Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) · Bangkok, Thailand,
Applications are open for the Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum 2027, a regional gathering that brings together young people to discuss sustainable development, human rights, social justice and the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The forum will take place from 18 to 20 February 2027 in Bangkok, Thailand, with opportunities to participate both in person and online.
The forum is organised by the Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), together with regional youth organisations and networks, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). It provides a platform for young people to share their experiences, discuss challenges affecting their communities and contribute recommendations to regional and global sustainable development processes.
The 2027 edition will focus on the theme of scaling up just transitions to achieve sustainable development, eradicate poverty and fully implement the 2030 Agenda, with young people at the forefront. Participants will examine progress towards selected SDGs, identify gaps in implementation and contribute to youth calls to action at national, subregional and regional levels.
The Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development is an annual regional platform that supports the review and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The main intergovernmental forum brings together governments, United Nations bodies, civil society organisations, international institutions and other stakeholders to discuss regional progress and challenges.
The APFSD Youth Forum creates a dedicated space for adolescents and young people to contribute their perspectives to these discussions. It recognises that young people are affected by development challenges and can also play an important role in designing and implementing solutions.
The youth forum is intended to help ensure that young people's experiences, priorities and recommendations are reflected in regional policy discussions. It also encourages participants to examine sustainable development through the perspectives of human rights, gender equality, social justice and inclusion.
The outcomes of the youth forum can inform the wider APFSD process and other international discussions, including the 2027 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the ECOSOC Youth Forum.
Participants will have the opportunity to:
• Engage with young advocates and sustainable development practitioners from across Asia and the Pacific.
• Participate in discussions on regional progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Share community initiatives, youth led programmes and relevant research.
• Contribute to national, subregional and regional Youth Calls to Action.
• Bring youth perspectives into discussions about the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
• Explore ways to address inequalities and structural barriers affecting young people.
• Exchange experiences and ideas with other youth leaders and organisations.
• Contribute to discussions that may inform regional and international sustainable development processes.
• Participate online or in person, subject to the arrangements offered by the organisers.
• Request interpretation services through the application form, subject to the organisers' ability to accommodate the request.
The theme for the 2027 edition is scaling up just transitions to achieve sustainable development, poverty eradication and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda, with young people at the forefront.
A just transition involves addressing the social and economic consequences of change while ensuring that communities, especially those facing disadvantage, are not left behind. In the context of sustainable development, this includes making progress on climate action, access to education, decent livelihoods, equality and environmental protection.
The 2027 forum will focus on the following Sustainable Development Goals scheduled for review through the regional and global sustainable development processes.
Participants will discuss access to inclusive and equitable education, learning opportunities, educational inequalities and the role of young people in improving education systems.
Discussions will consider social and economic inequalities, exclusion and the barriers that prevent marginalised communities from accessing opportunities and participating in decision making.
Participants can examine sustainable resource use, responsible production, waste reduction and the role of communities and young people in encouraging more sustainable practices.
This goal covers the protection of terrestrial ecosystems, forests and biodiversity, as well as efforts to combat land degradation and support sustainable use of natural resources.
Participants will explore cooperation among governments, civil society, youth organisations and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
The forum will also address three crosscutting goals:
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being, including access to health services and the factors affecting young people's wellbeing.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality, including discrimination, gender based barriers and the participation of women and girls in development.
• SDG 13: Climate Action, including climate resilience, adaptation, mitigation and youth participation in climate solutions.
Applicants must meet the forum's eligibility requirements.
• Age: Applicants must be between 13 and 30 years old. The call specifies that eligible applicants must have been born on or after 21 February 1997.
• Geographic eligibility: Applicants must be from the Asia and Pacific region.
• Commitment to human rights: Applicants should demonstrate a progressive outlook and support human rights based approaches.
• Knowledge of sustainable development: Applicants should understand the Sustainable Development Goals and their relevance at national, regional or global levels.
• Relevant strengths and experience: Applicants should demonstrate strengths that relate to the SDGs being reviewed during the 14th APFSD.
• Commitment to participation: Applicants should be prepared to contribute constructively to discussions and the development of youth recommendations.
The organisers aim to encourage diversity and inclusion. Applications from individuals belonging to marginalised or socially excluded groups, communities and people living in remote or hard to reach locations will be prioritised.
Consideration will also be given to individuals who have participated in previous APFSD Youth Forums, subregional forums, contributed to earlier Youth Calls to Action or attended previous intergovernmental APFSD meetings.
The forum will be conducted in English. Applicants who require interpretation services should indicate this in the application form. Participants under 18 who are selected will be asked to provide parental or guardian consent during the subsequent process.
In addition to the general application, the organisers invite young people to submit abstracts related to the Sustainable Development Goals under review.
The abstract opportunity is not limited to conventional academic research. Applicants can present practical initiatives, community programmes, youth led projects and implementation experiences that offer useful lessons for sustainable development.
Suitable contributions may include:
• Research findings on one or more of the SDGs under review.
• Community projects addressing inequality, education, health or environmental challenges.
• Youth led climate action and sustainability initiatives.
• Programmes supporting gender equality and social inclusion.
• Practical examples of partnerships that advance sustainable development.
• Lessons from local initiatives that could inform regional or national policy.
Applicants who submit an abstract must also complete the general application for the APFSD Youth Forum. Submitting an abstract alone does not replace the main application.
The general application requires applicants to complete the official online form and provide the information requested by the organisers.
Applicants should be ready to explain their background, their interest in sustainable development and the strengths or experiences they would bring to the forum.
Those applying through the Call for Abstracts should also prepare a separate abstract following the official submission guidelines.
Applicants under 18 years of age who are selected must provide parental or guardian consent during the later stages of the process.
Review the official instructions carefully before submission to ensure that all required information is provided.
Follow these steps to apply for the APFSD Youth Forum 2027.
Bangkok, Thailand,
Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW)
End of Content.
Do you have a scholarship, job opening, grant, fellowship, or event you’d like to share with a wider audience? Opportunity Desk gives you the platform to reach thousands of students and young professionals who are actively seeking opportunities like yours.
At Opportunity Desk, we go beyond simply sharing opportunities, we make them accessible, relevant, and tailored to your growth journey.
© 2023 Created with Kredibble Creatives & IT Agency
Be the first to comment on this opportunity.