Starting a business comes with challenges, especially for young people who often face age-related bias and limited access to resources. For many of the 700 million youth across Asia-Pacific, finding the right support can be difficult, yet that support can lead to meaningful change. 

Youth Co:Lab co-created in 2017 by the UNDP and the Citi Foundation, has been empowering and investing in youth so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. It was rooted in a simple yet powerful belief: that young people not only hold the key to solving the region’s most significant challenges but can do so by turning their ideas into action—changing narratives and transforming communities. It has reached over 300,000 young people across 28 countries and territories. 

Through an array of startup support interventions, Youth Co:Lab has provided ongoing support for 28,000 young social entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and opportunities for global exposure. These young entrepreneurs have been equipped with financial sustainability tools to drive impact in their communities and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. The programme has also collaborated with 300 entrepreneurship support organizations to provide support services and enhance young social entrepreneurs' skills and knowledge. This support has created 155,000 livelihoods, and around 13 million people have benefitted from innovations, across the region. 

Take, for instance, DeafTawk, a business with a digital platform that provides real-time sign language services to facilitate communications for people with hearing disabilities. It has reached over 97,000 individuals and has created over 1,100 jobs in five countries. "Youth Co:Lab allowed us to connect with global partners and mentors," says CEO and Co-Founder Ali Sabbar. In the Philippines, Grow School, empowered 98,000 youth to become self-sufficient food producers in a country vulnerable to natural disasters. This initiative has expanded to Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia. 

Youth Co:Lab, co-led by UNDP and Citi Foundation, continues to evolve—empowering young changemakers and strengthening innovative ecosystems across Asia and the Pacific. By fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships, aligning with the SDGs, and leveraging UNDP’s regional presence, Youth Co:Lab is scaling its impact—ensuring the next generation of leaders has the tools, networks, and resources to turn bold ideas into lasting solutions. 

Over the years, the initiative was funded with US $850,000 from UNDP’s core resources and has mobilized over US $67 million from partners to support youth empowerment, highlighting the power of collaboration and long-term commitment to inclusive and sustainable development led by young changemakers across Asia and the Pacific.