CASE STUDY 4 Shaping Political Futures, Kathmandu Hub, Nepal Strategy Definition Driving systems changeIn Nepal, young people are upending traditional power structures and advocating for transparent governance by running for office themselves. Local elections in May 2022 and general elections in November 2022 saw a remarkable surge in young people’s political participation across Nepal. Several young mayors were elected, including the mayor and deputy mayor of Kathmandu, along with 63 parliamentarians under the age of 40. This is significant compared to the 2017 elections, which saw only 45 young parliamentarians elected to the 275-member House of Representatives, underscoring the growing democratic influence of young people nationally. In Kathmandu Hub, young people created a political leadership accelerator, equipping their peers with the knowledge and tools needed for active democratic participation. By raising awareness of political issues, improving access to information through social media, and harnessing a generation’s desire for change, young voters campaigned against established leaders and turned out in record numbers on election days. This enthusiasm paved the way for the emergence of new politicians delivering systemic change. Next steps: To sustain this momentum, government, civil society and other key stakeholders must step up to support young people’s ongoing political participation. This includes institutionalizing leadership development and promoting inclusive policies that amplify young voices. Young people should be recognized as vital contributors in political processes between elections, co-shaping and co-implementing local and national development priorities. Initiatives such as the Ministry of Youth, the National Youth Council and the Nepal Youth Summit offer long-term platforms for this type of engagement.23 Through our project ‘Shaping Political Futures’, we’re empowering Nepal’s youth to claim their place in political leadership, addressing the stark reality that, with a median age of the nation at 24, less than 1% of Nepal’s parliament represents those under 30. Santosh Pandey, Curator, Kathmandu Hub, Nepal Global Shapers Impact Report 26

Global Shapers Impact Report 2025