Update: Applications closed!
APFSD Youth Forum 2026: An opportunity for young people in all their diversity to engage in-person and online for the sustainable development goals (SDG) follow-up and review in Asia and the Pacific✨✨
The Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) is an annual, inclusive, intergovernmental forum to support the follow-up and review of progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the regional level.
The Forum convenes United Nations system bodies, Member States, international organisations, civil society, and other stakeholders whose reflections feed into and inform the 2026 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York, which reviews sustainable development progress at the global level.
Introduction to the APFSD Youth Forum 2026⬇️
The Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum is an annual convening that brings together young people from across Asia and the Pacific to discuss and deliberate on sustainable development issues.
The forum aims to ensure young people’s voices and realities are included in setting the regional agenda on sustainable development, empower young people through meaningful interactions and conversations with various stakeholders, and approach the sustainable development agenda with an intersectional, youth, human rights, and justice lens.
ARROW and the regional co-convenors, Youth LEAD, and YPEER Asia Pacific Center have been organising the annual APFSD Youth Forum since 2017. From 2022, we have been joined by regional youth networks, such as Major Group for Children and Youth and Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) have also joined in 2025. The APFSD Youth Forum is also done in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP).
The APFSD Youth Forum engages 400-500 adolescents and young people in the age group of 13-30 years from across Asia and the Pacific region to develop National, Sub-Regional and Regional Youth Call to Action.
In alignment with the goals under review in HLPF 2026 and APFSD 2026, the youth forum will focus on the review, gaps and challenges of the SDGs under review along with 3 additional crosscutting goals:
- Goal 3 (Good health and well-being)
- Goal 5 (Gender equality)
- Goal 6 (Clean water and sanitation)
- Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy)
- Goal 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure)
- Goal 11 (Sustainable cities and communities)
- Goal 13 (Climate action)
- Goal 17 (Partnership for the Goals)
APFSD Youth Forum 2026 Theme🌱
The overarching theme for the 2026 edition of the Youth Forum is “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for young people in all their diversity.”
The APFSD Youth Forum serves as a distinguished platform for young persons to engage in meaningful discourse, exchange innovative ideas, and contribute to the advancement of sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific.
In previous forums, the physical participation of children under the age of 18 was limited due to safety and safeguarding concerns. However, starting in 2026, we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment that allows for the meaningful in-person participation of children and adolescents.
We are also looking forward to abstracts submission on climate action, gender equality and human rights, health and well-being, young people’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services, Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), decent work, and partnerships to realise SDGs in Asia and Pacific.
APFSD Youth Forum 2026 Objectives⬇️
The APFSD Youth Forum 2026 aims to:
- To ensure young people’s voices, their realities and perspectives are meaningfully included, in setting, transforming and implementing the regional agenda on sustainable development, with specific reference to the intergovernmental APFSD 2026 and HLPF 2026.
- To sustain the dedicated youth convening space of APFSD Youth Forum and discuss SDG implementation with focus on ‘Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for a sustainable future for young people in all their diversity’.
- To assess the progress, gaps, and challenges in the implementation of SDGs slated for in depth review including SDG 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 17 from young people’s lens, and also address structural and systemic barriers to youth inclusion in sustainable development.
- To contribute to the voluntary national review process, from a youth perspective.
- To develop the Youth Call to Action at regional, sub-regional and national level.
- To provide a platform for National Alliance on APFSD to share the national Call to Action and to be incorporated into APFSD Regional Youth Call to Action 2026.
Call for Abstracts✨
We are looking forward to abstracts submissions relevant to the goals under review. Please note that the abstracts submissions are not limited to research but can also include programme implementation on the ground, initiatives focused on young people and initiatives led by young people.
Additionally, those who apply to the Call for Abstracts MUST apply to the general Call for Applications as well.
Young people are encouraged to apply and share their work on the ground.
Guideline for Abstract Submission⬇️
Update: Abstract Submission – deadline passed.
What next after the APFSD Youth Forum 2026?🤔
The outcomes of the APFSD Youth Forum 2026, which is primarily the APFSD Youth Call to Action, will feed into the APFSD Intergovernmental Forum 2026, the High-Level Political Forum 2026, the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026, and further processes such as UN Water Conference 2026, and ECOSOC review process in the lead up to SDG Summit 2027.
The Youth Call to Action will also contribute to national level follow up and review with governments in respective countries. We also strive to ensure young people’s representation and active participation in all these identified forums.
📢 Eligibility criteria
- Between the age of 13-30 years of age (Birthdate on or after 21 February 1996).
- Is from Asia and the Pacific region.
- Is progressive and believes in human rights-based approaches.
- Demonstrates unique strengths in the application that is relevant to SDGs under review as part of 13th APFSD.
- Shows understanding of SDGs at the country or regional level.
- Individuals from marginalised / socially excluded groups, communities and applications from far to reach places will be prioritised to ensure diversity and inclusion in participation at the APFSD Youth Forum.
- Considerations will also be given to the individuals who have been part of previous APFSD Youth Forums and contributed to previous APFSD Call to Action OR have attended the intergovernmental APFSD in the past.
🚨 Deadline 🚨
Applications closed.
Important Notes📝
- The APFSD Youth Forum 2026 will be conducted in English.
- Please mention if you require interpretation services in the application form. Conveners of the Youth Forum will try to accommodate your request to the best of our ability.
- If you are below 18 and you are selected to participate in the Youth Forum, you will be requested to provide consent from your parent/guardian in the later process.
Have questions? Reach out to us👇
If you have any questions, reach out to us at apfsdyouthforum@arrow.org.my.
