In Asia and the Pacific, over 700 million young people represent the region’s greatest potential for human development. Their creativity, energy, and innovation have the power to reshape economies, cultures, and communities. However, many face barriers such as limited access to finance, gender discrimination, and knowledge gaps, which restrict how far they can advance. UNDP’s “Youth Moonshot” envisions a bold leap for human development by identifying and enhancing the “boosters” that propel youth forward while dismantling the “brakes” that hold them back.
Through initiatives like the Youth Co:Lab partnership with Citi Foundation, over 580,000 young people have been supported, 3,200 enterprises launched, and livelihoods created for nearly 160,000 individuals. Early-stage entrepreneurs have mobilized over $23 million from investors, with innovative ventures like DeafTawk providing inclusive sign language services to tens of thousands and creating over 1,100 jobs. These successes show the importance of multi-sector partnerships and targeted pre-accelerator programs to fuel youth-led innovation.
Youth leadership has also driven transformative movements in governance and climate action. Pacific Island students’ six-year campaign, supported by UNDP, contributed to a landmark International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate responsibilities. Similarly, the Regional Civic Tech Innovation Challenge attracted hundreds of proposals from young innovators developing digital tools for transparent governance, proving that youth can be powerful architects of change when given the right platforms.
To sustain momentum, UNDP is fostering a regional ecosystem of over 1,000 partnerships, including collaborations with more than 60 universities. Innovative projects like the Beyond SDGs Life Game in Japan are making sustainability education engaging and interactive. In partnership with governments and institutions such as the Islamic Development Bank, UNDP’s Youth Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Diagnostics are helping 12 countries embed youth priorities into national strategies and development plans.
The “Moonshot” approach shows that investing in youth is not only a moral imperative but an economic one, with UNDP estimating a $27.50 return for every dollar invested and the potential to add $190 billion to the region’s GDP. In a region home to more than 60% of the world’s young people, removing barriers, amplifying opportunities, and trusting youth to lead could be the surest route to a brighter, more sustainable future—our own journey to the Moon.
