Switched On: Youth at the Heart of Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific

Investing in youth is an investment in our future. It is also fundamental for the successful implementation of the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is especially true in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to about 700 million youth, whose ambitions and abilities can make a substantial contribution to the realization of the prosperous, peaceful and sustainable future we want for all people in our region.

This report was produced for three main reasons: First and foremost to raise awareness of the importance of youth-related, evidence-based and strategic participatory policy-making, planning and programming. Second, to highlight the current status, challenges and opportunities for the youth of Asia and the Pacific. Third, to support the understanding and practical responses — by governments, civil society, the private sector, academia and other stakeholders — of the position and promise of youth in the region.