What is the eligibility level for participants in this championship?

The championship is designed for high-school level students.

What is the format of the World School Debate and Public Speaking Championship 2026?

The championship features both debate and public speaking components, allowing participants to showcase a range of communication skills.

World School Debate and Public Speaking Championship 2026

Q: Where will the World School Debate and Public Speaking Championship 2026 be held?

The championship will be held in Nairobi, KEN.

May 11, 2026Nairobi, KenyaIn-person

Registration open

The World School Debate and Public Speaking Championship 2026 is an international competition designed for high-school students. Hosted in Nairobi, KEN, this event provides a platform for young individuals to hone their public speaking and debating skills on a global stage. The championship emphasizes critical thinking, persuasive argumentation, and effective communication, preparing participants for future leadership roles.

Committees & topics

United Nations Programme for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
UN Women: Advancing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
ECOSOC: Sovereign Debt, Development Finance, and Digital Public Goods
Paris International Conference on Cambodia (PICC; Historical)
Paris International Conference on Cambodia (Historical, 1989–1991)
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
United Nations General Assembly: Plenary of the World's Conscience
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
International Maritime Organization: Safer, Cleaner, and More Secure Shipping
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
NATO: Collective Defense in an Era of Renewed Great-Power Competition
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
United Nations Security Council: Sudan, Ukraine, and Contested Global Order
United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)
United Nations Environment Assembly: Plastics, Pollution, and Planetary Crises

Why it matters

This championship is significant for its role in fostering intellectual development and cross-cultural understanding among young people. By engaging in structured debate and public speaking, high-school students learn to articulate complex ideas, analyze diverse viewpoints, and construct compelling arguments. These skills are fundamental for effective diplomacy and international relations, enabling future leaders to navigate intricate global challenges.

The event's location in Nairobi, KEN, is particularly noteworthy. It offers participants a unique opportunity to engage with global issues from an African perspective, enriching their understanding of geopolitical dynamics and cultural nuances. This exposure is crucial for developing a holistic worldview and preparing students to contribute meaningfully to international discourse.

Furthermore, the championship serves as a vital incubator for future diplomats and policymakers. The ability to present ideas clearly, respond thoughtfully to opposition, and engage in constructive dialogue are hallmarks of effective international engagement. Participants gain practical experience in these areas, which are directly transferable to careers in diplomacy, law, and public service.

How to prepare

For students aiming to excel in this championship, a multifaceted preparation strategy is essential. Beyond mastering the mechanics of debate and public speaking, participants should focus on developing a deep understanding of current global affairs. This includes researching contemporary political, economic, and social issues, as well as understanding the perspectives of various countries and international organizations.

Effective preparation also involves honing analytical and research skills. Students should practice dissecting complex topics, identifying key arguments, and supporting their positions with credible evidence. Familiarity with different debate formats and public speaking techniques, such as those discussed in the "engagement-strategies" lesson, will also be beneficial.

Understanding the nuances of international relations and cultural communication is paramount. Participants should consider how different cultural backgrounds might influence communication styles and argumentative approaches. Lessons like "gender-dynamics-across-cultures" and "hidden-stakeholders" can provide valuable insights into these areas, helping students to anticipate diverse viewpoints and tailor their arguments accordingly.

Finally, practicing under simulated competition conditions is crucial. This includes engaging in mock debates, delivering practice speeches, and receiving constructive feedback. Developing resilience and adaptability in responding to unexpected questions or counter-arguments, as highlighted in the "dynamic-analysis" lesson, will be key to success in the competitive environment of the championship.

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Kenya

Host nation, promoting youth engagement and showcasing regional talent.

Role in topic

As the host country, KEN provides the venue and logistical support for the championship. Its role is pivotal in creating an environment conducive to international exchange and showcasing the vibrant intellectual landscape of the region. Hosting such an event also highlights KEN's commitment to youth development and global education.

United States

Significant participant, often fielding strong teams and advocating for free speech.

