Youthquake in Nepal: How the Gen Z Movement Aligns with Helvetas’ Governance Vision
On September 8, 2025, a formal ceremony was held in Kathmandu to unveil the updated National Youth Policy. The policy redefined youth as individuals aged 18 to 35 and set its core objective as empowering them to become capable and responsible citizens, thereby strengthening their meaningful participation in nation-building. Ironically, on the same day in another part of the city, Nepali Gen Z youth, largely within the same age group (born between 1997 and 2012), had already taken to the streets — and Nepal suddenly witnessed one of the most significant youth-led movements in its modern history.
What began as outrage over a sudden ban on major social media platforms rapidly escalated into a far-reaching demand for systemic reform. The so-called “Gen Z Revolution” — which is leaderless, fearless and digitally mobilized — shook the foundations of the country’s political establishment, exposing deep-rooted fractures in Nepal’s governance architecture.
The movement began as a peaceful protest against corruption and poor governance, but turned violent. On the first day of the government's response, 19 people were killed — a number that had climbed to 74 by the time of publication. Numerous government institutions, including the parliament and the supreme court, along with business establishments and politicians’ residences, were ransacked and set on fire. The movement ultimately led to the formation of an interim government and the dissolution of parliament.
Beyond the headlines in the news and hashtags on social media lies a deeper question: What does this movement signify for governance reform in Nepal, and how can organizations like Helvetas contribute to shaping the way forward?
A movement rooted in governance failure
The protests were sparked by the government’s abrupt ban on 26 major digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For Nepal’s digitally savvy youth, this was not just a technical inconvenience — it was a symbolic silencing of their voice. The movement quickly evolved into a broader criticism of decades of systemic corruption, elite privilege, nepotism and exclusion.
The World Bank estimates that youth unemployment has reached above 20%, and over 65,000 Nepali youths leave the country each month seeking jobs abroad. Meanwhile, public trust in institutions has eroded under the weight of elite capture and opaque decision-making. In the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Nepal scored 34 out of 100, indicating a high level of public sector corruption.
The social media ban was merely the spark; the fuel of frustration had been accumulating for years. Protesters chanted “enough is enough” — not just against a single leader, but against a system that had failed to deliver transparency, accountability and opportunity. The uprising revealed a generational rupture in which young Nepalese no longer see themselves as passive recipients of policy, but as active agents of change.
During the protest, digital platforms like Discord and some other messaging apps transformed into virtual parliaments, enabling thousands of users to coordinate protests and propose policy alternatives. The main Discord server, Youth Against Corruption, which is organized by the activist group Hami Nepal (We Nepal), drew more than 10,000 active participants, while a livestream on YouTube attracted an additional more than 7,000 viewers, broadening public engagement. At its peak, the server reportedly hosted over 100,000 members, becoming a central hub for real-time debate, coordination and mobilization.
This unprecedented use of a gaming platform for political deliberation, combined with the movement’s decentralized leadership and tech-savvy organizing, marked a turning point in Nepal’s civic engagement and digital activism landscape.
Where Helvetas’ governance work intersects
Helvetas has been working in Nepal for decades to strengthen democratic governance, particularly at the local level. This goal is progressed by empowering citizens — especially women and marginalized groups — to claim their rights and engage with municipalities. Our efforts to build capacity within the youth cohort, promote transparency and accountability, and support inclusive planning processes are more relevant than ever.
Helvetas’ programs in Nepal recognize youth as key drivers of inclusive governance and development, promoting their civic engagement, leadership and influence in local decision-making while addressing barriers to participation, especially for marginalized groups.
The Promotion of Youth Engagement in Local Governance Process project, which is supported by the European Union, works to strengthen youth participation in local governance. Activities promote meaningful youth engagement in local governance by educating and informing youth about governance processes, while creating opportunities for constructive participation. It established municipal-level Youth Panels to enable structured dialogue with municipalities and facilitated Youth Parliaments as platforms for democratic practice and policy debate. Complementary initiatives included a Municipal Internship Program for hands-on experience, the mobilization of Youth Good Governance Practitioners to apply social accountability tools, and funding support through the Financial Support to Third Parties mechanism for youth-led initiatives addressing social issues.
The Enhanced Skills for Sustainable and Rewarding Employment, a Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation project, has been playing a strategic role in advancing youth employment in Nepal. It has introduced dual vocational education and training apprenticeships, a model that integrates classroom instruction with structured on-the-job training, and is implemented collaboratively with industries, municipalities and training institutions. A career guidance framework has also been established to support school students in identifying and pursuing vocational pathways aligned with their interests and market demand. Complementing these efforts, the project has delivered targeted On-the-Job Training programs for high-demand occupations, equipping young people with practical skills and enhancing their employability in Nepal’s evolving labor market.
Several other initiatives, such as the SheLeads Skills and Empowerment Project, the Safer Migration Program and the Reintegration of Returnee Migrant Program, are also actively contributing to youth empowerment and employment by enhancing skills, promoting inclusive opportunities and supporting young people’s transition into the workforce.
The Gen Z movement’s emphasis on transparency and youth empowerment closely aligns with Helvetas’ governance philosophy and strategic interventions. It also reflects the movement’s core demands and highlights the urgency of sustaining and expanding such initiatives.
INGOs as catalysts for democratic renewal
In the aftermath of the protests, Nepal is facing political uncertainty and a fragile transition. During this critical juncture, INGOs such as Helvetas can play a constructive role by fostering inclusive reform and democratic resilience. This includes facilitating dialogue through participatory platforms where youth leaders, civil society and government actors can co-design policy agendas. INGOs can also strengthen local institutions by supporting municipalities and other governments in rebuilding public trust through transparent service delivery, participatory budgeting and effective grievance redress mechanisms.
On the digital front, INGOs can advocate for rights-based governance frameworks that balance regulation with freedom, ensuring youth voices remain central in shaping Nepal’s digital future. Long-term investment in youth leadership development is equally vital, equipping young Nepalese with the skills to engage meaningfully in governance, policy and civic innovation. Finally, safeguarding civic space by monitoring and responding to threats against civil liberties will be essential to preserving the momentum for reform and preventing regression.
A call to reimagine governance
The Gen Z movement is not just a resistance; it challenges government actors and civil society, including INGOs, to reimagine governance. For organizations like Helvetas, which have long been engaged in good governance and inclusive system development, this is both a challenge and an opportunity. It compels us to rethink how we engage with citizens, especially youth, and how we translate principles of transparency, accountability and participation into tangible, everyday practice — not just in policy documents, but in the way institutions listen, respond and evolve. For Helvetas, this is also both a validation and a call to deepen our commitment to democratic transformation.
If Nepal is to emerge stronger from this upheaval, it will require a governance ecosystem that listens to its youth, adapts to digital realities, and commits to systemic reform. INGOs have the tools, networks and credibility to help make that happen. Let’s not miss this opportunity.
