This report presents findings from an extensive mapping of Youth Urban Governance initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. The analysis aims to inform the strategic vision of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other interested stakeholders in the region, and to contribute to advancing the work on Youth Urban Governance.

This initiative builds on the work of the Governance and Peacebuilding team in the Bangkok Regional Hub, in collaboration with the regional Youth Team. By evaluating the data and highlighting emerging trends, the report identifies opportunities for strengthened support and outlines pathways for Youth Urban Governance engagement.

The Asia-Pacific region is home to over 4.3 billion people and some of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies, offering significant opportunities to leverage digital innovation for governance and citizen engagement.

This report maps and analyzes Civic Tech and Gov Tech initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on youth-led innovation in governance. It examines how digital tools are transforming citizen engagement, service delivery, and government efficiency.

The Study provides an evidence-based and youth-centred approach of how young people across Southeast Asia are engaging in peacebuilding, including challenges they may have faced along the way.

Around 47% of youth aged 18–29 live in countries with extreme or high levels of conflict, and 75% reside in less developed regions. Among them, 250 million are in least developed countries (LDCs), where climate change hits hardest, especially in the Sahel, Horn of Africa, and Central Africa. These areas face overlapping challenges of climate hazards, insecurity, and youth vulnerability.

In response, young people are driving efforts in climate mitigation, adaptation, and peacebuilding, reducing resource conflicts, enhancing carbon storage, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Global youth networks also advocate for disarmament to reduce military emissions and engage in legal actions and activism for policy change.

On Equal Terms: A checklist for decision makers and practitioners on a youth-inclusive NDC process

UNDP is committed to enhancing young people’s political participation which includes partnering with Parliaments and supporting mechanisms such as Youth Parliaments as important platforms for meaningful and sustained youth engagement in all aspects of policy- and decision-making worldwide.

The Youth Parliament Toolkit contains expert advice on establishing, planning, running and promoting a Youth Parliament with additional case studies and evaluation methods from across the Commonwealth.

Published by UNDP, this Guide aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for practitioners and experts devoted to advancing the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, with an emphasis on young people’s participation.

More than 1.1 billion young people aged 15 to 29 live in the Asia- Pacific region, constituting more than 25 per cent of the population.

The analysis and findings from this mapping are presented in this report. The insights derived from this mapping aim to guide the strategic vision and advocacy of the UNDP in advancing Youth Political Participation in the Asia-Pacific region.

While the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda globally represents a significant and well-established thematic agenda, the Asia-Pacific region lacks progress towards implementing the agenda, even eight years after resolution 2250.

This mapping provides a total of 157 programmes and initiatives by UNDP in Asia and the Pacific, which has Youth Political Participation (YPP) elements integrated or mainstreamed in them and implemented in the region primarily from 2017 to 2023.