The APFSD Youth Forum is an annual convening run since 2017 by ARROW with Youth LEAD and Y-PEER Asia-Pacific Center, later joined by MGCY and CYMG to UNEP, in collaboration with UN ESCAP.
Young people from Asia and the Pacific spend three days, in Bangkok or online, reviewing that year’s SDGs and drafting national, sub-regional and regional Youth Calls to Action that feed into the intergovernmental APFSD and the HLPF.
Benefits & funding
- A three-day hybrid forum (18–20 February 2027, Bangkok) with UN agencies and regional youth networks.
- Selected abstract authors lead youth sessions presenting their implemented work.
- The 2027 call states no funding; in 2026 the organisers could not fund every selected presenter and some took part self-funded.
Eligibility
- Aged 13–30 (2027 cycle: born on or after 21 February 1997); under-18s who are selected need parent or guardian consent.
- From the Asia-Pacific region, by passport or by residence (the page does not say which): Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, North Korea, Fiji, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Korea, Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Macao, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands.
- Committed to human-rights-based approaches, with understanding of the SDGs at country, regional or global level and strengths relevant to the goals under review.
- Priority, not a bar, for marginalised or socially excluded groups and remote places; past forum, sub-regional forum or APFSD participants are also considered.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Eligible nationalities
Afghanistan · Armenia · Australia · Azerbaijan · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Cambodia · China · North Korea · Fiji · Georgia
Residents of Afghanistan · Armenia · Australia · Azerbaijan · Bangladesh · Bhutan · Brunei · Cambodia · China · North Korea · Fiji · Georgia · India · Indonesia · Iran · Japan · Kazakhstan · Kiribati · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Malaysia · Maldives · Marshall Islands · Micronesia · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · Nepal · New Zealand · Pakistan · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · South Korea · Russia · Samoa · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Sri Lanka · Tajikistan · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tonga · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vietnam · American Samoa · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · Guam · Hong Kong · Macau · New Caledonia · Niue · Northern Mariana Islands can also apply.
+ 46 more
India · Indonesia · Iran · Japan · Kazakhstan · Kiribati · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Malaysia · Maldives · Marshall Islands · Micronesia · Mongolia · Myanmar · Nauru · Nepal · New Zealand · Pakistan · Palau · Papua New Guinea · Philippines · South Korea · Russia · Samoa · Singapore · Solomon Islands · Sri Lanka · Tajikistan · Thailand · Timor-Leste · Tonga · Türkiye · Turkmenistan · Tuvalu · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Vietnam · American Samoa · Cook Islands · French Polynesia · Guam · Hong Kong · Macau · New Caledonia · Niue · Northern Mariana Islands
Age requirement
13–30 yrs
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Application process
- 1Submit the general application form in English by 16 November 2026, 11:59 p.m. Bangkok time.
- 2To lead a session, also submit the abstract form; abstract applicants must file the general application too (2027 abstract deadline not stated; in 2026 it fell earlier than the general one).
- 3Note any interpretation needs in the application; the forum runs in English.
Program timeline
16 October 2026
2027 call opened
Application deadline
16 November 2026
Forum, Bangkok and online
18–20 February 2027