Thirty organisations won the Joy Bangla Youth Award 2018 for their outstanding contributions to promoting youth employability, education, sports, cultural activities, and an end to violence against women.
The 30 organisations were selected from a short-list of 50-nominated organisations under 10 categories, including skill development, universal education, job management for differently-abled people, cultural revolution, innovation, sports and fitness, creating public awareness and reducing gender discrimination.
Prime Minister's Information and Communication Technology Affairs Adviser and Centre for Research and Information (CRI) Chairperson Sajeeb Wazed Joy handed over the awards to top 10 organisations at Sheikh Hasina National Youth Center in Savar yesterday afternoon.
Earlier, a two-hour session on women's rights and safety, entitled “#BeBrave”, moderated by Dhaka University Gender Studies Associate Professor Sheikh Imtiaz was held.
The third edition of the Joy Bangla Youth Award began on Saturday with 50 youth-led organisations and platforms.
Young Bangla, the youth platform of non-profit organisation CRI, handed over certificates to the organisations selected for the award on the first day of the programme.
A discussion titled “Career Talk” was held in the opening session of the day, where 200 people including 60 winners of the previous two editions attended.
Later in the day, Young Bangla organised a similar event styled “Let's Talk”, in which the topic “Tarunner Joy Bangla” was discussed.
At present, working with 10 thousand marginalized and endangered people in 10 colonies of 6 divisions and Barisal city are working with the Youth Net for Climate Justice. Youthnet for Climate Justice became involved in 25 young organizations in 2016 to highlight the voices of children and adolescents and youth at the policy-critical level to address the South-Lake climate influences with the 'Safe World Green Forests' The organization, which came to the spotlight in Barisal, for the first time in the country, organized a two-day climate conference on youth summit. In this two-day conference, more than 500 children and young people of Barisal Division, the pioneers of the life-giving program, environmentalists and media people contributed to the youth through exchange of experience. Barisal announced the announcement of the conference in the Jatiya Sangsad and several international forums Barisal demanded by the organization. Even the organizer's co-ordinator Sohanur Rahman took part in the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government with the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in March this year. The organization is not limited to meetings or seminars only. The range of their activities has gradually expanded by organizing youths in Barisal Division to tackle disaster, to protect environment and to adapt to climate change. Message of consciousness spreading to safe homes and sanitation, monthly health care, sexual and reproductive health as well as to prevent child marriage. Besides, the organization organizes training with Brac University in Barguna, Bhola, Patuakhali and Barisal districts to develop the skills and leadership of grassroots youth of the tribal areas affected by climate change. The organization has also worked on transparency in Climate Fund. Recognition has contributed to the development of society. In order to overcome the adverse effects of climate change in Barisal, coastal non-people of Barisal have won 'Joy Bangla Youth Award' for their contribution in establishing their rightful rights. Youthnet for Climate Justice Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Information and Technology Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy handed over this award to the chief coordinator of YouthNet, Shakila Islam, in the Climate Change and Environmental Conservation Development category, among the best 30 organizations on youth. In three years, the organization has got wings in every district and upazila of Barisal Division. More than 1200 young and young women have joined. These skeptical youths are moving forward in front of many obstacles, overcoming adverse environmental obstacles and ignoring the hostile environment. The message of consciousness is reaching from door to door. There is a plan to spread this awareness in larger areas in front of them.
“Youth Conference 2018 – Bangladesh and Agenda 2030: Aspiration of the Youth” was organised by the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh on 14th October at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in Dhaka. Climate Change issue was the totally ignored in this forum. Blog by Sohanur Rahman
It was a great initiative for exploring youth aspirations and enabling them to accomplish the sustainable development goals by 2030. This youth conference would help enhance knowledge about the SDGs among the youth so that they could raise their voices for proper policy formulation and implementation including build strong commitments for actions. On the other side, I am very disappointed because climate change was totally ignored on this forum, unfortunately.
I have not found any session on climate change and each one specific recommendation on Climate Justice and carbon emission on the Youth Declaration out of 25 recommendations.
I think we are unheard tackling climate change, global endangering issues which pose our coastal community transforming crisis. Added to this, it is challenged by its high population density and level of poverty, and its reliance on livelihoods in climate-sensitive sectors, including agriculture, fisheries and water resources. Climate change, therefore, poses a significant threat to people and is undermining our development goals.
