Short Bio

Pakistan’s youth, a major demographic force, hold immense potential for the country’s socio-economic development. Recognizing the need to involve young people in shaping policies that directly impact them, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the School of Leadership Foundation (SoLF) launched the Youth Policy Advocacy Dialogue Program. This initiative was designed to educate, engage, and empower youth from across Pakistan’s provinces and regions, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to actively participate in policy-making processes. By fostering youth-led advocacy, the program promoted a more inclusive, participatory, and effective governance system that truly reflects the aspirations of young people.

The primary objectives of the programme were as follows:

  • Educate youth on the complexities of policy-making, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of youth-centric policies.
  • Encourage critical thinking by engaging youth in identifying gaps in current policies and exploring solutions for effective advocacy.
  • Empower youth to become advocates for change by providing platforms to directly engage with policymakers, ensuring that youth perspectives shape inclusive policies.
  • Strengthen youth networks by fostering collaboration between young leaders, civil society organizations, and government stakeholders for sustained policy engagement.

Deliverables

  • Successfully engaged 369 young participants altogether from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) in interactive provincial level Youth Dialogue
  • Build the youth capacity in policy advocacy and governance mechanisms.
  • Facilitated direct engagement between youth participants and key policymakers to discuss youth-centric policy reforms.
  • Developed and disseminated advocacy toolkits to equip participants with effective lobbying and policy negotiation skills.
  • Initiated discussion in multiple provincial government departments including; Department of Social Welfare, KP Commission on the Status of Women, Youth Affairs, Higher Education, Social Welfare Training Institute.

Key Outcomes

  • Successfully engaged 369 young participants from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK).
  • The program bridged gaps between youth and policymakers, ensuring that young voices were actively heard and considered in policymaking.
  • Each session produced concrete policy suggestions, many of which were incorporated into regional youth development strategies.
  • YPAD laid the groundwork for sustained youth engagement, proving that youth-led advocacy can drive meaningful policy change across Pakistan.

NAME OF CLIENT
UNFPA

DURATION
42 Months

GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD
South Punjab & Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)