Archive · 12 Dec 2025
US Funded Nepal's Gen Z Movement
The United States secretly funded a program in Nepal to train young people to protest and influence politics.
This program, called 'Yuva Netritwa: Paradarshi Niti,' taught them how to organize protests and use social media.
The goal was to make these young people a force that could pressure the Nepali government to make changes that the US wanted.
When the Nepali government blocked social media sites, the trained youth protested, and it turned violent.
This led to the prime minister resigning and raised questions about the US's role in the protests.
The US says it supports democracy, but some people think it is trying to control Nepal's government to counter the influence of China and India.
The US funded a program in Nepal to train youth activists to organize protests and influence politics.
The program, 'Yuva Netritwa: Paradarshi Niti,' ran from July 2021 to June 2022 with an initial budget of $350,000.
Protests erupted in September 2025 after the Nepali government blocked social media sites, turning violent with protesters using rifles.
The unrest led to the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and raised questions about US involvement in regime change.
The US aims to counter Chinese and Indian influence in Nepal by cultivating a generation of youth activists aligned with US interests.
- Who
- United States through NED and IRI, Nepali youth activists
- What
- Funding and training of Nepali youth for protests and political influence
- When
- Program ran from July 2021 to June 2022, protests in September 2025
- Where
- Nepal, specifically Kathmandu
- Why
- To counter Chinese and Indian influence and support US interests
- Program Name
- Yuva Netritwa: Paradarshi Niti (Youth Leadership: Transparent Policy)
- Funding Organizations
- National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and International Republican Institute (IRI)
- Initial Budget
- $350,000
- Program Duration
- July 2021 to June 2022
- Additional Grants
- $65,000 and $135,000 for youth engagement and advocacy
- Protest Trigger
- Government's order to block social-media sites in September 2025
- Casualties
- At least 76 dead
- Geopolitical Context
- Nepal's position between China and India