Young Leaders Fellowship Program (YLFP) is one of the most notable activities of the USAID Strengthening Political Landscape in Bangladesh project. YLFP is popular among youth political leaders, as it provides unique and in-depth leadership and communications skills to unavailable elsewhere in Bangladesh. The multiparty YLFP is effective at increasing young leaders’ political skills, boosting their careers within their parties, encouraging empathy for their counterparts in other parties, and bridging professional connections that to counter political polarization in the political landscape of Bangladesh. Through the YLFP, young politicians from rival political parties forge professional relationships and conduct joint advocacy over the course of an intense four-month program. Following the program, YLFP alumni continue to work across parties and contribute to building bridges of political tolerance between parties.

Twenty-two classes totaling 536 young political leaders successfully graduated from the program (male 293 and 243 female). Twenty-five Class 23 fellows will graduate in January 2024. Fellows are valuable resources for their parties with 157 YLFP alumni gaining promotion to higher positions in their respective parties following completion of the program.

YLFP consists of four sessions and three assignments. During the four, week-long sessions, fellows from rival parties room together to foster relationship-building. In the first session, participants develop a political career roadmap, learn about the state, government, advocacy, gender and politics and democracy in political parties and the country in general. The second session includes classes on conflict mitigation, media outreach and networking and the Bangladesh Election Commission. In the third session, fellows learn intensively about different steps of election campaign management and political party finances. While in the fourth session, fellows attend classes on strategic communications, public speaking, and leadership skills.

As part of their assignments, fellows work on advocacy projects in their community, arrange a press conference addressing their joint advocacy issue and they arrange a workshop on women and youth issues. All the assignments are multiparty activities conducted by fellows from Bangladesh’s three main political parties (Awami League, Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Jatiyo Party) working together for the development of their communities.