Japan Has Committed Funds to SAARC Youth Program
The Japanese government pledged over JPY 34 million to support youth exchange and cultural cooperation with SAARC nations.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Asia
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Japan has pledged JPY 34.607 million to the SAARC-Japan Special Fund to facilitate international youth engagement. This funding will support the JENESYS 2026 programme, which allows young people from South Asian nations to visit Japan.
Why it matters
The initiative aims to provide young people from SAARC member states with firsthand exposure to Japanese culture and development practices. By focusing on critical areas like climate change and disaster resilience, the program fosters long-term regional cooperation.
Japan is contributing JPY 34.607 million to the SAARC-Japan Special Fund to support the JENESYS 2026 youth exchange programme. This initiative will facilitate travel for 40 participants to learn about Japanese disaster preparedness and climate change strategies.
The players
Md Golam Sarwar
He serves as the Secretary-General of SAARC and represented the organization during the funding agreement signing.
Maeda Toru
He is the Japanese Ambassador to Nepal who finalized the contribution document on behalf of the Japanese government.
The details
The agreement was formalized through an addendum signed by the Embassy of Japan in Kathmandu and the SAARC Secretariat. Participants will engage in educational exchanges focused on applying climate resilience and disaster management practices within their home countries.
Timeline
The signing of the memorandum addendum took place on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
The Big Picture
This contribution functions within the framework of the JENESYS youth exchange programme, which serves as a long-standing tool for Japanese soft power in Asia. By updating the funding, Japan continues to align its regional development objectives with collaborative education on climate resilience.
The JENESYS 2026 program is an invite-only exchange initiative, meaning interested youth should monitor official SAARC or Japanese embassy communications for future application windows. Participants selected for the program will need to prepare for intensive academic workshops regarding disaster management and climate adaptation strategies.
The takeaway
International exchange programs remain a primary method for sharing technical knowledge on disaster preparedness across borders. Young professionals should continue to look for similar government-sponsored fellowships that combine cultural immersion with specialized training in climate resilience.
Further reading
For more information on regional cooperation, visit our Asia section.
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