Nepal Manthan Campaign, 2024 is a campaign started by 4H Nepal to mark a new chapter in its journey towards youth leadership. After investing a decade in working towards youth leadership and community development, 4H Nepal has come up with a new concept for this campaign, which aims to address pressing issues of youth leadership development, climate change, agriculture, sustainable development and the policy-making process of local government in Nepal. By bringing diverse stakeholders together and fostering collaboration between them, this campaign aims to agitate positive change in youths. It contributes towards the long-term socio-economic and environmental well-being of the nation.

There are five domains of this Nepal Manthan Campaign: youth leadership development, climate change, agriculture, sustainable development goals and policy making. Focusing on these areas are significant in shaping Nepal’s present and future trajectory. For instance, investing in youth leadership means cultivating a generation of empowered leaders who can be catalysts in bringing change and innovation in their communities. Climate change poses significant challenges to Nepal’s environment, economy, and society, making it imperative to address mitigation and adaptation strategies. Agriculture, as a cornerstone of Nepal’s economy and livelihoods, requires sustainable practices to enhance productivity, resilience, and food security in the face of climate variability.

Additionally, aligning our efforts with the SDGs provides a comprehensive framework for addressing interconnected development issues, ensuring that our interventions contribute to global sustainability targets. Finally, engaging in policy-making processes enables us to advocate for evidence-based policies that support youth empowerment, climate resilience, agricultural sustainability, and SDG implementation at local, regional, and national levels, thus fostering inclusive governance and driving systemic change. By focusing on these key areas, the Nepal Manthan project aims to catalyze holistic and transformative development that empowers communities, protects the environment, and advances social equity for generations to come.

The objectives of Nepal Manthan, 2024 are

• To foster the development of youth leadership skills, capacities, and opportunities for meaningful engagement in community development and decision-making processes.

• To raise awareness about climate change, promote sustainable practices and build resilience to climate-related challenges

• To promote sustainable agriculture practices, improve food security and support the livelihoods of substantial farmers

• To contribute towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals.

• To advocate for evidence-based policies and enhance transparency, accountability and civic participation in governance processes.

• To foster collaboration and partnerships with different stakeholders and encourage innovation and learning among youths.

Activities to be conducted

A diverse range of activities will be conducted as a part of the Nepal Manthan Campaign. These activities, in turn, will help to promote dialogue, awareness and engagement on various youth-led issues. These activities will include:

Awareness Campaigns

These campaigns aim to raise awareness about key issues such as climate change, sustainable development, and youth leadership through outreach activities, media campaigns, and community events.

Interaction Programs

Interactive sessions provide opportunities for stakeholders to engage in dialogue, share perspectives, and exchange ideas on pressing issues facing Nepal.

Student Manthan

Student-focused initiatives encourage young participants to explore and discuss critical topics, fostering their leadership skills and civic engagement.

Discussion Programs

Discussions provide platforms for in-depth conversations and debates on specific themes, facilitating knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving.

Workshops

Workshops offer hands-on learning experiences and skill-building sessions on topics such as advocacy, policy analysis, and project management.

Conference/Summit

Conferences and summits bring together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to explore innovative solutions, forge partnerships, and mobilize resources for collective action.

Policy Dialogue

Policy dialogues involve policymakers, experts, and stakeholders in discussions aimed at informing policy development and promoting evidence-based decision-making.

Meetings

Regular meetings provide opportunities for coordination, planning, and monitoring of program activities, ensuring effective implementation and stakeholder engagement.

Social Media Campaigns

Social media campaigns leverage online platforms to reach wider audiences, raise awareness, and mobilize support for program goals.

Dramas and Competitions

Creative initiatives such as poster-making, slogan-writing, quizzes, poems, essays, articles, and feature competitions engage participants in expressing their ideas and perspectives creatively, while also raising awareness among broader audiences.

Target Groups

The Nepal Manthan Campaign is a participatory approach to work for empowering and advancing Nepalese communities. Hence, this campaign targets a diverse range of stakeholders representing various segments of Nepalese society, which include youths, women, Dalits and indigenous communities, school and college students, policymakers, civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations.

Inputs

4 H Nepal seeks partnership and collaboration with different stakeholders, which include, National and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs and NGOs), the Government of Nepal, donor agencies, private sectors, banking and financial sectors, universities, schools and campuses, community-based organizations, women and youth groups and political parties. The inputs of these partnerships will be utilized in the form of financial support, technical assistance, resource mobilization, networking and collaboration, capacity building, visibility and promotion, monitoring and evaluation.

Outcomes and Impacts

Nepal Manthan Campaign contributes to building resilient communities impacting several lives of connected stakeholders, which can be provided as below:

• This campaign provides a platform to young people through different workshops, seminars and collaborative sessions which enhance youth leadership skills, critical thinking abilities and problem-solving capacities. This in turn encourages youth involvement in multi-faceted development issues of their communities.

• This Manthan holds discussions and brainstorming sessions concerning sustainable energy, waste management, reforestation and disaster preparedness activities which help bring awareness about climate change impacts and mitigation strategies among stakeholders.

• The campaign promotes sustainable agricultural practices in Nepal, integrates traditional knowledge with modern technologies, and capacitates and equips farmers with skills and resources which results in improved productivity and food security.

• The campaign promotes value-added agriculture, organic farming and market linkages for smallholder farmers, promoting income diversification and poverty reduction.

• This campaign focuses on integrating developmental projects to promote economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental conservation, aiming to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at local and national levels, and strengthening institutional capacity for sustainable development planning and monitoring.

• This campaign enhances transparency, accountability and citizen participation in local policy-making, develops evidence-based strategies, and fosters collaboration between governmental officials, civil society organizations and community members for more responsive and inclusive governance.

Overall, this campaign drives positive changes and lays the groundwork for a more prosperous and sustainable future for the country.