that changes policies, project cycles, and budgets. And once translated, it requires advocating for the right people to make those changes.
Pugel, K. (2018). "Influencing UN policies: the art of people-watching". MCEDC.