Bangladesh and the UN have launched the design phase of the Youth Voice Mechanism, a platform to amplify young people’s participation in governance. It will engage marginalized youth through workshops, consultations, and research to shape inclusive national policies and programs.
Bangladesh has embarked on a new initiative to strengthen youth participation in national decision-making, launching the design phase of the Youth Voice Mechanism (YVM) in partnership with the United Nations system.
The announcement, made on International Youth Day, marks a significant step toward creating a structured and inclusive platform for young people to contribute to governance and policy development, said a press release on August 21, 2025.
The YVM aims to provide young people, particularly those from marginalized, rural and underrepresented communities, with an institutionalized channel to engage directly with policymakers. At its core, the platform seeks to recognize the crucial role of youth as drivers of innovation, resilience and sustainable progress in Bangladesh.
“The Youth Voice Mechanism serves as a tool for youth to raise their voices for justice, equality, and to share their views on matters that affect them today and in the future,” said Rana Flowers, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh. “By creating a platform for meaningful engagement through peaceful and structured means, we are empowering young people to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for their country.”
The design phase of the initiative will adopt a mixed-method participatory approach. Divisional workshops, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and national youth surveys will be conducted to ensure the YVM reflects the realities, aspirations and challenges faced by young people across the country. The process is intended to ensure that the mechanism is co-created with youth and grounded in their lived experiences.
Md. Mahbub-ul-Alam, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, emphasized the government’s commitment to making the mechanism a success. “This initiative will help us better understand the needs and aspirations of young people and ensure their voices are reflected in our policies and programs,” he said, highlighting the ministry’s collaboration with UN agencies and youth organizations.
Once operational, the YVM will function through a multi-pronged approach to ensure broad participation. Plans include establishing online platforms for consultations, organizing regional workshops to capture diverse perspectives and conducting targeted research to inform policy recommendations. A dedicated secretariat under the Ministry of Youth and Sports will coordinate these activities in collaboration with youth groups, government agencies and UN partners.
Importantly, the YVM will be inclusive by design. It will prioritize engagement with key groups such as indigenous youth, climate-vulnerable communities, youth with disabilities, students, young women, gender-diverse youth and those working in informal sectors. Participation will range from contributing through online forums to submitting policy recommendations and joining advocacy campaigns. The mechanism will also create opportunities for young leaders to develop their skills and enhance their capacity to participate in governance.
To ensure legitimacy and diversity, a Steering Committee facilitated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports will oversee the process. The committee will include a representative group of young leaders from across the country, ensuring the mechanism remains youth-led, inclusive and responsive to national priorities.
The initiative also responds to a request made by Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus during the last United Nations General Assembly, where he stressed the importance of amplifying youth voices in shaping national and global agendas.
The launch of the YVM’s design phase shortly after International Youth Day underscores the importance of investing in youth and recognizing their role as agents of change for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and beyond.
As Bangladesh navigates pressing social, economic and climate challenges, the Youth Voice Mechanism is expected to become a milestone in institutionalizing youth participation in governance giving millions of young people the opportunity to shape the future of their country.
