British Council research analyses youth development in Bangladesh

The British Council, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, recently published an insightful report on the impact of youth development programmes, titled 'Non-Formal Education for Youth-Led Change: Youth Development Programming in Bangladesh.' 

This research is a collaborative effort by the University of Leeds and the British Council. This joint research, funded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)'s Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), provides a thorough analysis of the British Council's Leadership for Advancing Development in Bangladesh (LEAD Bangladesh) project, highlighting its impacts on youth empowerment, the promotion of social justice, and fostering youth-led change.

The report unveils critical insights into how the LEAD Bangladesh programme significantly contributes to youth-led social change through providing needs-based, contextualised training modules. The programme's participatory and engaging activities, focusing on active citizenship, gender equity, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have been instrumental in its success. It also focused on the impact of youth-led Social Action Projects (SAPs) in translating theoretical knowledge into practical actions. These projects have provided opportunities for the youth to engage with community members, policymakers, and local governments, thereby creating substantial impacts. The study also identified several challenges, especially regarding youth engagement and motivation, natural calamities, communication with policymakers, community scepticism, limited resources, and management issues. Recommendations for improvement include extending the programme duration, increasing SAP budgets, enhancing follow-up and monitoring, integrating additional SDGs, and fostering continuous lifelong learning.

Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, addressed the event as the chief guest. He highlighted the Ministry's commitment to prioritising youth empowerment and emphasised the need for further collaborative initiatives in youth development. Stephen Forbes, Country Director Bangladesh, British Council; Dr Katie Hodgkinson, Lecturer - Education in Global Development, School of Politics and International Studies, University of Leeds, UK; Prof. Dr. Mohammod Moninoor Roshid, Department of Language Education, Institute of Education and Research (IER), University of Dhaka; and other esteemed guests.

In his welcome remarks, Stephen Forbes, Country Director Bangladesh, British Council, said, "This comprehensive research report on the British Council's LEAD Bangladesh programme highlights the transformative power of youth development initiatives in empowering young people to drive social change. Through the programme, we endeavoured to enhance the knowledge and skills of young people, enabling them to bring about positive changes in their communities. However, there are still many challenges to overcome and much to be done in the field of youth empowerment in the country. At the British Council, we are committed to continuing our work with partners to build on and further these efforts."

Dr Katie Hodgkinson presented the research findings in-depth. Professor  Mohammod Moninoor Roshid and the Non-Formal Education (NFE) team of the British Council facilitated a question-and-answer session and reflected on the insights. The event also hosted a facilitated group discussion on the priorities of youth development in Bangladesh, focusing on skills for employment, democratic governance, and community engagement.