Submit your Article

The National Youth Festival, organized in Kathmandu by Samanwaya Nepal, an organization working on youth issues and concerns, to mark International Youth Day, has concluded with the release of the “Youth Declaration 2026.”

Through the declaration, youth representatives from all seven provinces called for good governance, digital inclusion, decent employment, quality education, healthcare, climate action, and meaningful youth participation in national development.

Conveying a message of advancing multilateral cooperation through technology and partnerships, the declaration outlines 11 commitments and emphasizes collaboration with relevant stakeholders to implement them in the future.

Youth representatives called for the establishment of accessible mechanisms that would enable them to monitor public services, budgets, policies, and development commitments, including on issues affecting young people. They also called for meaningful and institutionalized youth participation in policymaking, planning, budgeting, implementation, and monitoring at the federal, provincial, and local levels.

The declaration places particular emphasis on inclusion, equality, and the protection of youth rights. It addresses the concerns of young women, persons with disabilities, Dalits, Indigenous peoples, Madhesi communities, rural youth, economically disadvantaged groups, and other marginalized communities.

On technology, youth representatives called for affordable access to digital infrastructure and skills while advocating for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), data privacy, digital rights, online safety, and measures to combat misinformation.

Prior to the release of the declaration, two panel sessions were held. The first, titled “Youth Policy Dialogue,” featured Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) MP and Chief Whip Krantishikha Dhital, Nepali Congress MP Gita Gurung, public policy expert Dr. Prakash Bhattarai, and youth representative Majid Ansari. The discussion focused on the first anniversary of the Gen Z movement, as well as governance, public service delivery, and policy reforms. The second session, titled “Youth and the Digital Future: AI and Privacy,” featured advocate Baburam Aryal, advocate Yogita Rai, and TechPana CEO Bijay Kumar Timilsina.

The event was inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resources, and Irrigation Viraj Bhakta Shrestha. Addressing the opening session, Minister Shrestha highlighted the growing mental health challenges among young people and emphasized the need for strong social support systems and meaningful personal connections. He encouraged young people to remain creative and engage actively in public discourse to advocate for their concerns.

The National Youth Festival in Kathmandu, organized by the youth advocacy group Samanwaya Nepal to mark International Youth Day, concluded with the release of the 11-point Youth Declaration 2026. The event brought together youth representatives from all seven provinces to advocate for good governance, digital inclusion, quality education, healthcare, climate action, and institutionalized participation in national development.

The declaration emphasizes inclusive policies, rights protection for marginalized groups—including young women, persons with disabilities, Dalits, Indigenous peoples, and rural youth—and transparent mechanisms for monitoring public budgets and services. It also addresses technological advancement, calling for affordable digital infrastructure, data privacy, responsible artificial intelligence use, and measures against online misinformation.

The festival featured panel discussions on youth policy reforms, governance, and digital futures, alongside addresses by government officials and organizers who highlighted the importance of mental health support, active civic engagement, and recognizing youth as proactive participants in current affairs.

Stakeholders have emphasized that Nepal’s public debt should not be debated solely in terms of its size, but also in terms of how it is used, its cost, returns, sustainability, and its implications for future generations. A dialogue on “Debt, Development & Us: A Dialogue on Nepal’s Public Debt” was organized on Monday by Youth Initiative and AIDS Healthcare Foundation Nepal (AHF Nepal). The program brought together young people and experts to discuss Nepal’s public debt situation, its role in development, debt sustainability, and its links to employment, education, healthcare, and the future of young people.

During the program, Resham Thapa, Associate Professor of Economics at Tribhuvan University, delivered a context presentation on “What is Public Debt? Global Context and Nepal’s Scenario.” He provided participants with an overview of the concept of public debt, the global context, and Nepal’s public debt situation. The main attraction of the program was a panel discussion titled “Voices Behind the Debt.” Moderated by Dipesh Kumar Ghimire, the discussion featured Kalpana Khanal, economic journalist Gajendra Budhathoki, Devendra Singh, Program Development Manager at ActionAid International Nepal, and Nischal Dhungel, a PhD student at the University of Utah.

The panel discussed Nepal’s current public debt situation, debt sustainability, public expenditure, economic growth, taxation, social justice, transparency, and the returns from debt-financed projects. The discussion also focused on the need to understand public debt not merely as a government issue, but as a matter closely linked to young people’s employment, education, healthcare, skills development, entrepreneurship, and future tax obligations. Participants emphasized that Nepal’s public debt should not be assessed solely by looking at its total volume or its ratio to GDP. The source of the debt, borrowing costs and terms, areas of investment, economic and social returns, and the country’s future repayment capacity should also be considered when assessing the sustainability and effectiveness of public borrowing.

Speaking at the program, Yogesh Kafle, President of Youth Initative, said public debt should not be viewed merely as a government issue but as a matter directly connected to young people’s employment, opportunities, and future. “Public debt should not be viewed merely as a government issue; it directly concerns young people’s employment, opportunities and future. Meaningful youth participation is essential to ensure that public debt is used transparently and productively,” said Kafle.

The Capstone Accelerator program, supported by the US Embassy in Nepal as part of its Entrepreneurship Skill-Building Program, successfully concluded in Kathmandu on Friday.

The initiative brought together 20 top entrepreneurs selected through a competitive process from over 200 participants across regional workshops held in Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi, Biratnagar, Janakpur, Hetauda, Bhairahawa, and Pokhara. The finalists participated in a three-day residential program focused on business expansion, investment readiness, artificial intelligence integration, export potential, and strategic communication.

As part of the program's culmination, the entrepreneurs pitched their business models to a panel of prominent investors, industry leaders, and sector experts during a dedicated investment and global market session. Participants also showcased their products and services at the Capstone Main Street Showcase, drawing inspiration from the American "Main Street" concept to network directly with investors, business executives, and leaders from AmCham Nepal.

Addressing the event, US Embassy Public Affairs Chief Mike Harker noted that the showcase highlights the strong economic partnership between the United States and Nepal, emphasizing a commitment to economic diplomacy and private sector collaboration by investing in a new generation of innovative Nepali entrepreneurs.

The overarching Entrepreneurship Skill-Building Program was implemented by the International Development Institute (IDI) in partnership with Aadyanta Advisory. The selected entrepreneurs represent diverse sectors, including agriculture and food processing, information technology, manufacturing, creative industries, consulting, digital services, natural products, handicrafts, and social enterprises.