IREX and Save the Children co-led an event with diverse Bangladeshi youth leaders (ages 18 to 35) in Dhaka, Bangladesh with the aim of listening and centering their needs in program design and implementation. During the event, youth leaders shared their perspectives on the social and economic challenges young people face and discussed ways to engage youth in programs to address these challenges. 

Programs that support the positive development of youth are designed and implemented around the world, yet the level of meaningful engagement with these young people varies. To empower youth to reach their full potential and make positive changes in the communities and countries, donors and implementers must partner with them throughout the life of the program, from design to implementation and evaluation. Echoed in USAID’s Youth in Development Policy, “youth have the right to fully participate in decision-making as key partners,” which starts with the design of the programs they participate in.  

Bangladeshi Youth Are Ready to Partner in Program Design 

Youth in Bangladesh are one-third of the population and have the potential to shape positive outcomes for themselves and others throughout the country and beyond. According to the National Federation of Youth Organisations in Bangladesh (NFYOB), there are currently about 4000 youth organizations addressing youth issues such as unemployment, climate change, and sexual & reproductive health and rights. The sheer number of youth organizations is evidence that Bangladeshi youth are striving to ensure their voices are heard as they mobilize and innovate to address problems in their communities.

Incorporate Youth Perspectives on Social and Economic Challenges and Solutions

Engaging youth to lead in solving social and economic challenges in Bangladesh requires involving them in identifying these challenges and defining how they affect their lives. Youth leaders at the event provided insights on their current challenges and how they should be addressed in programs. Some of the challenges noted include: limited economic opportunities, insufficient education and training, mental health, social stigma, and gender inequality. Across the challenges, several key themes emerged, most notably the critical role of parents, guardians, and families, and the power imbalance between youth and adults. 

During the event, youth participants offered suggestions to address the challenges that youth face. It is critical that programs harness these ideas to ensure that young people’s needs are centered and to provide youth with ownership of the programs aiming to aid them.  They can be integrated into diverse programs across economic and social challenges and can be segmented into different stages of the program (before, during, and after).