Representing French youth at the Y20: dialogue between two generations of delegates
Joint interview between Mahir Er-Rabty, BSB student selected for the next Y20 summit, and Jean-Baptiste Boyssou from the Open Diplomacy Institute, former head of the Y20 delegation
Each year, the Y20, the official summit of G20 young leaders, brings together delegations from around the world to bring the voice of new generations to international decision-makers. Mahir Er-Rabty, a Grande École Master student at BSB, specialising in Audit Expertise Conseil, has been selected from 184 candidates to join the French delegation that will participate in the 2025 edition in South Africa.
This format, created 15 years ago by the Open Diplomacy Institute under the high patronage of the President of the Republic on the eve of the G20 in Cannes, its mission is to further integrate civil society in the recommendations made to heads of State. This year, the geopolitical context is particularly complex, with the changeover of the American administration and the growing polarization between countries with divergent visions, while tensions seem to push the necessary ecological transition into the background.
To discuss this adventure, we brought together Mahir and Jean-Baptiste Boyssou, who chaired the selection jury this year and who heads the leadership program at the Open Diplomacy Institute. Head of the delegation to the Y20 in Jakarta (Indonesia, 2022) and delegate to the Y20 in Delhi (India, 2023), he shares his experience and advice to enable Mahir to make the most of this unique experience.
A huge honor and a great responsibility
Mahir, how did you feel when you learned about your selection to represent France at the Y20?
It was a real explosion of feelings! Joy, of course, and an immense pride to be able to represent France at such a summit. It is an honor to carry the voice of French youth. But very quickly, I also felt a form of responsibility: that of defending issues that really matter. Even today, I am still struggling to realize what is going to happen, but I can't wait! There is a bit of apprehension, but above all a lot of motivation.
Jean-Baptiste, what stood out to you about Mahir's profile during the selection?
We received 184 applications and only 9 were accepted. We wanted a delegation that was representative of French youth. Mahir convinced us on three key aspects.
First, its pragmatic approach. His alternating career clearly contributes to giving him a very concrete vision, which goes against the declaratory posture that can sometimes be found in some candidates who imagine diplomacy far from everyday life.
Then, her motivation. For example, he was the only candidate to spontaneously send a motivational video, which demonstrated his commitment, his seriousness and also his originality.
Finally, its adaptability. During the selections, we saw a candidate who was able to navigate between different cultures and to dialogue with both an Indonesian and an Argentinian. An essential quality for the Y20.
Giving a central role to youth in global governance
Mahir, what are the topics you want to defend during the Y20?
My main mission will be to work for a better integration of young people in decision-making processes. Negotiations are held between delegates from the countries represented at the Y20 and divided by theme. I am involved in the Y20 “Social Issues” track: it's about defending inclusion, gender equality, access to opportunities and the role of youth, including in global governance. But other issues are also essential, such as ecological transition or the ethical framework for AI, which are addressed in other negotiation channels. I am convinced that South Africa offers a particularly interesting framework for these discussions.
Jean-Baptiste, who participated in two editions of the Y20, what advice would you give to Mahir?
The Y20 is a unique space: we represent the voices of young people, not the official positions of our governments, although of course we interact with them to understand their priority issues. It gives us real freedom of expression!
My advice: be curious! Intellectual curiosity, because you have to be interested in subjects other than your own. Especially cultural curiosity, because this summit is a great opportunity to confront one's ideas and to learn from those of others. The Y20 is an experience that builds leaders. We come out with an enriched vision and solid arguments for acting within our own territories.
Intense preparation before entering the diplomatic arena
Mahir, how are you preparing for this summit?
My preparation is based on three axes. I document the issues of the summit by reading international studies and reports. I exchange with former delegates and experts through seminars organized by the Open Diplomacy Institute. And thanks to all this I am improving my negotiation skills and my knowledge of diplomatic issues. This is therefore done both independently and thanks to the support of the Open Diplomacy Institute, a partner of BSB.
I hope that these efforts will enable me to conduct active and successful negotiations. My personal objective is to learn as much as possible and to carry out our advocacy at all levels. My only apprehension? The complexity of the current geopolitical context, which may make consensus difficult to reach... but it is also what makes the experience even more exciting!
Collectively training tomorrow's leaders
Jean-Baptiste, how is the Y20 a unique experience that shapes young leaders?
The Y20 is more than just attending the youth summit that precedes the G20 summit: it is effectively shaping future world leaders. And this through work that is not individual, but through collective effort. One of the great strengths of this summit is co-construction: we do not defend ideas alone, but we develop concrete solutions together.
Exchanges with experts and the confrontation with other visions of the world make the Y20 a transformative experience. You learn to go beyond your own beliefs, to integrate new points of view and to position yourself as an engaged citizen and agent of change. That's what makes up the DNA of the Open Diplomacy Institute since our think tank created the Y20 (2011): a detailed understanding of contemporary crises and issues to train future leaders capable of tackling all these challenges.
A strengthened citizen role
How does this experience influence your engagement as global citizens?
Jean-Baptiste : In 2025, with the return of Trump and the emergence of new international tensions, it is more important than ever to train young people capable of acting in the face of polycrisis, that is to say the combination of major crises (geopolitical, ecological, socio-economic...). This program makes it possible to move from astonishment at the state of the world and the planet to action for a desirable future and a desirable present. This Y20 experience is transforming our delegates into true change ambassadors.
Mahir : This experience reinforces my conviction that young people must and above all can play a central role at all levels. You must not think small, but think globally and act locally. This adventure encourages me even more to commit myself to being an active citizen, and I am convinced that everyone can have an impact, at their own level.
Jean-Baptiste: The handover is all the more important as France will host the G7 in 2026! The Open Diplomacy Institute will chair, for the third time, the Y7 on French territory. This is a great challenge ahead, which will mobilize our think tank and its 15 promotions of former delegates, including the current delegation: Mahir will then be a mentor for the future delegation. The circle is complete!
Photo credit: Adrien Thibault
