About Us

We are dynamic, dedicative, energetic, enthusiastic and laborious young people (aged 16-29 years) who are solely concerned about the future, coming generations and sustainability of Planet Earth.

Since April 2011, we have been mobilizing Asia Pacific Youth focusing on different Issues on The Himalayas (Mountains, The Water Tower), Inputs on Zero Draft and Status of Nepal in Rio+20. We have also drafted Asia Pacific Youth Position Paper towards Rio+20 and Asia Pacific Youth Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development which are also published in the website of UNCSD. We have been raising our voice for "MOUNTAINS" extending our network from Asia Pacific Region at global level.

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National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, 11, 18-19 December 2012


National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, 11, 18-19 December 2012

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) values the potential role that young people can play in promoting sustainable mountain development in the greater Himalaya region. Through the Youth Engagement in Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD) initiative, ICIMOD has been informing and empowering youth from the Asia Pacific region and building their capacity to bring about positive changes in society. The Y4SMD network is made up of over 4,000 youth from the region and beyond, with a majority from ICIMOD’s eight regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. To date, the Y4SMD initiative has implemented over 50 major youth events, including a Global Youth Forum at the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil in June 2012.

The National Youth Forum on Green Solutions in Bangladesh, organized by ICIMOD, our Youth Forum Alumni in Bangladesh and Green Hill, aims: 

·         To take ICIMOD’s youth initiative at national and local level and promote youth actions.
·         To promote SMD relevant education and discussions in Bangladesh among youth living in mountainous areas.
·         To share widely SMD relevant outcome of the Rio+20 Conference, UNFCCC COP18 and APGYF 2012
·         To enhance youth capacity to understand mountain issues and develop green solutions.
·         To initiative a process of developing a mountain conscious youth network in Bangladesh.

Programme highlights:
  • Technical and training sessions 
  • Paper presentations and discussions on the role of youth in the emerging green economy in the Hilly Regions of Bangladesh.
  • Tour of sites that exhibit climate-friendly practices.
  • Poster presentation highlighting ‘International Mountain Day 2012’.

Expected outcomes:
·         Improved understanding of local youth about mountainous issues like geo-environmental hazards, climate change and sustainable agriculture etc.
·         Establishment of mountain development dedicated youth’s network in Bangladesh.
·         Success replication of ICIMOD’s Youth Forum at national level.
·         Create a focal point in Bangladesh for national, regional and international collaboration and cooperation on sustainable hill management among youth.


Call for application:
Bangladeshi youth who are interested in participating in the forum and meet the eligibility criteria outlined below are encouraged to apply at their earliest convenience.  

  • Applicants must be: 
    • Bangladeshi nationals 
    • 18–29 years of age 
  • From or currently residing in any districts of the country, but youths from Hilly Regions will get preference.
  • Applications must be submitted through the online system HERE no later than 02 December 2012.
  • Applicants will be selected by a small committee of experts. Selected applicants will be notified by 5 December 2012.   
  • The organizers will cover expenses related to participation in the National Youth Forum (roundtrip travel, food, and lodging).

For further information, please write to Marufa Ishaque at marufa_ishaque@yahoo.com.

Keep track of ICIMOD youth events and announcements:

Subscribe to the Mountain Forum/Asia Pacific Mountain Network at www.mtnforum.org/en/users.

Please kindly circulate this announcement in your networks.

ICIMOD’s Youth Initiative – Youth for Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD): A legacy of its own

ICIMOD’s Youth Forum timeline:
2010: SERVIR-Himalaya Youth Forum on Empowering Youth with Earth Observation Information for Climate Actions 1-6 October 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal
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2011A: Asia Pacific Youth Forum on Climate Actions and Mountain Issues, 8-12 August 2011 in Kathmandu, Nepal
2011B:  SERVIR-Himalaya Sub-regional Youth Forum (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) on Climate Actions in the Himalaya at Bhutan Climate Summit, 14 – 19 November 2011 in Thimpu, Bhutan
2011C: SERVIR-Himalaya National Youth Forum on Climate Change, 5-8 December 2011 in Islamabad, Pakistan
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2012A: SERVIR-Himalaya National Youth Forum on Climate Change, 23-26 January 2012, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2012B: Global Youth Forum on Mountain Issues and Sustainable Actions at Rio+20 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2012C: Asia Pacific Graduates' Youth Forum on Green Economy, 25-29 September 2012 in Kathmandu, Nepal
2012D: South Asian Youth Forum on Mountain Issues and Sustainable Actions in Islamabad, Pakistan (planned)

