And the Journey Begins: YOUTH SHARE-NET Aims to Empower the Youth of Bangladesh on SRHR

For too long, young people in Bangladesh have been spoken for rather than spoken with when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Policies are drafted, strategies are rolled out, but the voices of adolescents and youth—those most affected—often remain on the margins. The inception of Youth Share-Net marks a turning point in this narrative.

In line with the Theory of Change of Share-Net International, the project seeks to empower youth and adolescents by placing them at the centre of SRHR conversations. Funded by Amplify Change for three years, Youth Share-Net is not just another project—it is a platform designed by and for young people. Its ultimate objective is clear: to improve SRHR outcomes by uniting youth networks, enabling them to learn from each other, and equipping them to advocate for real change.

The heart of the initiative lies in a Collaboration Lab—a space where youth organisations will come together to co-create, innovate, and strategise around SRHR advocacy. This Lab is not a temporary gathering; it is designed to transition into a formal, youth-led body that continues its work beyond the project period. In doing so, Youth Share-Net ensures that young leaders are not dependent on external actors but can carry forward their own advocacy agenda sustainably.

The reach of this effort is ambitious. Under this project, youths from all over Bangladesh will be engaged, trained, and empowered to influence policies, demand better SRHR services, and challenge harmful norms. Through Share-Net Bangladesh’s proven knowledge management pathways, these organisations will bridge research and practice—translating evidence into action and advocacy.

Importantly, this initiative does not work in isolation. It brings together experienced downstream partners like Association of Voluntary Actions for Society (AVAS), Dalit, Prantoz Foundation, SERAC Bangladesh, With She, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), and Youth Action For Development (YAD). These partners, with their grassroots presence, will ensure that the work doesn’t remain confined to policy discussions in Dhaka but reaches the field—where change is most urgently needed.

For over a decade, Share-Net Bangladesh has been connecting researchers, practitioners, and policymakers around SRHR. With Youth Share-Net, it is taking a bold step further—handing over the reins to the youth themselves. If successful, it could redefine how SRHR advocacy is done in Bangladesh: not for the youth, but with the youth, led by their voices, their ideas, and their dreams.