SERAC-Bangladesh has achieved a landmark global recognition as its flagship Urban Youth Council Initiative was officially awarded among the Top 10 Outstanding Practices under the International Outstanding Practices on Urban Regeneration (IOPUR) at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Selected from thousands of entries submitted from across the world, the Urban Youth Council model was first shortlisted among the top 30 global initiatives before securing its place among the final 10 outstanding practices recognized for excellence in urban regeneration, participatory governance, and sustainable city transformation.
The recognition highlights Bangladesh’s growing contribution to innovative urban governance and youth participation, showcasing how institutionalized youth engagement can help cities become more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable.
The award was received by Executive Director of [SERAC-Bangladesh](https://serac-bd.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), SM Shaikat, during the official award ceremony attended by prominent global urban development leaders and dignitaries, including Rafael Tuts, Director of Global Solutions Division at UN-Habitat Rafael Tuts; Fiona McCluney, Chief of Policy and Legislation Unit at UN-Habitat Fiona McCluney; Li Fengqing, Vice Dean of Shanghai Institute of Urban Regeneration and Sustainability Li Fengqing; and Zhou Jianjun, Deputy Chairperson of the University Council of Shanghai University Zhou Jianjun.
The IOPUR recognition process involved a rigorous international evaluation where initiatives were assessed based on four major criteria: measurable social, economic, and environmental impact; innovation in addressing urban challenges; practical governance, financial, and policy mechanisms; and the potential for replication in cities globally.
During his remarks at the ceremony, Mr. Shaikat dedicated the recognition to the youth of Bangladesh and particularly to the members of the Urban Youth Councils working across partner cities of Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Khulna in the country.
“This recognition belongs to the young people of Bangladesh who are proving every day that youth are not merely beneficiaries of urban development, but active partners and changemakers in shaping the future of our cities,” he stated.
The Urban Youth Council Initiative was developed by SERAC-Bangladesh in partnership with city corporations and local authorities to institutionalize youth participation in urban governance and decision-making. Through elected youth councils, young people engage directly with local governments on issues such as urban planning, climate resilience, public spaces, civic participation, health, and sustainable development.
Over the years, the initiative has emerged as one of Bangladesh’s pioneering models of youth-inclusive governance and has gained increasing recognition in regional and international policy spaces, including global forums hosted by UN-Habitat and other multilateral platforms.
SERAC-Bangladesh noted that this recognition reinforces the importance of creating meaningful spaces for young people in governance systems and demonstrates how locally led innovations from the Global South can contribute to global urban solutions.
The organization also expressed gratitude to the international panel of experts, the IOPUR Coordination Team, partner city authorities, development partners, and the thousands of young people whose leadership and commitment made the achievement possible.
The 13th World Urban Forum, organized by UN-Habitat, is the world’s premier global conference on sustainable urbanization and cities, bringing together governments, policymakers, civil society organizations, researchers, youth leaders, and development practitioners from around the world.
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