“The Urban Youth Council (UYC) Guideline is a nationally approved policy framework, endorsed by the Ministry and developed in consultation with four city corporations—Rajshahi, Narayanganj, Mymensingh, and Rangpur—along with their Mayors, local administrations, and taskforce members. It introduces a democratic and institutional mechanism to ensure the participation and representation of young people aged 18 to 35 in urban governance across Bangladesh.
This initiative was launched under the project “Advancing Engagement by Setting Up Urban Youth Councils in Bangladesh”, implemented by SERAC-Bangladesh with financial support from the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and technical assistance from UN-Habitat. SERAC-Bangladesh, a nationally registered NGO under the NGO Affairs Bureau and an organization holding UN-ECOSOC special consultative status, has a long-standing record of advancing youth and adolescent well-being through programs in health, education, civic awareness, and democratic participation.
The Urban Youth Council (UYC) Guideline strengthens Digital Democracy through its online voting portal, modernizing youth engagement within institutional governance structures. It advances Transparency & Open Government by ensuring accountability in transparent electoral systems and inclusive decision-making, while expanding Civic Space by formally integrating youth voices into urban governance. The Guideline upholds Gender Equality & Inclusion by guaranteeing equal representation of young women and men (50:50), enhances Elections & Democracy through fair and credible processes, and reinforces broader Democratic values by empowering young citizens as active partners in shaping their cities and communities.
The Urban Youth Council Guideline is a comprehensive framework that details every aspect of the council’s structure and functioning. It sets out the full election system—including voter registration, candidacy, nomination, and appeals—while also defining the roles, responsibilities, and duties of Urban Youth Councilors such as the President, Secretary, Joint Secretary, and members. The guideline further outlines regulations, codes of conduct, ethics, funding mechanisms, meeting procedures, and accountability measures, ensuring that all work of the Councilors is transparent, inclusive, and aligned with democratic principles.”