It is a very disappointing matter for youth that Climate Change is not included in this youth assembly announcement. -@Nahin Mahfuz Seam, Student, Environmental & Resource Economics, Dhaka School of Economics
Noting that youth represent the age cohort that will benefit the most from the SDGs’ success – or to pay the highest price if the Goals are not met.
I have found this declaration as a full of prescription of recommendations to government and development agencies.
My observation, Youth Declaration should be a proclamation of our commitments to achieve global agenda 2030 along with recommendations. I have not found any somewhat youth commitment and action plans. Dialogue is very important, but we prefer action to fulfil common visions.
I am highlighting one point of Youth Declaration which has mentioned that “Youth Council should be formed to installing Youth Parliament under Youth Act 2017.”
We are giving Solidarity on this point but this mentioned act has not existed in Bangladesh. No one law was not approved in parliament titled “ Youth Act 2017." Youth Policy was passed in 2017 and this document mentioned Youth Parliament should install considering our demands since 2015.
This somewhat miss information will be hampered to get government support on Youth Declaration approval. A good number of policy briefs has published at this conference but has not a single one on climate action.
Climate Change is one of the Biggest Threat to Our Community as well as our environment. Youth has a big role to play. Can’t believe how did they forget to include Climate Change ?!
-Solaiman Khan Santo,Youth delegate
We are passing a critical momentum not only deepened on hopes, but we should also be representing our courageous action to achieve the global agenda. We deeply believe, Youth Power can make it real.
Naimul Islam, from Bangladesh, is a young delegate has attended at the High level Political Forum (HLPF) of UN in New York last June.
He is a member of Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament and European M.Sc in Marine Environment and Resources, Spain with Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.
In HLPF, he urged to ensure integrity between the government and the civil society through meaningful Youth Participation towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It was Tuesday July 10 in the calendar page, from the morning different feeling was working in my mind. Imagine, Flags of every country flying around a high-rise building and fluttering in front of it. How lovely it is! From an early age, I saw the scene on television. Yes, I was talking about the United Nations Headquarters in New York. A long-cherished dream was fulfilled through participating the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2018.
The HLPF is the UN’s main platform for sustainable development. In the year 2012, the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) was constituted to review the sustainable development progress. The HLPF plays a central role in the global development and post-policy for sustainable development agenda 2030.
This 8 days long program was represented by the participation of various government and non-governmental organisations in the world.
It was my great opportunity to represent Bangladeshi young community through the Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament. The organisation is continuing various activities to bring the voice of young people of Bangladesh to the policy level. Also working at the international level, keeping in touch with local and international organisations to achieve sustainable development goals.
Let’s say about the first day. I was already staying in New York. Sohanur Rahman, Chief Executive of Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament, suddenly informed me that, I was nominated to represent the young people of Bangladesh in the High- Level Political Forum at UN Headquarters. I was thrilled to hear the news.
The previous night, I got the desired Ground Pass to enter the headquarters. In the morning when I was entering the United Nations building with all the security gates, I felt like I was Bangladesh!
There were several events on July 10th. World Alliance for Citizen Participation -Civicas, Action for Sustainable Development (A4SD) / Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP), organized workshops with UN Human Rights High Commissioner’s Office on Monitoring SDGs, claiming rights and meaningful participation: Strategies and tools for civil society. The venue was in the church centre of UN.
The representative of the UN Human Rights High Commissioner, Sally-Anne did the Opening and Moderation. This workshop highlighted capacity-building, knowledge development and networking, which allowed members of civil society from different countries to share their strategies, tools and experiences, and learn from each other on the best ways to engage in SDG implementation, monitoring and review at the national, regional and international levels.
I have discussed about Bangladesh contribution to ensure human right and Rohingya issue. Although we have challenged the implementation of safe water supply and sewerage system in Rohingya camps, Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has provided humanitarian shelter to the oppressed refugees Rohingya.
I also expressed my view on how to ensure integrity between the government and the civil society through meaningful participation of young peoples.
After the event, I met the visiting dignitaries from different countries discussed on various issues.
After the lunch, from 1:30 pm to pm, one side event about effect of climate change on forests, water and aquatic resources was held at the conference of the United Nations Headquarters.
The event titled, ‘Forests and Water on a Changing Planet: Scientific Insights for Building Sustainable and Resilient Societies,’ launched the Global Forest Expert Panel assessment report, ‘Forest and Water on a Changing Planet: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Governance Opportunities,’ which addresses, among other things, the climate-forest-water-people nexus.
