On June 29, 2024, a hundred youths pledged to be eco-leaders at the 3rd Agri-Climate Youth Leadership Summit organized by 4-H Nepal at Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal. Each participant took an oath to enable positive change both within and beyond their communities, positioning themselves as advocates for environmentally responsible behavior and sustainable practices. Among these youths were seven Subnational Government Program (SNGP) Fellows from strategic partner municipalities, who also participated in meaningful discussions and activities on climate change and sustainable agriculture.

The SNGP Fellowship provides opportunities for young women from marginalized communities to acquire essential knowledge and skills regarding local government practices and processes and is designed to foster leadership and professionalism through capacity and skills enhancement. The event presented an excellent opportunity for the Fellows to evaluate existing climate practices and discover ways to incorporate environmentally responsible behavior and sustainable practices into their everyday lives and communities.

The Summit, themed “Greening Agriculture in Youth Leadership,” primarily aimed to promote agricultural sustainability by encouraging the exchange of youth knowledge and experiences, fostering networking opportunities for the development of young leaders, and equipping young people with the leadership skills and innovative ideas needed for positive community change. During the Summit, technical sessions covered topics such as climate challenges for youth, climate justice, and organic agriculture. The Digital Green Art Competition showcased young artists’ works related to climate change, sustainability, and agriculture. In the ‘Green Youth Gosthi’ knowledge-sharing session, participants explored themes like climate change, agriculture, and youth involvement. The Pitch AG-Climate-Hack (PACH) Competition highlighted innovative agri-climate proposals. At the Summit’s conclusion, the National Agri-Climate Youth Network (NACYN) was established to provide resources and tools for effective agri-climate solutions, with SNGP Fellows recognized among its 100 Eco-leaders.

NACYN is anticipated to support university students on issues concerning climate change, agriculture, livestock, and policymaking at both national and regional levels. The network will offer capacity-building training sessions and digital advocacy initiatives for farmers and local community groups, aiding in sustainable agricultural development. Additionally, the network will help communities gain practical skills in agro-enterprises, product management, standardization, branding, and marketing, while acknowledging the contributions of farmers and women to the agro-economy.

SNGP supports platforms for dialogue, fosters collaboration on climate change issues among relevant stakeholders, and facilitates knowledge exchange and implementation of climate change policies at the subnational level. SNGP strives to expand public participation (including women and marginalized communities) in climate policy and governance through structured consultation and engagement platforms. For future endeavors, SNGP aims to mobilize the network to advocate and lobby across all seven provinces on various climate change issues, complementing the program’s overall climate goals.