Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum 2026
- Omran Aburayya
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you’re a young changemaker from the Asia-Pacific region passionate about sustainable development, here’s an exciting opportunity for you: applications are now open for the APFSD Youth Forum 2026. This hybrid event (in-person + online) takes place 18-20 February 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, and invites youth aged 13-30 from across Asia and the Pacific to engage in discussions, submit session abstracts, and help shape the future of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here's everything you need to know.
🌐 Programme Summary
Location: Bangkok, Thailand (hybrid mode)
Organisers:
Asian‑Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
Youth LEAD
YPEER Asia‑Pacific Centre
In partnership with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) & United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP).
Target group: A convening for youth (13-30 years old) – adolescents and young adults from the Asia-Pacific region.
Focus: Sustainable development, especially the SDGs under review (see below). Youth leadership, rights-based approaches, climate action, innovation, inclusive participation.
Duration: 3 days (18-20 February 2026) in hybrid mode.
Application deadline: 10 November 2025, 11:59 PM Bangkok time.
Eligible to: Youth aged 13-30, from the Asia-Pacific region, committed to human-rights and youth participation, including those from marginalised or remote communities.
📚 Programme Overview
The APFSD Youth Forum 2026 serves as a dynamic platform for young people across Asia and the Pacific to come together and meaningfully engage in the regional sustainable development agenda. It is held ahead of the intergovernmental Asia‑Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) 2026 (24-27 February 2026) in Bangkok, aligning with the global High‑level Political Forum (HLPF) 2026.
The theme 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.”
Over the course of the three days (hybrid format), participants will:
Engage in interactive sessions, including youth-led sessions, workshops, networking and discussions.
Review progress, gaps and challenges in the SDGs under review, at both national and regional levels, from youth perspectives.
Contribute to the development of a Regional Youth Call to Action (as well as national/sub-regional calls) which will feed into APFSD 2026, HLPF 2026 and other follow-up processes.
Submit abstracts (for youth-led initiatives, research, programmes) which may be showcased or included in sessions.
The SDGs that are explicitly under review for this edition and that the Youth Forum will focus on include:
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
🎁 Benefits of the Programme
Platform & Visibility: Opportunity to engage with diverse peers, youth networks, civil society, UN agencies, policymakers and other stakeholders across Asia-Pacific on the SDGs.
Youth Leadership & Voice: Chance to co-create the Youth Call to Action, influence regional agendas, contribute your perspectives.
Capacity Building: Participation in sessions tailored to youth leadership, advocacy, data-driven approaches and innovative solutions.
Networking: Connect with participants from across the region, share initiatives, build cross-border partnerships.
Hybrid Participation: If you cannot attend in-person, there is an online mode, which broadens accessibility.
Inclusivity & Diversity: The Forum emphasises inclusion of marginalised communities, remote areas, youth in all diversity.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
Participants must meet the following criteria:
Aged 13–30 years (Born on or after 21 February 1996).
From the Asia and Pacific region.
Have a mindset aligned with human-rights-based approaches, youth participation, and diversity.
Demonstrate unique strengths, relevant experience/engagement with SDGs (especially those under review) at country or regional level.
Priority will be given to applicants from marginalised or socially excluded groups, from remote or under-represented areas; also those who have participated previously in APFSD Youth Forum or APFSD intergovernmental sessions.
If selected as under-18 attending in-person, you will need consent from parent/guardian.
📝 Application Procedure
Submit application via the online application form
Fill in information about: age, region/country, experience with SDGs, disability or marginalised background if applicable, whether you need interpretation services, etc.
For abstracts: you will need to submit the description of initiative (could be research, programme implementation, youth-led initiative) aligned to the SDGs under review. It must follow abstract guidelines (title, rationale, methodology, outcomes, etc).
ℹ️ Extra Information & Tips
The in-person component is in Bangkok, Thailand, 18-20 February 2026 (hybrid).
Participants will engage immediately prior to the intergovernmental APFSD (24-27 Feb 2026) in the same city (Bangkok).
The abstract submissions are not limited to academic research — they also welcome on-the-ground initiatives, youth-led programmes and implementation stories.
While funding/support is limited, one source mentions “limited funding support available for selected participants to attend in person”.
The official working language is English, but interpretation services may be requested (and you should indicate this in your form).
The output of the forum — the Youth Call to Action — will feed into multiple processes: regional/national follow-up, APFSD 2026, HLPF 2026, UN water/other conferences.
🚀 Final Remarks
If you are a young person aged 13-30 in the Asia-Pacific region (including, where applicable, Arab youth in Asia), this is a strong opportunity to have your voice heard on issues of sustainable development, connect with peers and regional stakeholders, submit your initiative or research, and contribute to a Youth Call to Action that influences policy. With the deadline 10 Nov 2025, now is a good time to prepare your application and abstract.
