Staff Reporter:
UNICEF on Thursday launched the Young People Advisory Group (YPAG) in Bangladesh, aiming to elevate youth voices and foster meaningful engagement in shaping policies and programmes that affect children and young people across the country.
The programme has been launched at the request of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus who urged an environment where young people can thrive, innovate and lead during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last year, reads a UNICEF press release.
The platform – formed by alumni of UNICEF’s Young Leadership Programme and organized in collaboration with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) of the National University of Singapore – will build on the need as stressed by the Chief Adviser – the vital connection between youth empowerment and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The programme members will lead advocacy efforts at local and national levels, mentor younger participants in UNICEF’s youth initiatives, and spearhead alumni-led projects focused on critical child rights issues.
By elevating young voices and fostering intergenerational collaboration, the YPAG will help UNICEF remain accountable to the communities it serves and empower a new generation of leaders to drive sustained impact.
This model draws on successful UNICEF initiatives in countries like Malaysia, Iraq, and Thailand and is tailored to the unique context of Bangladesh—one where young people are not only the future but also the present drivers of innovation, equity, and social transformation, the release added.
