Education, however, cannot be effective unless it is inclusive. The EU's ideals include principles of inclusion and equality, which demand that all communities have an equal stake in the development of their countries. This includes the youth
At a time when many countries in the Global North, including in the European Union, are rapidly ageing, Nepal remains a steadfastly young country. More than 40 per cent of the country's population is between 16 and 40 years, the age bracket that Nepal considers as 'youth'.
Furthermore, 61 per cent of the country's population is between 15 and 59 years, according to the 2021 Census. This provides Nepal with a massive demographic dividend – a window of opportunity to achieve high economic growth when the working-age population (15-59) is greater than the dependent population (0-14, 60 and older). To capitalise on this dividend the most important thing that young people need is access to quality education.
This is why education has been a cornerstone of the EU's support for youth in Nepal. Over the years, the EU has contributed significantly to Nepal's school education sector, focusing on inclusive access to quality education for all. We, however, recognise that formal education is not the only path to success for young people in today's rapidly changing world. The EU has thus also placed just as strong an emphasis on vocational training and skills development.
All this support is born from an understanding that education, more so than any other factor, is essential to realising the demographic dividend potential. As the great Renaissance thinker Desiderius Erasmus once said, "The main hope of a nation lies in the education of its youth." Every year, the Erasmus+ programme, named after Erasmus himself, provides hundreds of full scholarships to students from partner countries, including Nepal, to study in Europe.
Education, however, cannot be effective unless it is inclusive. The EU's ideals include principles of inclusion and equality, which demand that all communities have an equal stake in the development of their countries. This includes the youth. Nepal's socio-political sphere rarely allows youth, who constitute the majority of the country to make their voices heard in government policy or in the programmes of Nepal's development partners. To correct this, the European Union Delegation to Nepal established the Youth Sounding Board (YSB) in 2022, the European Year of Youth. The YSB is a unique platform for young people from across Nepal to participate in shaping the EU's actions in Nepal so that they are more participatory, relevant and effective for youth.
YSB members are broadly divided into three thematic groups centred around issues that are most relevant to them – climate action, governance, and gender equality and social inclusion. Climate change threatens the future while governance provides a pathway for the youth to make their voices heard in dealing with the effects of climate change.
Gender equality and social inclusion are critically important factors in the pursuit of sustainable development. These thematic groups align with the EU's own priorities in Nepal and thus provide an ideal platform for these young people to make their voices heard, not just in Kathmandu but also in Brussels.
This year, we are welcoming the third cohort of the YSB. While the first two cohorts were drawn from three of the most marginalised provinces – Karnali, Madhesh and Sudurpaschim – this year, we have opened up the programme to youth from all seven provinces. A new batch of 30 young Nepalis will now shadow EU staff as we engage with government officials, partner organisations and communities. They are our eyes and ears when it comes to the issues and needs of Nepali youth. They tell us when our programmes are not inclusive of the youth and advise us on how we can rectify our approach to make it more youth friendly. We may be young at heart but we need Nepali youth to show us the way.
In the year I have headed the European Union Delegation to Nepal, I have had numerous occasions to witness the strength, creativity, passion and ambition of Nepal's young people. They know well what kind of future they want, and their desire for a sustainable, inclusive and progressive Nepal is something I empathise with deeply.
As these young people grow into the leaders, entrepreneurs and change-makers of tomorrow, the benefits of engaging and involving the youth will become more obvious. The EU's commitment to Nepali youth is not just an investment in the future of this nation but a testament to the values of solidarity and shared progress in an interconnected world.
Lorenzo is the European Union Ambassador to Nepal