Nepal APFSD Youth Alliance (NAYA)

Year: 2021- Ongoing
Supported by: Yuwa, Ypeer Nepal, Visible Impact, Rotaract Club of Kathmandu Mid-Town, Right Here Right Now (RHRN), Nepalese Youth for Climate Action (NYCA), Blind Youth Association Nepal (BYAN), Beyond Beijing Committee Nepal (BBC), Asia Pacific Resource and Research Center for Women (ARROW), Visible Impact.
Major Component: young people, APFSD, SDG, HLPF

Introduction

The Nepal APFSD Youth Alliance (NAYA) is a collaborative platform established in 2021 by young individuals and organizations that participated in the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum. The alliance envisions a future where young people are at the forefront of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at national, regional, and international levels. Currently, there are 11 Working Group Members and more than 500 members representing diverse backgrounds across Nepal, associated with NAYA.

Visible Impact is serving as a secretariat for NAYA. We have now successfully reached the Phase V of NAYA in 2025.

Activities

Digital Advocacy and Awareness: Every year, NAYA conducts week-long social media activities on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) around major global events like the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) and the Conference of Parties (COP). These campaigns use infographics to simplify complex information about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Artistic Engagement: The alliance hosts social media contests, such as art-based competitions (photography, poetry, paintings) and “reaction snap” contests focused on themes like Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender equality.
Youth Consultations and Conclaves: NAYA organises annual virtual consultations, such as the Nepal Youth Forum, where participants discuss specific SDGs and identify regional challenges. In 2025, the forum specifically focused on SDGs 6, 7, 9, and 11.
Climate Change Advocacy: In collaboration with partners like NYCA, NAYA hosts Pre-COP and Post-COP events. These sessions educate youth on Nepal’s position in international climate negotiations and allow delegates to share their experiences upon return.
High-Level Policy Dialogue: The alliance facilitates direct engagement between youth and policymakers from the National Planning Commission and various Ministries to discuss SDG-promoting policies and necessary legislative changes.
Specialized Initiatives: Phase IV included provincial youth consultations across all seven provinces of Nepal. Phase V introduced the National Youth Consultation on LLDC3 (Landlocked Developing Countries) and the creation of detailed Goal Profiles for the 2026 HLPF through intensive desk reviews.
Regional Representation: Representatives frequently attend sub-regional and international forums, such as High-Level Political Forum in New York, the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development in Bangkok, and Sustainable Development Conference in Pakistan, to deliver speeches on behalf of Nepalese youth.

Impact

Since its inception, NAYA has achieved significant milestones in empowering Nepalese youth:

Unified Advocacy: The alliance has successfully brought diverse youth groups “under one roof” to advocate for SDG implementation, fostering a stronger, consolidated youth voices.
Policy Influence: The primary output of youth consultations, the ‘Nepal’s Call to Action to APFSD’ document, is formally presented to government ministries and regional partners to influence policy. For example, in 2025, youth recommendations were presented to the Ministry of Forests and Environment for integration into Nepal’s COP-30 position paper.
Government Commitment: High-level dialogues have resulted in commitments from government officials to prioritize youth engagement within their respective departments.
Capacity Building and Reach: The alliance has seen a steady increase in membership (now over 200) and social media reach, indicating that more young people are becoming educated on climate change, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), and the SDGs.
Inclusivity and Representation: By employing sign language interpreters and focusing on intersectional issues like indigenous knowledge and disability rights, NAYA has ensured that the SDG review process is inclusive of all youth.
Strategic Partnerships: NAYA has strengthened the broader SDG movement in Nepal through collaborations with the SDGs National Network Nepal and the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism (APRCEM).