Movah! Comes on Board in Bangladesh ASRH Programs

Since 1995, UNFPA and the Department of Youth Development (DYD), Ministry of Youth and Sports have been raising awareness on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) with young people and in the community at large in Bangladesh. Information, such as on HIV/AIDS, has been delivered to not only community people but also political and religious leaders in the community.

ASRH activities have been spreading well through existing networks under DYD, due to the efforts of youth volunteers with support from community stakeholders, including local authorities, religious leaders, and political leaders. Youth Training Centers under DYD are also benefiting as they obtain information on SRH as a part of life skills.

UNFPA support

ASRH activities have been dynamically progressing in Bangladesh. UNFPA Bangladesh office facilitates this, and plays a leading role in:-

• Development of an inter-ministerial committee for developing ARH strategies
• A network among organizations working for ASRH called Network for Ensuring Adolescent Reproductive Rights and Services (NEARS)
• A youth advocacy group, the National Youth Forum (NYF)

NYF members have been participating in review and evaluation of the 6th UNFPA country program, and in planning of the 7th so that the perspectives of young people can be fully reflected in the program.

JOICFP's role

JOICFP has been assisting in these activities by, for example, empowering youths to deliver their opinions to policy and decision makers under Movah! - the JOICFP-executed UNFPA-supported Asia Regional ASRH Project "Strengthening Advocacy for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Programs through Youth Initiative" 2004 - 2007.

In Bangladesh, the 7th UNFPA Country Program (2006 - 2010) started in January, and the Movah! project is plugged into the DYD-implemented "Youth Empowerment through Life Skills Education and Livelihood Opportunities" program under the country program.

Sonargaon Upazila, Narayangonj District, and Ukhia Upazila, Cox's Bazar, are identified as model sites for community advocacy through youth initiative under the Movah! project. At both sites, ten youth initiators aged 17 - 24 years old have been selected from local youth clubs and will be trained as youth advocates to work in the community.

Youth Initiators at Sonargaon Upazila

Furthermore, in order for voices of young people at the grassroots to be heard at higher levels, these youth initiators at model project sites will be liked with NYF members, creating model local NYF chapters. NYF itself is in the process of being institutionalized and is developing its constitution to facilitate this. NYF acts as a channel through which more voices of young people will be delivered to policy and decision makers, even at the national level.

"Youth are the 'currency' for our country. Just as we have a World Bank, we also need a Youth Bank." Dr. A K M Mahbubul, Secretary, MoYS

Political support

On a visit to Bangladesh from 17th to 28th January, a JOICFP mission met with key stakeholders from the national to community levels.

Political support has been key to the success of ASRH in Bangladesh, and thereby Movah!, and Dr. A K M Mahbubul Alam, Secretary of Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS), and Dr. Md. Serajudowla, Joint Secretary (Development and Family Welfare), Ministry of Health and Welfare, have offered continued support.

The JOICFP mission also attended advocacy events carried out by local youth clubs under DYD and met with youth initiators and NYF members.