MoYS, UNFPA sign MoU

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Bangladesh will assist the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS) in meaningful youth engagement and empowering young people and strengthening youth-centered policies.

The MoYS and UNFPA Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this connection at the National Sports Council on Monday. MoYS Adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain was present.

The adviser laid importance on investing in youth and providing them with a platform to contribute to the policymaking and said this will help groom them for the future. "This collaboration is a timely and strategic step towards youth empowerment in Bangladesh," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, MoYS Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam said the review of the National Youth Policy 2017 was due in 2022 as per the provision for revision every five years. He expressed the hope that this is a timely opportunity to strengthen the commitment to youth development and inclusive participation.

UNFPA Representative Masaki Watabe emphasised the organisation's commitment to supporting the government in its youth development agenda and said the MoU supports policy reforms that empower young women and men, encourage their meaningful participation in education, the workforce, and civic life, and promote gender equality through youth leadership and inter-generational dialogue.

According to a UNFPA press release, the MoU establishes a strategic framework for cooperation between MoYS and UNFPA, initially focusing on key priorities such as the revision of the National Youth Policy and its Action Plan, the development of a comprehensive database of youth-led organisations, and the production and use of data on youth and gender demographics.

In addition to reviewing the National Youth Policy, the partnership aims to operationalise youth participatory mechanisms at national and district levels ensuring that young people have meaningful roles in shaping policies and strategies. A database of youth-led organisations will be developed to improve coordination, visibility, and support for grassroots initiatives.

The partnership will also focus on generating factsheets based on youth and gender data to support evidence-based advocacy and programme planning. These efforts will support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and are aligned with Youth 2030: The United Nations Youth Strategy, which positions young people as key agents of change in national and global development.

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