Other Major Youth Activities:
2009A: E-discussion on The Young Can Do! Let's Protect Forests with Our Hands, 29 April to 27 May 2009, Kathmandu, Nepal
2009B: Beginning of the youth for Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD) initiative at ICIMOD, with launch of the special report ‘The Young Can Do!’, 12 August 2009, Kathmandu, Nepal
2009C: Cosponsored First South Asian Youth Summit on Climate Change,  3-6 September 2009, Dhulikhel, Nepal
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2010A: ICIMOD-British Council First Café Scientifique in Asia on Climate Change Adaptation, 25 February 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal
2010B: ICIMOD-British Council Workshop on Creating a Sustainable Network of Climate Change Champions from Bangladesh, Nepal and Uzbekistan, 19-24 September 2010  in Kathmandu, Nepal
2010C: Cosponsored International Graduate Conference on Climate Change and People, 15-19 November 2010 in Kathmandu, Nepal
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2011A: Youth and Climate Change Poster Competition, January-February 2011, Kathmandu, Nepal
2011B: ICIMOD-British Council Youth Corner on Climate Change Adaptation, 12 March 2011 in Kathmandu, Nepal
2011C: ICIMOD-British Council Café Scientifique on 'Climate Change and Water' with Dr Garrett Kilroy, 25 March 2011, Kathmandu, Nepal
2011E: Asia Pacific Youth on Green Economy-Special Side Event at the UNEP-TUNZA Conference, 27 September 2011 in Bandung, Indonesia
2011F: Contributed to Panel Discussion on Youth Engagement on Climate Change & Rio+20 Processes at UNFCCC COP17, 8 December 2011 in Durban, South Africa
2011G: ICIMOD-CONDESAN-SDC and VerbierGPS: Engaging Children and Youth in Mountain Development (Asia, Europe and South America) – Test launch of the World Mountain Forum, 11 December 2011 in Kathmandu, Nepal
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2012C: Youth Perspectives on Promoting Green Economy in South and Central Asia at Planet Under Pressure 2012, 26 March 2012, in London, UK
2012D: Formation of ‘Asia Pacific’ and ‘Nepal’ task Forces on Rio+20 and advocacy in Nepal, HKH and globally, January-August 2012 (http://nepaliyouthrio20.blogspot.com/,http://rioplus20.blogspot.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/APY.Rioplus20)
2012E: ICIMOD Funded Youth Alumni organised ‘Youth and Green Economy’ and ‘My sustainable dream and practice’ side events at the UNCSD MGCY Youth Blast Conference, 8-12 June 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

ICIMOD Publications on Youth:

ICIMOD Multimedia Products aimed at Youth:

For more information:
Tek Jung Mahat, Team Leader and Utsav Maden, Events Manager at youthmedia@icimod.org.

Sharing Workshops on Rio+20 : Flash Back-Youth Perspective, Biratnagar

-By Kabita Gautam
On 14th August 2012, a one day sharing workshop on Rio+20 was organized by Nepal Youth Task Force on Rio+20 in with support from UNESCO, SEN and ICIMOD. There were around 18 youth participants from the regions who have been working on the environment and social issue and some students from conservation science background. The workshop was one among the series of the programs organized in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Sharing Workshops on Rio+20 : Flash Back-Youth Perspective, Pokhara

-By Kabita Gautam
On 13th August 2012, the regional level sharing program was organized in Pokhara in collaboration with HRELIC-Kaski with support from UNESCO, SEN and ICIMOD. In the program, a representative from youth organizations, media persons, human rights activists, and students were involved. Nepal’s green economy sectors and their status, Nepalese youth position as compared to the international youth, Nepal’s voice in Rio+20 and major achievements from the Conference were shared among twenty six participating youth.

Call for applications for the Asia-Pacific Graduates' Youth Forum on Green Economy 25–29 September 2012 Nepal

Through its Asia-Pacific Mountain Network (APMN), the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been engaging youth and building their capacity to bring about positive changes in society through several different initiatives. Since it began in 2009, the global membership of the Youth Engagement in Sustainable Mountain Development (Y4SMD) initiative has grown to 2,000 members, a majority of whom are from ICIMOD’s regional member countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. In 2010, ICIMOD started organizing youth forums in member countries to build the technical capacity and leadership skills of youth in the region as well as enhance their knowledge on the most burning issues in mountain development. In 2011, these forums were expanded to include the entire Asia-Pacific region, and the recent Global Youth Forum on Mountain Issues and Sustainable Actions, held in conjunction with the Rio+20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, included participants from around the globe.

Sharing Workshops on Rio+20 : Flash Back-Youth Perspective, Kathmandu

- By Kabita Gautam and Shreejana Bhattarai
Welcoming and remarking the International Youth Day 2012, Nepal Youth Task Force on Rio+20 organized “Sharing Workshop on Rio+20: Flash Back- Youth Perspectives” at NEFEJ Hall, Thapathali. The program was supported by UNESCO, SEN ICIMOD, WWF and NEFEJ. The program was organized to share the experiences, learning and key messages of the youth who participated in the Rio+20 Conference with the youths and media persons. Twenty eight youth from different educational background and media persons participated in the program.

Online Discussion : Inputs and Comments on Education, 19th-22nd June 2012

-By Kabita Gautam
Nepal Youth Task Force on Rio+20 organized 3 days online discussion program on “Inputs and Comments on Education, 19th-22nd June 2012” where more than fifty youth have participated. The discussion was done during the Rio+20 Conference at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during which youth from Nepal different countries had an analysis on the Issue “Education” in their country and have given their views on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The discussion was facilitated by Ms. Kabita Gautam who shared the updated paragraph on “Education” and collected some views from the youth who participated in the discussion.