In recent years, concerned ministries have made considerable efforts to integrate youths into economic activities and to maximize youth potential through youth-centric policies and interventions. These policies and interventions are frequently region-specific and tailored to the
specific needs of a particular cohort of youth. On a national level, however, youth continue to face challenges such as low quality education, limited employment opportunities, informal employment and low wages, limited access to reproductive and essential healthcare, and incidents of gender-based violence. These have occurred as a result of incomprehensible policies and a lack of coordination among implementing authorities. In addition to escalating pre-existing challenges, such as unemployment, NEET, crime, early marriages and domestic violence, an ageing workforce, the COVID-19 pandemic has created new ones for youth: stagnation in education (Human Capital Development) and the uncertainty of future (Livelihood). To mitigate the pandemic’s challenges and reap the demographic dividend, youth should be prioritized in the budgetary process. Youth sensitive budgeting can be especially beneficial for ensuring equitable resource distribution and equal opportunity for youth from all regions of the country. Tackling the aforementioned challenges requires a concerted effort, sound planning, and effective implementation, which may be addressed by a Sectoral Action Plan for Youth Sensitive Budgeting. As a sequential progression of the SANEM-AAB 2020 Collaboration, where a Youth Budget Framework was constructed to implement the youth-sensitive budgeting in Bangladesh, SANEM and ActionAid Bangladesh have worked to develop a Sectoral Action Plan on Youth Sensitive Budgeting.
