Workshop urges dedicated funding for women-led groups supporting youth development

A recent workshop in Dhaka has put a spotlight on the critical role of women-led organizations in fostering youth development, urging the government to establish dedicated funding mechanisms and forge stronger partnerships. The event, titled “The role of women-led organisations in youth skills development and peacebuilding,” was jointly organized by Young Women for Development Rights & Climate (YWDRC) and Nari Unnayan Shakti (NUS), with support from Global Workforce Services and the Forum for Culture and Human Development.

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Bangladesh's large youth population presents a demographic opportunity, but many young people still lack market-relevant skills, decent jobs and meaningful social engagement.

Nusrat Sultana Afroj, Executive Chairperson of YWDRC, presented a keynote paper emphasizing that while Bangladesh's large youth population presents a demographic opportunity, many young people still lack essential market-relevant skills, secure employment, and meaningful social engagement. She cautioned that rising unemployment, substance abuse, youth gang involvement, online hate speech, and violence are becoming increasingly serious challenges, exacerbated by limited opportunities that leave youth vulnerable to social exclusion and conflict.

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Unemployment, substance abuse, youth gang involvement, online hate speech and violence were becoming increasingly serious challenges, adding that limited employment opportunities and inadequate skills often left young people vulnerable to social exclusion and conflict.

NUS Executive Director Dr. Afroja Parvin, who presided over the event, stated that women-led grassroots organizations are uniquely positioned to engage young people effectively. These organizations can significantly contribute to skills development, job creation, social cohesion, and sustainable peacebuilding efforts. Parvin advocated for a national program, developed in collaboration with women-led organizations, that specifically targets market-oriented skills, digital literacy, information technology, freelancing, entrepreneurship, green jobs, and peace education.

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Women-led grassroots organisations were well positioned to engage young people and contribute to skills development, employment generation, social cohesion and sustainable peacebuilding.

Speakers at the workshop also highlighted the persistent challenges faced by women-led grassroots organizations, including inadequate government funding and institutional support, despite their long-standing work with women, youth, and marginalized communities across Bangladesh. They called for enhanced government-NGO partnerships and increased investment in youth employment, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding, underscoring that investing in young people is fundamental to the country's sustainable development and social cohesion.

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Other speakers said women-led grassroots organisations had long been working with women, young people and marginalised communities across Bangladesh but continued to face inadequate government funding and institutional support.