President's message
"At Samanwaya, we believe that lasting democratic change begins when young people are not merely consulted — but genuinely empowered to lead. Every program we design, every platform we build, and every partnership we forge is rooted in that conviction.
Over the past decade, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of youth-led civic engagement — in the halls of national policy dialogue, in rural community assemblies, and on international stages. Nepal's young people do not lack the vision or the will to shape their country. What they need are meaningful platforms, equitable access, and institutions that trust their leadership.
Samanwaya was founded to be exactly that - a bridge between the aspirations of Nepal's youth and the systems that govern their lives. I invite you to join us in building a more inclusive, accountable, and resilient Nepal."
Jagdish Kumar Ayer is the Founder and Executive Director of Samanwaya Nepal. A recognized youth expert, policy advocate, and civic engagement specialist, he brings more than a decade of experience working with youth movements, civil society organizations, government institutions, and international networks. He was a drafting...
Jagdish Kumar Ayer is the Founder and Executive Director of Samanwaya Nepal. A recognized youth expert, policy advocate, and civic engagement specialist, he brings more than a decade of experience working with youth movements, civil society organizations, government institutions, and international networks.
He was a drafting member of Nepal's National Youth Policy 2025 and has designed capacity-building programs on leadership, human rights, democracy, and climate action — reaching thousands of young people across Nepal and internationally. He has also authored dozens of articles published in national newspapers and digital platforms on youth leadership, democracy, governance, and development issues.
Jagdish served as Executive Member of Nepal's National Youth Council (2021–2025) and currently serves as Strategic Planning and Policy Advisor to the Association of Youth Organisations Nepal (AYON) — Nepal's largest network of youth-led organizations, representing over 90 member bodies nationwide. He is also Founder President of the Initiative for Civic Change Nepal (IFCC) and a member of the Youth Democracy Network.
In 2025, he was honored with the Youth Sustainability Promotion Award for his contributions to youth leadership and sustainable development. He has represented Nepal at international conferences and policy dialogues across Asia-Pacific, Europe, Australia, and North America — promoting youth leadership, democratic values, and inclusive development.
Board of directors
Bibash Mahat Director of Strategy, Programs & Innovation
Bibash Mahat
Director of Strategy, Programs & Innovation