Youth Co:Lab 2024 – Season 6 of YAC Singapore now open, Malaysian expansion aimed at underserved youths

In conjunction of International Youth Day today, we highlight how youth entrepreneurs are building a sustainable and inclusive tomorrow through UNDP and Citi Foundation’s Youth Co:Lab initiative.

August 12, 2024

Youth Co:Lab Summit 2024 calls for inclusive entrepreneurship

In June this year, the region’s largest youth social entrepreneurs gathering was held in the Philippines, organised by UNDP and Citi Foundation, together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Department of Trade and Industry Philippines (DTI).

Centred on the theme of ‘Inclusive Entrepreneurship’, the Youth Co:Lab 2024 Summit highlighted the role and power of young people and their enterprises in contributing to sustainable and equitable economic development. With emphasis on a ‘just transition’ to a green economy that is fair and inclusive, the summit this year highlighted youth solutions for greener, more resilient, and climate-neutral societies that also generate decent work opportunities for all. This transition is crucial for the most vulnerable, including young people.

a group of people standing in front of a crowd — Participants at the Youth Co: Lab Summit 2024 in the Philippines.

UNDP Malaysia

The summit was attended by over 200 participants from 20 countries and territories, and saw participants from diverse backgrounds gather to celebrate the critical role of young entrepreneurs in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From Malaysia and Singapore, representatives from National Youth Council (NYC) Singapore and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) were present, as well as local ecosystem partners and youth entrepreneurs from Youth Co:Lab Malaysia and Youth Co:Lab Singapore.

A platform to celebrate, build, and empower youth entrepreneurs

Youth Co:Lab is a UNDP Asia-Pacific youth entrepreneurship initiative to position young people front and centre in order to solve the region’s most pressing challenges. Since 2017, Youth Co:Lab has supported young entrepreneurs and youth with aspirations to start their businesses in 28 countries and territories across Asia-Pacific.

The national dialogues, regional summits and social innovation challenges have reached over 280,300 participants, benefitting over 19,000 young aspiring and existing social entrepreneurs and helping launch or improve over 2,600 youth-led social enterprises. The platform has further established transformative partnerships with over 210 key ecosystem players through its Youth Empowerment Alliance and built the capacity of more than 50 entrepreneur support organisations (ESOs).

“Through our Pathways to Progress job skills-building initiative, the Citi Foundation has been a longtime supporter of organisations working around the globe to address the persistent issue of youth unemployment,” said Florencia Spangaro, Chief Operating Officer of the Citi Foundation. “With its focus on inclusive entrepreneurship, this year’s Youth Co:Lab Summit is a celebration of the next generation of diverse entrepreneurs and innovators who are committed to leaving a positive mark on their communities.”

In Singapore, Youth Co:Lab is brought to life through the Youth Action Challenge (YAC), organised by the National Youth Council in partnership with UNDP Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam and Citi Singapore. YAC has yielded impressive results, cultivating youth-led enterprises that tackle issues ranging from mental health to sustainability, inclusivity, and beyond.

In Malaysia, Youth Co:Lab previously recorded three successful cohorts conducted in partnership with the Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC). During this time, Youth Co:Lab Malaysia designed its capacity building around three SDGs and to explore viable solutions for the three following issues, selected due to their interconnected impact on the marginalised communities in Malaysia:

Income Generation for Undocumented Persons
Energy Efficiencies and Environmental Sustainability
Financial Inclusion

Vision to grow Youth Co:Lab in Malaysia

Building on past successes and learnings, Youth Co:Lab plans to deepen engagement in existing markets in 28 countries and territories across the region, including in Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam. In these two countries, the goal is to bring the Youth Co:Lab movement closer to underserved youths, including youths outside the peninsular in states such as Sarawak and Sabah.

Through mentorship and capacity development via the platform’s Springboard Programme and pillars like the Springboard Elevate programme, Youth Co:Lab aims to support and work with underrepresented communities to multiply their impact in their community, country, and beyond.

With promising progress currently, the platform will strengthen collaboration in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam with targeted youth empowerment partners — including governments, entrepreneur support organisations (ESOs), development partners, and youth community organisations — to continue to create an enabling environment for youth-led businesses in Malaysia and the region.

Join Season 6 of Youth Action Challenge in Singapore!

In celebrating this year’s #YouthDay, we are calling for all youths aged 15 to 35 years old in Singapore to participate in Season 6 of the Youth Action Challenge (YAC)! YAC is organised through the Youth Co:Lab initiative by UNDP in partnership with Citi Foundation.

Participants will go through a 6-month journey from October 2024 to March 2025 to turn their ideas into reality through curated workshops, mentorship, and guidance from experienced industry professionals. Season 6 will focus on themes of: Navigating Careers, Society for Everyone, Environment and Sustainability, and Balance in Life.

Registration commenced on 2 August 2024 and will close on 11 September 2024, 11.59pm. To submit your application and for more information, visit this page. Sign up now and be part of the change you wish to see!