Advancing political engagement of youth in Bangladesh
An UNDEF project in Bangladesh is supporting young people, who make up one-third of the country’s population, to increase their representation and participation in local political processes. Inspired by the UN-Habitat World Urban Youth Councils Network, the project is working to establish the country’s first youth city councils which will provide opportunities for young people to participate in municipal government as youth councilors elected by their peers. Implementing partner, SERACBangladesh is initially rolling out the concept in four target cities; Mymensingh, Naranyanji, Rangpur and Rajshahi with plans to eventually advocate for the central government to set up youth city councils throughout the country. UNDEF Senior Programme Officer Mikiko Sawanishi, visited Mymensingh city in April 2022, met with youth task force group members and observed the youth task force event. Two-hundred youth have been engaged by the project to participate in capacity building trainings to learn about municipal governance and electoral processes, and form youth task forces to draft the guidelines of the Urban Youth Councils before holding elections for youth council members in September 2022.
