Boston, MA — The Global Association of Economics Education (GAEE) is pleased to announce its acceptance as a Member Organization of the SDSN Youth Global Network, a program of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launched in 2015 to empower young leaders to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education, innovation, and collaboration. As an SDSN Youth Member Organization, GAEE will engage in global collaborations, peer learning, and SDG-focused initiatives across one of the world’s largest youth networks dedicated to sustainable development.
Founded in 2017 as a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit in Massachusetts, GAEE is a student-led international NGO that democratizes economics education, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship training for young people—especially in the Global South—through a network of chapters that have reached 30,000+ learners across 10+ countries since inception. GAEE leverages open-source economics curricula and adapts them locally with a heterodox lens and practical training opportunities to make economics more accessible and relevant to everyday students and under-resourced communities.
GAEE has a long-standing commitment to the United Nations and the SDGs. The organization is among more than 250 support organizations as signatories to the SDG Accord, and GAEE’s programs have been listed as SDG Actions No. 36897 and No. 43663 by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. GAEE’s members have actively engaged with the UN in various capacities, including, most recently, GAEE Boston’s participation in the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2025 and GAEE Global Chair, Le Dong Hai Nguyen, representing the organization at the UN General Assembly during the UNA Global Engagement Summit 2024.
Through SDSN Youth, GAEE will connect its student changemakers with a global community hosted by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, an initiative launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2012 to mobilize scientific and policy expertise for practical solutions to sustainable development, including the SDGs. Membership offers access to collaborative projects, expert resources, and exclusive events designed to scale youth impact; in 2024, SDSN Youth activities engaged over 5,000 young people across more than 100 countries and cities worldwide, illustrating the reach and opportunities available to member organizations.
“Joining SDSN Youth advances GAEE’s mission to build economic literacy as a foundation for inclusive growth, decent work, and resilient communities — the core pillars of the SDGs,” said GAEE Global Chair Le Dong Hai Nguyen, noting that economics education equips youth to launch ethical enterprises, advocate smarter policy, and expand financial inclusion in emerging markets. As part of its first steps outlined in its commitment letter, GAEE looks forward to participating in SDSN Youth’s community engagements and leverage the Membership Program’s peer-to-peer learning platform to co-design youth-led solutions aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
GAEE’s recognition and partnerships underscore its capacity to contribute meaningfully within the UN SDSN ecosystem. The organization is listed as an SDG Action in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ SDG Actions Platform and participated in the UN ECOSOC Civil Society Network (CSO-Net). GAEE has collaborated with leading economics bodies and youth movements, including the World Economics Association, Royal Economic Society, the European Expert Network on Economics of Education, and AIESEC, among others. These partnerships, combined with GAEE’s student-led execution model and global footprint, uniquely position the organization to amplify youth-led, evidence-based education initiatives across SDSN Youth’s international community.
About GAEE
The Global Association of Economics Education (GAEE) is a student-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 to democratize economics education, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship incubation for young people worldwide, with a focus on marginalized communities and developing countries. GAEE operates chapters across 10+ countries, has engaged 30,000+ learners, and adapts leading open-source curricula to local contexts with a heterodox approach to accessibility and relevance. GAEE is recognized as SDG Action #36897 and is affiliated with the UN ECOSOC Civil Society Network.
About SDSN Youth
SDSN Youth is the global youth initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, launched in 2015 to empower young people to create sustainable development solutions and to advance the SDGs through education, networking, and innovation. Operated by a global volunteer network and supported by SDSN’s academic and policy community, SDSN Youth connects thousands of young leaders, with activities engaging over 5,000 youth across 100+ countries and cities in 2024.
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Global Association of Economics Education (GAEE)
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