Youth Voice Mechanism
Project Title: National Youth Voice Mechanism (YVM)
Partners: Youth Policy Forum (YPF) & United Nations in Bangladesh
My Role: Project Lead (Planning, Research & Implementation)
About the Project
Objectives
The National Youth Voice Mechanism (YVM) is a strategic initiative designed to bridge the gap between Bangladesh’s 45.9 million young citizens and formal governance. It addresses the systemic disconnect where youth engagement has traditionally been episodic or tokenistic, providing instead a permanent and structured pathway for youth to influence national policy.
The primary goal was to institutionalize youth participation by creating a non-partisan, multi-level platform. The project sought to ensure that youth—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—could move from the margins of society into the core of the nation’s decision-making processes.
The National Youth Voice Mechanism (YVM) is a strategic initiative designed to bridge the gap between Bangladesh’s 45.9 million young citizens and formal governance. It addresses the systemic disconnect where youth engagement has traditionally been episodic or tokenistic, providing instead a permanent and structured pathway for youth to influence national policy.
Impact at a glance
My Core Contributions
Strategic Planning
Developed the comprehensive work plan and 3-phase implementation roadmap, transitioning the project from a pilot phase to a permanent feature of national governance
Facilitation & Design
Designed the agendas and co-creation resources for 5 divisional workshops (Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet)
Project Oversight
M aintained overall project management, Communication with UN, financial monitoring and reporting.
The Research I managed
Quantitative Research
Managed a national survey capturing data from 1,349 respondents (including 366 offline to bridge the digital divide)
Qualitative Research
Oversaw 14 FGDs with under-represented groups, including tea estate workers, RMG workers, Dalit youth, and gender-diverse individuals, to ensure an inclusive "leave no one behind" approach
The "Co-Creation" Gallery