Role in topic

The USA typically sends competitive teams to international debate championships, reflecting a strong tradition of public speaking and argumentation in its educational system. Participation from the USA often brings a focus on democratic values and critical discourse to the competition.

United Kingdom

Influential in debate traditions, contributing to the format and standards of competition.

Role in topic

The GBR has a long and rich history of parliamentary debate, which influences many international competition formats. Teams from the GBR often demonstrate sophisticated rhetorical skills and a deep understanding of logical argumentation, setting high standards for the competition.

India

Emerging powerhouse in debate, with a growing number of skilled participants.

Role in topic

IND has seen a surge in participation and success in international debate competitions. Its teams often bring unique cultural perspectives and a strong emphasis on intellectual rigor, contributing to the diversity and competitiveness of the championship.

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

United Nations Programme for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

UN Women: Advancing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

UN Women was established by General Assembly Resolution 64/289 in July 2010, consolidating four prior UN gender entities (DAW, INSTRAW, OSAGI, and UNIFEM) into a single body charged with accelerating progress on women's rights. Its normative mandate is rooted in the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which set comprehensive benchmarks on political participation, economic empowerment, education, health, and freedom from violence. UN Women supports the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and works with member states, civil society, and other UN agencies to translate these commitments into national policy. Thirty years after Beijing, progress has been uneven. The 2024 Gender Snapshot report by UN Women and UN DESA warned that, at current rates, full legal gender equality will take roughly 300 years, that nearly one in ten women lives in extreme poverty, and that conflict-affected settings have seen sharp rises in gender-based violence — from Sudan and the eastern DRC to Afghanistan, where the de facto authorities have systematically restricted women's education, employment, and movement. The COVID-19 pandemic, climate shocks, and a documented backlash against sexual and reproductive health and rights have further widened gaps. Today the central debates concern financing the gender equality agenda within tightening aid budgets, addressing online violence and algorithmic bias against women, protecting women human rights defenders, and operationalizing the Women, Peace and Security agenda (Security Council Resolution 1325 and successors). The Beijing+30 review and the post-2030 development framework give UN Women a pivotal window to push for binding accountability mechanisms rather than voluntary pledges.

Key players

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

ECOSOC: Sovereign Debt, Development Finance, and Digital Public Goods

ECOSOC, established under Chapter X of the UN Charter in 1945, is the principal UN organ coordinating the economic, social, and related work of the UN system and its 15 specialized agencies, functional commissions, and regional commissions. It oversees follow-up to major development summits, the High-Level Political Forum on the SDGs, and the Financing for Development (FfD) process. Once eclipsed by the Bretton Woods institutions during the Cold War, ECOSOC has been steadily reasserted as a venue where developing countries press for systemic reform of global economic governance. The contemporary agenda is shaped by a cascading set of crises. The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and tightening global monetary conditions have pushed more than half of low-income countries into debt distress or high risk of it, according to the IMF and World Bank. The G20 Common Framework for Debt Treatments, launched in 2020, has produced slow and uneven results for cases such as Zambia, Ghana, Chad, and Sri Lanka, fueling calls — led by African states, CARICOM, and the G77 — for a UN-led sovereign debt workout mechanism. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Sevilla in 2025, placed debt architecture, international tax cooperation, and reform of multilateral development banks at the center of negotiations. In parallel, the 2024 Global Digital Compact, adopted as part of the Pact for the Future, tasked ECOSOC and partners with promoting inclusive Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) — interoperable systems for identity, payments, and data exchange — as a lever for the SDGs. Disputes persist over data sovereignty, cross-border data flows, AI governance, and how to ensure that DPI deployment in the Global South does not entrench dependence on a small number of providers.

