Developmental Systems Theory and Ecosystem Theory for Youth Development in Nepal

Abstract

Nepal's growing youth population, which constitutes 40.3% of the nation, presents both significant opportunities and challenges, including widespread unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to quality education or leadership roles. This study aimed to understand how Developmental Systems Theory (DST) and Ecosystem Theory can inform effective and equitable youth development programs within Nepal's specific socio-cultural context. A scoping review of research articles, peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and program evaluations published between 2000 and 2025 was conducted as the methodology. The review revealed incoherent policy, poor coordination, and deep-seated caste, gender, and spatial inequalities that significantly impede youth development. It was found that DST explains youth development through adaptive, two-way transactions with the environment, recognizing youth as co-creators of their contexts. Ecosystem Theory, developed by Bronfenbrenner, examines the various levels of influence on an adolescent's life, ranging from immediate settings such as family and school (microsystem) to broader cultural policies (macrosystem). The synergistic integration of DST and Ecosystem Theory offers a robust, science-based foundation for understanding youth development in complex societies like Nepal. This combined framework supports the development of inclusive, resilient, and context-specific interventions that are both individually empowering and structurally transformative, leveraging new opportunities presented by federal restructuring and digital innovation to scale youth voice and civic action. The research ultimately validates a two-edged approach combining DST and Ecosystem Theory to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient state for Nepal's youth.