Advancing Engagement by Setting Up Urban Youth Councils in Bangladesh

Young people make up one-third of the total population in Bangladesh. National development policies ensured youth skill development and involvement in decision-making, particularly at the local level, but actual involvement of youth in decision-making and access to participatory practices is still very limited.

Therefore, this project aims to achieve equitable engagement of young people at local level decision-making, particularly at the urban governance of city authorities through initiation of urban youth councils in Bangladesh. First, the project will create urban youth councils in four cities including Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Narayanganj, and Rangpur so that youth can participate as elected ‘youth councilors’ in the city governance mechanism. Second, the project will advocate for establishing a youth participation model (Urban Youth Council) in other local government bodies, so that the project impact is realized, and outcomes sustained.

If the Urban Youth Councils are established, youths in the targeted four cities will have a formal mandated space in the municipal governance to voice their issues and secure rightful services and opportunities of empowerment, access to decent employment, and ensure meaningful and inclusive democratic participation in the city management.

Project Location: Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Narayanganj, and Rangpur city corporations.

Project period: September 2021 to August-2023

Funded by: United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)

Technical Partner: United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat)

Targeted Population: Youths aged 18-35.

Urban Youth Councils Project Explained

Project Updates

UNDEF Accolades SERAC’s Urban Youth Council Activity

SERAC-Bangladesh’s Executive Director, SM Shaikat called on the Deputy Executive Head of UN Democracy Fund Mikiko Sawanishi, and the Executive Director of the UN Office of Partnerships Annemarie Hou, during a distinct visit to the UN HeadQuarter in New York on April 12, 2023. Krystal Marie Cruz from UNDEF also joined the discussion while Annmarie, […]

ORIENTATION ON THE UYC VOTING PROCESS

SERAC-Bangladesh is working towards developing the leadership skills of young people and encouraging their participation in the democratic process through the “Advancing Engagement by Setting Up Urban Youth Councils in Bangladesh” project. The project is being implemented in four municipalities, including Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Rajshahi. This is funded by UNDEF and supported by UN-HABITAT. […]

SERAC-Bangladesh team paid a courtesy visit to the UN Office of Partnerships Annemarie Hou.

SERAC-Bangladesh team paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Director of the UN Office of Partnerships Annemarie Hou, and other UN colleagues at a hotel in Dhaka today. During the meeting, a brief discussion took place around the ongoing projects of SERAC-Bangladesh especially the Advancing Engagement by Setting Up Urban Youth Councils in Bangladesh project […]

UYC Information Sharing and Electoral Process Meeting with City Councilor in Mymensingh

SERAC-Bangladesh with the support from the UN Democracy Fund and UN-Habitat is initiating urban youth councils in four city corporations of the country, namely Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Narayanganj under the “Advancing Engagement by Setting Up Urban Youth Councils in Bangladesh” project. Concerning that UYC information sharing meeting held on January 9th to conduct the […]

Urban Youth Council Guidelines approved by Four City Corporations

To develop leadership skills of young people and inspire them in the democratic process, SERAC-Bangladesh is implementing “Advancing Engagement by Setting Up Urban Youth Councils in Bangladesh”  in four cities of Bangladesh (Narayanganj, Mymensingh, Rangpur and Rajshahi) that is funded by UNDEF and supported by UNHabitat. In line with the objective, a high-level national consultation […]

National Launching Ceremony of Standardized UYC Guideline

On 30th September 2022, SERAC-Bangladesh organized a National Launching Ceremony of Standardized UYC Guideline. This meeting was held at Gulshan Lakeshore hotel in Dhaka with the presence of the honorable Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mustakim Billah Faruqui, Strategic Planner and Head of RCO Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh Subhra […]

Four City Corporation and SERAC-Bangladesh jointly organized National Online Workshop to Adopt one Standardized Guideline

One-third of Bangladesh’s population comprises young people. National development policies have clearly indicated skill building, employment generation, and meaningful participation of youths, accelerating their local level engagement process. To support them receive basic services equitably, empowering young people is key. SERAC-Bangladesh with the support from UNDEF and UN-Habitat is initiating urban youth councils at four […]

SERAC-Bangladesh Submitted UYC Guideline to RPCC’s Honorable Mayor

National development policies have clearly indicated skill building, employment generation, and meaningful participation of youths which is accelerating their local level engagement process. To support them to receive basic services equitably, empowering young people is key. SERAC-Bangladesh with the support from UN Democracy Fund and UN-Habitat is initiating urban youth councils at four city corporations […]

SERAC-Bangladesh Submitted a UYC Guideline to the Honorable Mayor of MCC

National development policies have clearly indicated skill building, employment generation, and meaningful participation of youths which is accelerating their local level engagement process. To support them to receive basic services equitably, empowering young people is key. SERAC-Bangladesh with the support from UN Democracy Fund and UN-Habitat is initiating urban youth councils at four city corporations […]