Young people often have the deepest insight into local challenges because they experience them firsthand and are driven to find solutions. Across Asia and the Pacific, over 4,000 young entrepreneurs are creating inclusive digital tools, accessible healthcare, and climate-smart technologies tailored to their communities. These innovations are not only inclusive but also grounded in local realities, offering models that can be adapted and scaled across the region. With a youth population of 700 million, the potential for community-driven change is vast.
Since 2017, youth programmes in the region have supported over 580,000 young people across 30 countries and territories, leading to the creation or improvement of more than 3,200 youth-led enterprises, generating over 155,000 livelihood opportunities, and benefiting 13.8 million people through inclusive value chains. UNDP country offices are at the forefront of this work, partnering with young people to create meaningful impact.
In Papua New Guinea, UNDP is building a youth portfolio to strengthen climate resilience, particularly in highly vulnerable atoll communities. Through initiatives like the Pacific Green Transformation Project, youth have been trained in climate resilience, entrepreneurship, and gender equality, gaining technical and leadership skills to implement solutions such as solar power systems in community facilities.
In Viet Nam, an integrated Youth Portfolio connects climate action, digital transformation, governance, and entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, it has engaged 15,000 youth, trained over 700 entrepreneurs, incubated 75 startups, and empowered young people to influence climate policy. Youth have co-authored national reports and conducted research to strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem and public sector readiness for the digital age.
In Indonesia, the Skill Our Future initiative combines peer-led learning, digital skills training, and AI tools to empower women and underserved groups. In 2025 alone, it reached over 38,000 youth, trained 1,587 facilitators, and supported more than 50 youth-led community groups. Programmes such as LEAD+ and the Future Skills Challenge blend self-paced learning, mentorship, and community-led training sessions.
In China, the Movers4Climate Youth Green Action initiative trains youth volunteers to deliver climate education in rural and remote areas. With over 4,500 trained volunteers from 315 universities, the programme uses a train-the-trainer model to spread knowledge on the SDGs, biodiversity, and climate adaptation, aiming to reach more than 50,000 young people by August 2025.
In India, the Youth Co:Lab programme fosters grassroots entrepreneurship through themed innovation challenges, seed funding, and mentorship. Since 2019, it has supported over 280 youth-led ventures, including Digiswasthya Foundation, which has provided affordable rural healthcare to over 2 million people. The programme prioritizes inclusion, focusing on entrepreneurs from smaller cities, tribal areas, and marginalized communities.
In Singapore, the Youth Action Challenge, run in partnership with the National Youth Council and Citi Singapore, has supported over 360 youth-led initiatives and 3,100 young participants since 2019. The six-month programme equips young people with entrepreneurial skills, mentorship, and SDG-focused training to co-create projects that promote sustainability and inclusivity.
UNDP’s youth programming in Asia and the Pacific operates on five pillars: youth social entrepreneurship, climate action, future skills development, youth engagement in governance and peacebuilding, and a commitment to leaving no one behind. By adapting these pillars to local contexts, countries are empowering young people to lead transformative change rooted in their communities, with the potential to create lasting regional and global impact.
