KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 7 Young people have called for a stronger voice in shaping federalism and asked policymakers to ensure that their views are reflected in decisions taken by federal, provincial and local governments. They made this call in Kathmandu on Wednesday during the National Youth Dialogue on Federalism, organised by the Provincial and Local Governance Strengthening Programme (PLGSP) under the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoLMCFAGA) in partnership with UNDP and Federalism and Localization Center (FLC). A flagship programme of the Government of Nepal, PLGSP is led by MoLMCFAGA in partnership with the European Union (EU), Government of Norway, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and UNDP. The dialogue brought together around 50 representatives of youth organisations and networks from the federal and provincial levels on a common platform to discuss federalism, governance, youth participation and the roles of different levels of government. One of the major features of the programme was a simulation of an Inter-Provincial Council meeting, in which young participants assumed the roles of the prime minister, home minister, as well as chief ministers and provincial ministers. The simulated meeting focused on the roles and coordination of the federal and provincial levels in a post-disaster reconstruction scenario. Participants also took part in another simulation representing different elected and non-elected actors from federal, provincial and local governments. The exercises were designed to help young people better understand how the three levels of government function, how responsibilities are divided and how public decisions are made. Samiun Nisha from Gandaki Province said the discussions helped participants distinguish more clearly between the responsibilities of federal, provincial and local governments. 'Many of us had previously assumed that some responsibilities of the federal government were carried out by local governments, and vice versa. The discussion helped make these roles much clearer,' she said. Similarly, Aadarsh Bikram Singh from Karnali Province said federalism had made development more responsive to local needs and strengthened the connection between citizens and their local governments. 'In the past, there was a perception that development mainly happened in Kathmandu or in major cities,' he said. 'After federalism, when roads are constructed in our own local areas, people begin to feel that development is also happening in their villages.' 'Today, when people think of 'their government,' they often think first of their municipality or rural municipality,' Singh said. Pradip Yadav from Madhesh Province said young people needed to examine whether federalism was delivering meaningful change, particularly for poor, marginalised and economically disadvantaged groups. 'What is the role of young people? What do young people think about federalism? What do they expect from it?' he said, adding that an equally important question was whether federalism was making a real difference in the lives of disadvantaged communities. He also said that while federal structures had been established across the country, the devolution of authority remained incomplete. Also speaking at the event, PLGSP National Programme Manager Anuj Ghimire said young people needed to understand the constitution and existing governance systems to engage with them effectively. 'We need to make existing systems accountable and continue improving them. We need to shape the system in the direction we want it to go,' Ghimire said. He encouraged young people to pay closer attention to decisions taken by their local governments, including budgets and development programmes. The dialogue provided young participants with an opportunity not only to discuss their expectations from federalism but also to examine how the three levels of government interact in practice. Through discussions and simulations, participants reflected on public accountability, service delivery, budget allocation, inclusion, intergovernmental coordination and the role young people can play in strengthening the federal system. The national dialogue was part of a series of eight youth dialogues, seven held in each of the provinces and one in Kathmandu, designed to bring young people onto a common platform to discuss key issues of federalism and deepen their understanding of the federal system.