Kathmandu: UNDP Nepal, in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland, convened the Project Inception Workshop for Advancing Civic Engagement for Democratic Participation, bringing together key stakeholders to promote inclusive, participatory, and representative governance in Nepal.
Setting the tone for the discussions, Shrijana Nepal of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation highlighted the project’s vision to empower youth particularly young women and marginalized communities by strengthening their meaningful participation in governance processes. She underscored the importance of inclusive civic spaces in sustaining democratic values.
Echoing these views, Kyoko Yokosuka, Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal, reaffirmed UNDP’s continued commitment to advancing democratic participation, with a strong emphasis on amplifying youth voices. She emphasized that engaging young people as active agents of change is central to building resilient and inclusive democratic institutions.
Representing the National Youth Council Nepal, Bishwas Rokka Magar reiterated the Council’s role in project implementation and stressed the importance of youth leadership in shaping participatory governance frameworks.
The workshop provided a valuable platform for stakeholder inputs, alignment with UNDP’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) policies, and the exploration of synergies among ongoing initiatives. It also fostered collaboration between UNDP-supported projects and civil society organization–led efforts, laying a strong foundation for governance systems that are inclusive, participatory, and reflective of the diverse voices across Nepal.
