Figure 2: Fellows engage in an interactive discussion with Kyoko Yokosuka, UNDP Nepal’s Resident Representative, and Nima Rinji Sherpa, Climate Influencer 

Kathmandu, Nepal – 24 November 2025 – The five-day YECAP Nepal Shakers Fellowship 2025 – Youth Climate Catalysts III, organized by the Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab) in partnership with UNDP, concluded at Godavari Village Resort, Kathmandu, with young climate leaders reaffirming their commitment to advancing community-driven, evidence-based climate solutions across Nepal. The event brought together 20 youth leaders from diverse regions and youth-led civil society organizations. Through the fellowship, participants received intensive training on climate science, disaster risk reduction (DRR), national and global climate policy frameworks, and Nepal’s commitments under NDC 3.0. The program emphasized the role of youth in driving local climate resilience and empowered participants to develop data-driven climate solutions using cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 

Harnessing AI, GIS, and Data-Driven Approaches for Climate Solutions 

One of the key highlights of the fellowship was its focus on empowering youth leaders with the technical skills to tackle climate change using innovative digital tools. Throughout the program, participants were trained in AI, machine learning, and GIS, all of which are critical for climate change mitigation and adaptation. These tools allow young leaders to use data and geospatial analysis to understand climate risks, predict environmental changes, and design climate resilience strategies based on data-driven insights. Using GIS technology, participants learned how to map vulnerable areas and assess climate impacts on local communities, while AI and machine learning tools helped model the effects of climate change on different sectors, such as agriculture and water resources. The knowledge gained in this fellowship will enable youth leaders to develop smarter, more effective climate solutions tailored to their communities’ needs. 

Youth-Led Innovation: Project Pitches to Municipal Authorities 

A unique feature of the fellowship was the opportunity for participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge in real-world settings. On the final day, ten youth-led teams presented innovative climate action projects to a panel of municipal authorities and organizing teams. These proposals, which incorporated AI, GIS, and data-driven methodologies, focused on local climate challenges and offered actionable solutions for climate resilience. Municipal representatives expressed strong interest in the fellows’ ideas, noting that youth-driven innovations can play a key role in accelerating local climate adaptation and improving service delivery. The collaboration between youth leaders and municipal officials highlighted the potential of cross-sector partnerships in addressing Nepal’s climate vulnerabilities. 

Empowering Youth for a Climate-Resilient Future 

The fellowship also emphasized the importance of social inclusion and gender equality in climate action. The training integrated these themes with technical learning, ensuring that the solutions developed by the youth leaders considered the needs of marginalized and vulnerable communities. During the fellowship, participants also had the opportunity to hear from several inspiring speakers, including Purnima Shrestha, a renowned photographer and mountaineer, who spoke about resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. The fellows also visited ICIMOD’s Living Mountain Lab, where they observed community-based adaptation models and nature-based solutions in action. 

Pradip Khatiwada, Executive Director of Youth Innovation Lab, delivered an empowering opening speech, emphasizing that the fellowship is about more than just building capacity. “This fellowship is about building a movement,” he said. “A movement where youth are not just participants, but partners. A movement where climate action is not top-down, but community-driven. A movement where your leadership shapes Nepal’s climate future.” 

Vijaya Singh, Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal, echoed this sentiment, stressing the urgency of equipping youth with the tools, knowledge, and platforms to influence climate policy and drive local resilience. “Nepal’s climate vulnerabilities demand solutions rooted in community insight and innovation, and youth must play a central role in these solutions,” he said. 

Looking Ahead: The Future of Youth-Led Climate Action in Nepal 

The fellowship concluded with a final reflection session led by Kyoko Yokosuka, Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal, and Nima Rinji Sherpa, UNDP Nepal’s Climate Influencer. The session brought fellows together to reflect on their experiences, share insights, and discuss ways to continue their work in the fight against climate change.

 Figure 1: Fellows representing their respective youth-led CSOs present their climate action project proposals to municipal officials and jury members 

The graduates of the YECAP Nepal Shakers Fellowship 2025 are now better equipped with the skills, networks, and vision needed to implement climate solutions at the local level. With a strong foundation in AI, GIS, machine learning, and other data-driven tools, these young leaders are ready to take on the challenge of creating sustainable, community-led climate solutions across Nepal. 

As the fellowship comes to a close, the 2025 cohort is poised to become the next generation of climate leaders, driving positive change in their communities and contributing to Nepal’s long-term climate resilience. The fellowship has set the stage for an ongoing movement, where youth take the lead in advancing Nepal’s climate action agenda. 

For more information about the YECAP Nepal Shakers Fellowship and future opportunities, please visit https://youthinnovationlab.org/fellowships/yecap-nepal-shakers-fellowship-2025  or follow us on social media. 

Contact Information: 

Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab) 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: +977 985-1115919 
Website:  https://youthinnovationlab.org/  
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/YILabNepal  
Twitter: @YILabNepal 

Youth Innovation Lab – Program Team 

Nikita Pradhan, Program Co-ordinator 

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 9767245295 

Sabina Budhathoki, Fellowship Co-ordinator 

Email: [email protected] | Phone: 9746458939 

About Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab): 

Youth Innovation Lab (YI-Lab) is a youth-led nonprofit organization focused on empowering young people through capacity-building, technology-driven solutions, and social innovation to address critical challenges such as climate change, social inclusion, and sustainable development. YI-Lab works in collaboration with national and international partners, including UNDP, to create platforms for youth to lead and drive positive change in their communities. 

About UNDP Nepal: 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nepal works to support the country’s efforts in achieving sustainable development, reducing poverty, and building resilience against climate change. UNDP partners with governments, civil society, and the private sector to deliver programs and projects that focus on inclusive and sustainable development. 

About YECAP:  

The Youth Empowerment in Climate Action Platform (YECAP) was established by UNDP in Asia and the Pacific in collaboration with UNFCCC RCC Asia and the Pacific, UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific, UNICEF South Asia, British Council, YOUNGO, Movers Programme, and 2030 Youth Force in response to young people across the region calling for urgent action on the climate agenda. Youth in all their diverse identities and experiences advance their climate journeys with the support from YECAP to meaningfully engage in action, advocacy, and acceleration of the movement towards a just climate future.