Key players

Paris International Conference on Cambodia (PICC; Historical)

Paris International Conference on Cambodia (Historical, 1989–1991)

The Paris International Conference on Cambodia (PICC) was a diplomatic process aimed at ending more than two decades of war in Cambodia. After the 1975 Khmer Rouge takeover and the genocide that killed an estimated 1.7 million people, Vietnam invaded in December 1978 and installed the People's Republic of Kampuchea under Heng Samrin, while a Chinese- and Western-backed Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea — uniting the Khmer Rouge, FUNCINPEC under Prince Sihanouk, and the KPNLF — held Cambodia's UN seat and waged an insurgency from the Thai border. The conflict became a proxy of the late Cold War, pitting China and the United States against the Soviet Union and Vietnam. The first session of the PICC convened in Paris from 30 July to 30 August 1989, co-chaired by France and Indonesia, but collapsed over power-sharing arrangements with the Khmer Rouge and the question of how to characterize their past crimes. Following Vietnam's troop withdrawal in September 1989 and intensive shuttle diplomacy by the UN Secretary-General's representatives and the Permanent Five, a framework document was agreed in 1990 establishing the Supreme National Council under Sihanouk as the sole legitimate source of Cambodian sovereignty during a transition. The reconvened conference produced the Paris Peace Agreements of 23 October 1991, signed by 19 states. The accords created the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), one of the most ambitious peacekeeping operations ever mounted, charged with overseeing a ceasefire, demobilization, refugee return, human rights monitoring, and elections held in May 1993. As a historical committee, delegates revisit the late-1989 to 1991 window when key questions — Khmer Rouge participation, the scope of UN authority, and accountability for genocide — remained unresolved.

Key players

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

United Nations General Assembly: Plenary of the World's Conscience

Established under Chapter IV of the UN Charter in 1945, the General Assembly is the only UN organ in which all 193 member states sit on equal footing, each holding a single vote. Its resolutions are generally non-binding but carry significant normative and political weight, and it controls the UN budget, elects non-permanent Security Council members, and admits new states. Landmark UNGA actions — from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the Uniting for Peace resolution (1950) to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2015) — have repeatedly shaped the trajectory of international order. In recent years, the UNGA has become a more active venue precisely because the Security Council has been paralyzed by P5 vetoes over Ukraine, Syria, and Gaza. Resolution 76/262 (the 'veto initiative,' 2022) now requires the Assembly to convene whenever a veto is cast, and emergency special sessions on Ukraine and the Occupied Palestinian Territory have produced large majorities condemning aggression and demanding humanitarian access. The 2024 Summit of the Future adopted the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and a Declaration on Future Generations, signaling appetite — though not consensus — for reform of multilateral institutions. Today the UNGA's agenda spans the war in Ukraine and the Middle East, Security Council reform (where the G4, Uniting for Consensus group, and African 'Ezulwini Consensus' remain at odds), climate finance and loss and damage, AI governance, and the future of UN peacekeeping. Underlying these debates is a contest between defenders of the post-1945 order and a growing bloc — including BRICS+ members and much of the Global South — pressing for a more representative system.

Key players

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International Maritime Organization: Safer, Cleaner, and More Secure Shipping

The IMO was established by a 1948 convention adopted in Geneva and began operating in 1959 as the UN's specialized agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution from ships. With around 80% of global trade by volume carried by sea, the IMO sets the technical regulatory floor for an industry that is genuinely global. Its core instruments include SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea, last comprehensive revision 1974), MARPOL (1973/78) on pollution prevention, STCW on seafarer training, and the 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention. Climate change has moved to the center of the IMO's work. The 2018 Initial GHG Strategy was significantly upgraded in July 2023 to target net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping 'by or around' 2050, with indicative checkpoints for 2030 and 2040 and a commitment to adopt mid-term measures combining a technical fuel-standard and an economic (carbon-pricing) element. Negotiations in 2024–2025 over the design of these measures have exposed deep divides between climate-vulnerable states pressing for an ambitious levy and major flag and exporting states wary of cost impacts on trade. In parallel, the IMO confronts heightened maritime security challenges: Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb since late 2023, sustained piracy risks off the Gulf of Guinea, the 'dark fleet' transporting sanctioned Russian and Iranian oil with substandard insurance and safety practices, and rising concerns over the safety of autonomous and ammonia- or hydrogen-fueled vessels. Decarbonization, seafarer welfare, and the protection of critical undersea infrastructure now sit alongside traditional safety work at the top of the agenda.

