ISLAMABAD: The Kamyab Jawan Programme and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Thursday to cooperate on the formulation and implementation of population development strategies.

The MoU is aimed at strengthening institutional mechanisms to integrate youth voices into national development policies and processes.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar said that cooperation with UNFPA would help a great deal in accelerating implementation of the National Youth Development Framework, including the establishment of National Youth Foundation.

He added that assistance from the UNFPA will be instrumental in mobilising technical assistance in constructing a new district representative youth developmental index.

“The collaboration will also help in ensuring youth-centred policy and programme development and implementation. This will support our government’s priority area of youth development in Pakistan,” he said.

UNFPA country representative Lina Mousa and Mr Dar signed the MoU.

Ms Mousa said that the partnership would provide an invaluable opportunity to strengthen institutional mechanisms and national capacities on young people’s health and rights.

“When young people are actively engaged and involved, they are able to build important life-skills, develop knowledge on human rights and promote action,” she said.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2020