The Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), the Asia Pacific Regional CSO Engagement Mechanism APRCEM’s Youth Constituency, coordinated by Youth LEAD, and YPEER along with other stakeholders recognise that young people in this region face intersecting challenges to sustainable development across all dimensions of the economic, social and environment. 

Further to this, the civic space for meaningful and inclusive youth engagement in sustainable development is constantly under threat at national and regional levels in the region.

As a result, a space for young people’s significant engagement in the follow-up and review of the sustainable development agenda process through the APRCEM Youth Constituency mechanism has been created. 

Young people from across Asia and the Pacific region gather ahead of the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) every year to discuss, dialogue, and deliberate on the implementation, follow-up and review process of SDGs from a youth lens.

These Preparatory APFSD Youth Forums since 2017 have enabled inclusive young people participation at the intergovernmental APFSD meetings over the years.