Key players

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

NATO: Collective Defense in an Era of Renewed Great-Power Competition

NATO was founded by the Washington Treaty of 4 April 1949 as a collective defense alliance binding North America and Western Europe against Soviet power, with Article 5 establishing that an armed attack on one is considered an attack on all. After the Cold War, the Alliance expanded eastward in successive enlargements (1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020) and undertook out-of-area missions in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Libya, and the Indian Ocean. Article 5 has been invoked only once, after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has refocused NATO on its founding purpose. The 2022 Madrid Strategic Concept identifies Russia as the 'most significant and direct threat' to Allied security and, for the first time, addresses challenges posed by China. Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024) joined, ending decades of non-alignment and reshaping the Baltic and Arctic security map. At the 2023 Vilnius and 2024 Washington summits, Allies committed to make the 2% of GDP defense-spending benchmark a floor rather than a ceiling, reinvested in forward defense in the east, and stood up the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) mission. Key debates today include the pace and conditionality of Ukraine's path to membership, burden-sharing as the United States signals greater focus on the Indo-Pacific, defense-industrial capacity and ammunition production, hybrid and cyber threats including sabotage of undersea cables, and how to manage relations with partners in the Indo-Pacific (the 'IP4': Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand) without overstretching the Alliance's geographic remit.

Key players

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

United Nations Security Council: Sudan, Ukraine, and Contested Global Order

Established under Chapter V of the UN Charter, the Security Council bears 'primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security' and is the only UN organ whose decisions are legally binding on all member states. Its five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) hold the veto, while ten elected members serve two-year terms. From its Cold War paralysis through its post-1990 activism in Iraq, the Balkans, and Africa, the Council's effectiveness has tracked the state of great-power relations. Since 2022, that relationship has sharply deteriorated. Russia's veto on Ukraine and repeated U.S., Russian, and Chinese vetoes on the Israeli–Palestinian file have revived debate over Council legitimacy, prompted the 2022 'veto initiative' (Resolution 76/262) requiring General Assembly review of every veto, and energized long-standing reform proposals including the Ezulwini Consensus for African permanent seats. Meanwhile the Council's working agenda is dominated by Sudan, where war between the SAF and RSF since April 2023 has created the world's largest displacement crisis and triggered famine conditions in parts of Darfur and Kordofan; the war in Ukraine; the situation in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon; conflicts in the eastern DRC and the Sahel following the drawdown of MINUSMA; and Haiti's security crisis. Cross-cutting thematic issues include cybersecurity and protection of critical infrastructure (following the conclusion of the Open-Ended Working Group on ICTs), climate and security, sanctions regime effectiveness, and the future of UN peacekeeping as host states increasingly request withdrawals. The Council's choices on Sudan's arms embargo under Resolution 1591, on humanitarian access mechanisms, and on accountability referrals will shape its credibility in the years ahead.

Key players

United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)

United Nations Environment Assembly: Plastics, Pollution, and Planetary Crises

The UN Environment Assembly is the world's highest-level decision-making body on the environment. It was created in 2012 following the Rio+20 outcome document and the 2013 reform of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which transformed the former Governing Council into a universal-membership Assembly of all 193 UN member states. Headquartered in Nairobi, UNEA convenes biennially to set global environmental policy, strengthen environmental law, and provide strategic direction to UNEP. UNEA has driven several major initiatives. At UNEA-5.2 in March 2022, member states adopted Resolution 5/14 mandating the negotiation of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) held five sessions between 2022 and the INC-5 meeting in Busan in late 2024, but failed to conclude the treaty, with deep divisions between a 'high-ambition coalition' seeking caps on primary plastic polymer production and a group of oil-producing states preferring a downstream, waste-management focus. UNEA-6 in 2024 adopted resolutions on critical minerals, sand and dust storms, and a just transition, and reaffirmed the triple planetary crisis framing — climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Looking ahead, UNEA's agenda includes finalizing the plastics treaty, strengthening implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, governance of solar radiation modification and other emerging environmental technologies, environmental rule of law, and ensuring that the energy transition's demand for critical minerals does not generate new ecological and human rights harms.

