Researchers call for greater investment in young people

Researchers, development practitioners and policymakers have called for greater investment in adolescents and young people in Bangladesh, stressing that targeted support during adolescence is essential for building a healthier, more productive and resilient future generation.

The call came during a week-long series of events on Thursday jointly organised by the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) programme, the United Nations Population Fund and the University of Chittagong.

The initiatives included an international academic conference in Chittagong, community feedback sessions with Rohingya adolescents in Cox’s Bazar and a United Nations policy briefing in Dhaka focused on adolescent wellbeing and youth-centred policy development.

Experts said Bangladesh, home to around 36 million adolescents aged between 10 and 19, faces major challenges affecting young people, including school dropout, child marriage, mental health concerns, limited employment opportunities and stigma surrounding sexual and reproductive health.

They stressed that investing in education, healthcare, psychosocial support and youth empowerment could generate long-term social and economic benefits for the country.

The two-day International Conference on Adolescent and Young People’s Wellbeing in Bangladesh, held on 11-12 May, brought together more than 300 national and international researchers, students and development professionals.

The conference discussed issues related to education, employment, health, sexual and reproductive health, bodily autonomy, climate resilience, digital access and humanitarian challenges affecting adolescents and youth.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Chittagong Professor Dr Mohammad Al-Forkan said all stakeholders must work together to ensure that every adolescent has the opportunity to thrive.

Tahera Jabeen, Social Development Adviser at the British High Commission in Dhaka, said strong evidence-based research is essential for developing effective policies and programmes for adolescents.

Masaki Watabe, Officer-in-Charge of UNFPA Bangladesh, emphasised the importance of involving young people directly in policymaking and programme implementation.

“Young people understand their own lives and challenges best. Their participation must move beyond consultation to meaningful leadership,” he said.

As part of the programme, researchers also conducted workshops for early-career academics on quantitative and participatory research methods to strengthen local research capacity.

On Wednesday, community sessions were held with Rohingya adolescent girls and boys in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar to share research findings and gather feedback from participants.

The week concluded with a UN-wide briefing in Dhaka highlighting a decade of research on adolescent wellbeing, education, mental health, economic empowerment and protection from gender-based violence in Bangladesh.