How Nepal’s child-led SDG Review demonstrates local ownership for global impact
#NoOneLeftBehind
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In 2024, the Nepal SDGs Forum—a multi-stakeholder platform that includes civil society, youth, private sector, and local authorities—organized a series of innovative, inclusive Voluntary Local and National Reviews of the SDGs. Among them was a special initiative: a child-led Voluntary Local Review (VLR) across various munipalities in Nepal. Organized with support from the NGO Federation of Nepal (NFN), the event brought together children to assess SDGs. Children identified key achievements, such as the creation of children’s networks, improvements in food access, and poverty alleviation programs. They also raised challenges—youth migration, poor education quality, lack of disaster preparedness—and proposed powerful, actionable solutions. These included:
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Creating industries for youth employment
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Offering free education and food programs
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Increasing access to fertilizers and seeds for farmers
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Planting 10 trees for every one cut
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Improving justice systems and civic participation
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Committing local budgets to SDG localization
This innovative process was youth-led, child-led, and even disability-led—with all groups producing and submitting reports that informed the national Voluntary National Review (VNR). Importantly, these findings were not only acknowledged locally by officials - but also nationally. NFN Chairperson Ram Prasad Subedi carried the children’s voices to the 2024 UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York inspiring international reaction and a practical example of bottom-up SDG monitoring.
"Children themselves organized the VLR, and even produced the report. Their recommendations were included in the national VNR task force. The government welcomed it—and other countries want to replicate the model," said Arjun Bhattarai, Secretary General of NFN in an interview with Forus.
This work aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and with the principles of Leaving No One Behind including:
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SDG 1 – No Poverty: Addressed joblessness and proposed youth-focused economic solutions.
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SDG 2 – Zero Hunger: Tackled malnutrition, food insecurity, and equitable distribution.
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SDG 13 – Climate Action: Advocated for reforestation, waste management, and disaster response.
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SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: Called for accessible justice, civic participation, and transparency.
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SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Highlighted strong collaboration between children, civil society, and government.
🌱 #NoOneLeftBehind – In Nepal, through the Nepal SDGs Forum and @Ngofednepal youth and children organized Child- and Youth-Led Voluntary Local Reviews. They analyzed SDGs, identified gaps, and proposed powerful solutions—like child-friendly policies, climate action, access to justice, and inclusive development. Their voices are now shaping national and global policy. #LeavingNoOneBehind
📖 Learn more: https://www.forus-international.org/en/custom-page-detail/125351-how-nepals-child-led-sdg-review-demonstrates-local-ownership-for-global-impact/?force_active=34231741-1c41-4e39-90e7-0a782be130b6
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