Harnessing youth volunteerism for resilience: How Bangladesh’s young people can shape disaster response

Young students across the country were leading the humanitarian response to the recent floods. Photo: Courtesy

As Elizabeth Andrew once said, "Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart." This sentiment came to life during the recent southeastern floods in Bangladesh.

The floods submerged eleven districts, claiming at least 70 lives and affecting 5.82 million people due to heavy rainfall and rising water levels from upstream. The Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG), led by the United Nations (UN), reported that the floods devastated 296,852 hectares of crops. Initial estimates suggest losses of $122 million in fisheries and $34 million in livestock.

While Bangladesh has built a strong disaster response system with the help of the government, NGOs, INGOs, and UN agencies, this time it faced significant challenges. Key issues included a lack of timely information, limited disaster preparedness in communities, and a weak governance system for managing disasters.

Despite these obstacles, the floods highlighted a valuable resource: the passion and dedication of our youth. People of all ages stepped up to help those affected, but it was the youth groups that took the lead, actively organizing relief efforts for those stranded by the floods.

Youth volunteerism was particularly remarkable, even if there were a few flaws in their efforts to reach and serve the affected communities. The leadership shown by young people during this crisis opens up the possibility of rethinking how we can harness their energy and innovation for sustainable disaster management and strengthening community resilience. 

The latest census shows that 27.96% of Bangladesh's population is made up of young people aged 15 to 29. This demographic divide presents a promising opportunity for growth. 

Additionally, a report by UN Volunteers indicates that one in three young people is involved in volunteer activities. 

These two statistics suggest that Bangladesh has significant potential to address issues like disaster management. We must ensure that this potential does not go untapped by institutionalising and scaling up youth engagement in disaster management. 

To fully realise this potential, several initiatives should be considered to institutionalise and strengthen their involvement.

Invest in youth-led initiatives 

I recently had the opportunity to talk with a group of students who were leading the humanitarian response to the southeastern floods. One important takeaway from our discussion was the need for better skills among volunteers in managing these efforts.

Despite this gap, the students showed remarkable determination and enthusiasm to reach out and support the most vulnerable communities. They expressed a strong desire for training in humanitarian response, particularly in both hard and soft skills needed to handle crisis situations effectively.

There are some promising initiatives aimed at building youth capacity in this area. For instance, the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) runs a youth-focused program designed to enhance the disaster response skills of volunteers.

Additionally, Oxfam in Bangladesh has launched a volunteer pool program. In this initiative, young volunteers receive training to lead disaster preparedness and response activities. So far, Oxfam has trained 3,000 local volunteers in the Barguna district and connected them with the District Government, creating a cost-effective and easily accessible resource for disaster management. This volunteer pool is just a phone call away whenever assistance is needed for disaster preparedness efforts.

However, the scale of these efforts is insufficient in comparison to the growing need to deal with frequent disasters across the country. Expanding such programs in collaboration with multiple stakeholders, including the government, is crucial. 

This is also important from the perspective of the localization agenda. Local youth are the first and fastest responders to any disaster. Strengthening their capacity will improve the speed at which affected people are reached and will bolster locally-led disaster response efforts.

It was inspiring to see some young people bring innovation to disaster management using technology, such as robots to reach people, drones and GIS mapping to identify the hardest-to-reach areas. 

Many organisations are already hosting youth labs and hackathons, which should be accelerated. Recognizing and supporting youth-driven efforts can further enhance their voluntary spirit and leadership in sustainable disaster management. 

One of my key learnings from the student volunteers was that we could have supported their efforts more effectively by helping with small but impactful actions—such as providing basic orientation on humanitarian standards, offering information about standard food and dignity kits, or even providing a laptop to register donations. Supporting 'People of the People' is crucial to amplifying the impact of these initiatives.

Engaging youth in disaster management structures

Recognizing youth as effective partners in disaster preparedness and response is essential. The Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD) and Disaster Management Act require the formation of disaster management committees at all administrative levels, but there is currently no designated space for youth inclusion in these committees. 

Systematically incorporating young people into local disaster management committees would enable them to contribute their ideas, insights, and recommendations to disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Moreover, regular engagement in discussions with youth is necessary to understand their aspirations regarding disaster management and the support they require. Coordinated multi-stakeholder efforts, including participation from the private sector, are needed to enable and amplify their contributions and ideas.

The recent floods have highlighted the untapped potential of Bangladesh's youth in disaster response. With proper support—through capacity building, innovation and inclusion in disaster management structures—young people can drive sustainable solutions. Empowering the youth will not only strengthen disaster response mechanisms but also accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Let's harness youth volunteerism and build a more resilient Bangladesh!

Sketch: TBS

Mahmuda Sultana is the programme director, of Oxfam in Bangladesh. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.