Under the theme “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind in Asia and the Pacific”, the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) was a critical moment for assessing regional progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For World Vision and our partners, it was also an opportunity to highlight a crucial but often overlooked element of sustainable development—meaningful child participation.

World Vision’s Call to Action for the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development

In East Asia, millions of women, girls, and people with disabilities face persistent inequalities that limit their access to essential services and lifelong opportunities. An estimated 43 million children in the region live with disabilities, many of whom are denied education and healthcare. Poverty forces nearly 1 in 10 children into child labour across the Asia-Pacific region. Additionally, 1 in 5 girls are married before their 18th birthday, hindering their education and increasing their vulnerability to poverty.

Disaster Risk Reduction Programming in Asia and the Pacific

World Vision provides support to over 25 000 people impacted by Cyclone Jude in the northern region of the country, to help survivors cope with the effects of the cyclone in Mozambique.

At World Vision, we believe every child has the right to live free from harm. Yet, across East Asia, nearly 60% of children experience violence before they reach adulthood, and millions face the threat of trafficking, exploitation, and neglect. These realities demand urgent action.

Cyclone Jude has left a trail of destruction in Nampula province, displacing hundreds of families and leaving them without food or shelter. Filomena and her young daughter are among those affected and now living in a school converted into a temporary accommodation centre.

Cyclone Jude, which originated in the Southwest Indian Ocean Basin, rapidly intensified, bringing winds of up to 195 km/h and torrential rainfall exceeding 250mm in 24 hours. Preliminary reports indicate that 2,155 people from 380 families were affected, with one fatality and 18 injuries reported. The cyclone's powerful winds and heavy rains completely destroyed 380 homes and partially damaged 28 others, leaving countless families without shelter.

Discover Cyclone Jude's impact on Luís's family in Nampula, Mozambique. A tale of loss, resilience, and the urgent need for aid and climate action.

Third cyclone makes landfall in Mozambique in less than 3 months, placing thousands of families at serious risk.