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for World School Debate and Public Speaking Championship 2026.

Recent reporting to ground your prep

India's 131st Amendment Bill

Hilton-Becerra Race Sets Up High-Stakes Clash

US Job Openings at 6.7M

Trump's Economic Reset

Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Gender Dynamics Across Cultures

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Conflict Resolution

Frequently asked questions

Free account

Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free.

Create free account

Already a member? Log in

World School Debate and Public Speaking Championship 2026

May 11, 2026Nairobi, KenyaIn-person

Registration open

Committees & topics

United Nations Programme for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
UN Women: Advancing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
ECOSOC: Sovereign Debt, Development Finance, and Digital Public Goods
Paris International Conference on Cambodia (PICC; Historical)
Paris International Conference on Cambodia (Historical, 1989–1991)
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)
United Nations General Assembly: Plenary of the World's Conscience
International Maritime Organization (IMO)
International Maritime Organization: Safer, Cleaner, and More Secure Shipping
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
NATO: Collective Defense in an Era of Renewed Great-Power Competition
United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
United Nations Security Council: Sudan, Ukraine, and Contested Global Order
United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)
United Nations Environment Assembly: Plastics, Pollution, and Planetary Crises

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Where the most-relevant 4 countries stand on the core issues in play. Click through for the full country profile.

Kenya

Host nation, promoting youth engagement and showcasing regional talent.

Role in topic

United States

Significant participant, often fielding strong teams and advocating for free speech.

Role in topic

United Kingdom

Influential in debate traditions, contributing to the format and standards of competition.

Role in topic

India

Emerging powerhouse in debate, with a growing number of skilled participants.

Role in topic

Topics & background

The background behind each topic and the actors that shape it.

United Nations Programme for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)

UN Women: Advancing Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Key players

United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

ECOSOC: Sovereign Debt, Development Finance, and Digital Public Goods

Key players

Paris International Conference on Cambodia (PICC; Historical)

Paris International Conference on Cambodia (Historical, 1989–1991)

Key players

United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)

United Nations General Assembly: Plenary of the World's Conscience

Key players

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

International Maritime Organization: Safer, Cleaner, and More Secure Shipping

Key players

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

NATO: Collective Defense in an Era of Renewed Great-Power Competition

Key players

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

United Nations Security Council: Sudan, Ukraine, and Contested Global Order

Key players

United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA)

United Nations Environment Assembly: Plastics, Pollution, and Planetary Crises

Key players

Resources

News, lessons, and country profiles to prep for World School Debate and Public Speaking Championship 2026.

Recent reporting to ground your prep

India's 131st Amendment Bill

Hilton-Becerra Race Sets Up High-Stakes Clash

US Job Openings at 6.7M

Trump's Economic Reset

Lessons

Bite-sized lessons to build the basics

Gender Dynamics Across Cultures

Hidden Stakeholders

Engagement Strategies

Dynamic Analysis

Courses

Guided courses that go deeper on the topic

Advanced Negotiation

Multilateral Negotiation

Policy Brief Writing

Conflict Resolution

Kenya High School May 2026

By committee

Explore more conferences

Browse all Debate conferences

Frequently asked questions

Free account

Save conferences, research any topic with AI, build position papers, and keep your daily prep streak — free.

Create free account

Already a member? Log in

Committees & topics

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Topics & background

Resources

Frequently asked questions

Committees & topics

Why it matters

How to prepare

Country perspectives

Topics & background

Resources

Related conferences

Explore more conferences

Frequently asked questions

Related conferences

Explore more conferences