It organised by the permanent mission of the Austria in the United Nations, the International Forest Research Union and the official representative of Brazil and Finland.
As a student of Marine Biology and working as Climate Activist, I took an active interest in this event. Speakers highlighted links between SDG 6 and SDG 15, including through SDG 6 target 6.6 (protect and restore water-related ecosystems). There were detailed discussions on how to create an adaptive society to face climate change induced impact on forests and water.
Approximately 75% of the world’s water supply comes from forested watersheds.
During the event, speakers highlighted that: approximately 75% of the world’s water supply comes from forested watersheds; forest ecosystems have strong inter-linkages with the SDGs; and a stronger forest-water link can help policymakers make sound decisions.
Austrian permanent representative Philip Charlath, United Nations Senior Forest Policy Officer, delivered the welcome speech. Along with other issues, experts also discussed about Goal 14 of SDGs; Conserve and sustainability use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
GFEP Co-Chair Meine van Noordwijk, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Wageningen University, said forests play a role in modifying rainfall and climate in a manner not captured under the UNFCCC. GFEP Co-Chair Irena Creed, University of Saskatchewan, stressed the need for new institutional and governance frameworks to optimize climate-forest-water management.
Joakim Harlin, UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment) and UN-Water Vice-Chair, noted links between SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 15, including through SDG 6 target 6.6 (protect and restore water-related ecosystems). One participant suggested developing a synthesis report on SDG 6 and SDG 15 for the next HLPF.
Jaana Husu-Kallio, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Finland, emphasised the need to move from silo-type thinking, saying the biggest challenge is to reorganise and think from the nexus point of view. He said Finland’s development policy “One world, common future” takes forests and water into account.
During the ensuing discussion, topics included: lack of reference to water during HLPF interventions on SDG15; the need for a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach; inadequate training in hydrology in many countries; engagement of the private sector; the role of food security; and the possibility of developing a synthesis report that combines SDG6 and SDG15 for the next HLPF to provide informed policy advice.
Displaying the newly launched GFEP report and policy brief — L-R: Christoph Wildburger, IUFRO; Irena Creed, University of Saskatchewan; Meine van Noordwijk, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Wageningen University; and Alexander Buck, IUFRO
In this 8 -days long program, 6 SDGs were reviewed, 8 special events, 25 subject- matter meetings, 260 side events, 33 exhibitions and various events were organised with 2200 registered participants.
Panelists (left to right): Mr. Vitalice Meja (CPDE), H.E. Dr. Sahir Nasr (Egypt), Dr. Kim Bettcher (CIPE), Ms. Jaehyang So (World Bank), H.E. Mr. Roberto Flores BermÃēdez (Honduras), Mr. Stephan Klingebiel (DIE) and H.E. Mr. Isidoro Santana (Dominican Republic)
The side event provided a platform for open dialogue around the key opportunities and challenges for building more inclusive institutional frameworks and evidence-based discussions on on ways to strengthen country-level partnerships between a wide variety of development stakeholders.
Bangladesh’s Minister of Finance, H.E. Mr. Abul Maal Abdul Muhith was the keynote speaker in a meeting held at Millennium Hilton Hotel in the United Nations Headquarters. He told the success story of Bangladesh how the country turned around in today’s position from LDC. He recognised that to leave no one behind and meet global promises by 2030, we need to effectively engage all relevant stakeholders in development policy- making, planning and implementation, much like Bangladesh’s own local consultative processes and spaces for open dialogue and coordinated policies.
The side event generated evidence-based dialogue, with a wide array of panelists presenting including Ministers from the Dominican Republic and Egypt, representatives from the government of Honduras, civil society (CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness), private sector (Center for International Private Enterprise), and multi-lateral institutions (World Bank). The discussions led an honest debate around how country-level, multi-stakeholder partnerships can help implement the SDGs and how they might be reflected in VNRs.
Discussion centred around the importance of establishing multi-stakeholder institutional frameworks for sustainable development at the country level, and the ways in which partnerships could be strengthened and expanded in order to increase development effectiveness and contribute to achievement of the 2030 Agenda.
At this discussion, Bangladesh’s permanent representative and ambassador to the United Nations, Masud Bin Momen and other diplomats were present.
The event attracted over 100 participants from governments, international organisations, civil society, private sector and academia, among others to discuss good practices and progress on institutionalising multi-stakeholder frameworks at the country level to increase the effectiveness of co-operation and support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)..
