In the Strategy for Estonian Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid 2016–2020 the main objective of Estonian development cooperation is defined as follows: to contribute to the eradication of poverty and the attaining of the other Sustainable Development Goals. The document states, that Estonian development cooperation has always focused on safeguarding human rights and environmental friendliness. Estonia considers it important to observe the principles of empowering women and gender equality in all activities of development cooperation and humanitarian aid, to ensure the performance and sustainability of development cooperation. Read more about the general context of the topic in Chapter 9.1. Young people are also rather interested in global issues, especially climate change.

The main governmental authority responsible for youth policy, including the youth contribution to global processes of policy-making, implementation and follow-up, including youth cooperation at the global level is the Ministry of Education and Research, Youth Affairs Department (starting from 01.01.2021 the Youth and Talent Department). The main function of the Ministry of Education and Research is to ensure targeted and effective development of education, research, youth and language policy. More information on the administration and cooperation can be found in Chapter 9.2.

In Estonia, there are no additional specific top-level policies, programmes, projects or initiatives aimed at allowing young people to exchange views at home with regional, national or international policy-makers, which are not described in Chapter 5 as youth participation and consultation mechanisms.

Raising awareness about global issues is addressed in Chapter 9.4, green volunteering, production and consumption in Chapter 9.5.

Under the Japanese International Youth Development Exchange Programme youth exchanges between Estonia and Japan have taken place since 2007. The aim is to support the development of friendship and understanding between young people, intercultural learning and international cooperation. See more in Chapter 9.6.