Locations
Youth Empowerment in Asia and the Pacific
A portfolio empowering youth for transformative impact across communities and economies.
Context
Young people today are responding to the world’s challenges with innovative approaches, contributing fresh ideas, creating the world they want and driving human development for themselves, their communities and societies.
Asia-Pacific region is home to more than 660 million youth aged 15-24 years. The devastating effects of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the economic crisis have exacerbated challenges and are putting enormous pressure on the next generation. 63% of people in Asia and the Pacific recognize climate change as a major “global emergency” and want more action from their leaders. Civic space in Asia and the Pacific continues to shrink, as evident by measures restricting civic space adopted in the past five years.
Furthermore, across countries, women and girls, people in rural areas, indigenous people, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, gender and sexual minorities, youth and older persons are disproportionately present among those left behind.
- Youth Social Entrepreneurship (Youth Co:Lab): Fostering entrepreneurship and transformative startups.
- Climate Action (Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform): Engaging youth in addressing climate challenges.
- 21st Century and Digital Skills (Skill Our Future): Cultivating skills for the modern era.
- Youth Civic Engagement and Political Participation (Youth in Governance and Peacebuilding): Encouraging active involvement in societal and political processes.
- Leaving No One Behind: Focusing on a comprehensive LNOB agenda across all pillars.
Reaching Every Youth Changemaker, Everywhere: The Youth 2030 Moonshot
Youth 2030 Moonshot is UNDP’s bold leap toward a future shaped by young people—greener, more inclusive, and deeply resilient. By 2030, it is committed to building the world’s largest initiative on accelerating the achievement of the SDGs through over 7 million youth-led social innovations. With a decade in the making, this growing movement remains hopeful and driven. Its purpose: to create a one-stop solution hub that supports every young entrepreneur throughout their journey, bringing social entrepreneurship to every youth, everywhere. At the heart of it all are young people, positioned front and centre, not as beneficiaries, but as solutionists and architects of a better future.