Due to the busyness, I was not available directly to the following programs but had not missed-out on the opportunity to provide feedback from virtually present. High-level Political Forum was something special for me. A great deal of experience at international level, representing own country, expressing views, getting acquainted with new people etc made my days.
The dream of experiencing the United Nations was came true by direct collaboration of Bangladesh Model Youth Parliament. The experience gained by representing the youth of the country in the United Nations is a great achievement. It was matter of great pride that in every session to highlight Bangladesh in front of the whole world and highlight the possibilities of young people of my country.
Significant part of the total manpower of Bangladesh is young, between 15 and 30 years of age. There is a lot of investment required to make this young community as resources. Through this, the youth will have to be created as entrepreneurs.
In the future, I want to work with these youth resources, together we can build a self-reliant prosperous Bangladesh.
Innovating action on climate Finance: Engaging local Youth
We have known for over a decade that Bangladesh, the least responsible countries for global warming, is first in line to feel the full force of its impacts. For proper utilisation of Climate Funds for facing challenges of climate change impacts, needed to prepare a Local Adaptation Plan engaging local peoples including youth urgently. Experts at a workshop underlined the importance of empowering local youth activists and supporting their potential innovating actions to ensuring transparency and accountability on Climate Finance to lead better lifestyle, building community resilience under adverse climate change impacts in coastal areas. Needed Justice and justified share of climate funds, with appropriate plans, stakeholders active participations for proper implementation of adaptation-mitigation projects including transparency, accountability, the speakers and participants viewed.
The opinions came at the concluding ceremony of a daylong training workshop on ‘Innovation action for Climate Transparency: Engaging local Youth’ held 21st August at Jahan Conference Center in Barisal city. Prof Dr SM Imamul Haque, Vice-Chancellor , University of Barisal was addressed this ceremony along withAbul Bashar from British Council, Md Abdul Jalil from UNICEF Bangladesh, Roufa Khanum and Rezwan Siddiquifrom C3ER,Sohanur Rahman and Shakila Islam of YouthNet. The impacts ofclimate change is one of the biggest threat against human rights, justice and social security in Bangladesh and it is one of the great impediment to achieving SDGs, they told. Speakers also demanded justice, transparency and accountability in allotment, distribution and using climate change fund and focusing issues.
A total of 36 climate activists from different universities and affected districts have participated in the workshop.Center for Climate Change Environmental Research of BRAC University in cooperation with YouthNet for Climate Justice, a youth led organization network, organized the workshop under the ‘Climate Finance Transparency Mechanism (CFTM)’ project being funded by PROKAS progam, British Council and UKAid.
Mr Abul Bashar, representative of British Council have brief about CFTM project with background at inaugural session on this workshop. Rezwan Siddiqui, Task Manager of C3ERfacilitated the workshop as resource person support with C3ER team. The resource person presented an overview of Climate Finance in Bangladesh and discussed about the role of local youth to ensure climate finance transparency.
Then youth participants are divided in 5 groups and find out vulnerability on their community and innovative solution through climate fund management game.After this participatory group work they had shown that global warming has been threatening all human rights specially women and children with social securities in coastal Bangladesh which are designed to prevent destruction of life, health, education, property, livelihood, migration etc. Due to climate change impacts various diseases spreading among the human and animal being, plants, causing deforestations, destruction of water resources and supplies by their group presentations. They have also planed some innovative solutions andadaptation project on their community level reducingvarious vulnerability and building resilience.
In concluding session, the prominent social scientist Prof Dr SM Imamul Haque, Vice-chancellor, University of Barisalstressed on the issues of adaptation to global climate change and its adverse impacts on the agriculture sector must get maximum priority to keep agro-production increasing for ensuring food and nutrition security. Young people can work to identify needs of people in coastal regions. They can also contribute on Climate smart agriculture by supporting local farmers.
He expressed this views putting emphasis on innovation of newer technologies and more salinity tolerance crop varieties to popularize those among the farmers for cultivation under adverse situations. Because adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture might severely affect food production in future.
Answering a question of participant Mr Haque told that, there are no ways without embankment to protecting riverside area by erosion. But we should building this embankment as climate resilient and give early warning to the targeted peoples for shifting others in safe places.
He also urging `Why we will be questioned for transparency with climate finance? It is shameful for us. Some peoples are devil but our nation is not corrupted nation. We should proper planning, coordination for utilise climate change funds with transparency and accountability. Young people can contribute on this social movement as change agent’.
