IDYF ( International Development Youth Forum )

The world’s population has now surpassed 7 billion and continues to grow. This demographic shift, coupled with economic advancements in countries such as those in the BRICS group, has enabled millions of people to gradually escape poverty.

However, while extreme poverty is decreasing daily, global inequality continues to widen. The accumulation of wealth remains limited to certain regions, and the gap between the wealthy and the impoverished is expanding further. The poorest and most vulnerable individuals in society still suffer and are unable to fully benefit from economic growth.

As the world grows, so do the challenges it faces. Against this backdrop, a growing number of young people in Japan and around the world have developed a strong interest in international development. They are eager to understand global trends and make their voices heard by actively engaging in international development efforts. However, opportunities for these young people to connect, exchange ideas, and establish long-term networks remain limited.

Recognizing this need, we established the International Development Youth Forum (IDYF) in 2012. Our goal is to create a space where young people passionate about international development can come together, learn about development challenges in various countries, share their ideas, and work collectively toward building a global society.

Moreover, we strive to go beyond a one-week conference. We aim to build a long-term network that empowers committed young individuals to leverage the experiences and knowledge they gain at IDYF to develop solutions to international development challenges in their own communities.