Strengthening Active Citizenship and Inclusive Governance.
1. Executive Summary
Shokriyo is a Bangladesh-based social enterprise working to strengthen active citizenship, inclusive governance, and social cohesion by fostering meaningful engagement between citizens, communities, and government institutions. In a rapidly changing socio-political landscape, Bangladesh faces persistent challenges related to limited citizen participation in governance, declining trust between citizens and public institutions, social polarization, and public health risks such as tobacco use.
Shokriyo addresses these challenges by creating evidence-based, inclusive platforms that enable citizens, especially youth and marginalized groups, to participate in dialogue, accountability processes, and issue-based advocacy. Through civic engagement initiatives, leadership development, social cohesion programs, and public health advocacy, Shokriyo contributes to building a just, peaceful, inclusive, and democratic society.
This proposal seeks donor support to implement Shokriyo’s flagship programs over a three-year period, reaching thousands of citizens, strengthening community resilience, and supporting participatory governance practices at local and national levels.
2. Organizational Background
About Shokriyo
Shokriyo is a registered social enterprise in Bangladesh dedicated to advancing active citizenship and democratic participation. The organization works at the intersection of citizens, civil society, and government to ensure that public decision-making processes are inclusive, responsive, and accountable.
Vision
An inclusive society where every individual is valued, respected, and empowered to shape public life.
Mission
To engage citizens in accountability, governance, social inclusion, tolerance, and issue-based advocacy through participatory platforms, partnerships, and evidence-driven action.
Core Values
- Inclusivity and dignity
- Equality and social justice
- Democratic participation
- Evidence-based advocacy
- Civic empowerment and transparency
3. Problem Statement
Despite significant development progress, Bangladesh continues to face challenges that limit effective citizen participation in governance:
- Limited citizen–government dialogue, particularly at local levels
- Exclusion of marginalized communities, including women and youth, from decision-making
- Social polarization and declining tolerance across communities
- Public health challenges, including high tobacco use and weak citizen-led advocacy
While large NGOs primarily focus on service delivery, fewer organizations work directly on empowering citizens to influence systems, policies, and governance processes. There is a critical need for platforms that amplify citizen voices, build trust, and strengthen social cohesion.
4. Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To strengthen active citizenship, inclusive governance, and social cohesion in Bangladesh through citizen empowerment and participatory engagement.
Specific Objectives
- Increase meaningful citizen participation in local governance and policy dialogue
- Strengthen youth leadership and civic activism
- Promote social harmony, tolerance, and inclusion across communities
- Support evidence-based public health advocacy, particularly tobacco control
5. Programmatic Approach
Offline and Online Activities
To develop responsible and engaged citizens, Shokriyo will implement a blended model of offline and online activities under its Active Citizens framework. Offline activities will include intensive Active Citizens training workshops that build participants’ skills in leadership, dialogue, social accountability, critical thinking, and community engagement.
In addition, Active Citizens Facilitators Training will prepare selected community leaders and youth champions to independently replicate the training, ensuring long-term sustainability and local ownership. Following the training, participants will design and launch community-based Social Action Projects addressing locally identified issues such as social cohesion, governance accountability, public health awareness, and inclusion of marginalized groups.
These projects will provide practical platforms for civic participation and collaborative problem-solving. Complementing these in-person engagements, Shokriyo will utilize online platforms to expand reach and sustain engagement through virtual learning sessions, webinars, digital discussion forums, mentorship support, and social media campaigns promoting tolerance, democratic participation, and evidence-based advocacy.
Digital tools will also enable knowledge sharing between communities, documentation of impact stories, and continuous civic dialogue beyond physical meetings. This integrated offline-online approach ensures wider participation, scalability, and sustained civic engagement across diverse geographic areas.
A. Civic Engagement and Governance
Activities
- Citizen forums and consultations with local government representatives
- Digital and offline citizen feedback mechanisms
- Capacity-building workshops for community leaders on participatory governance
Expected Outcomes
- Improved citizen awareness of governance processes
- Increased citizen input into local decision-making
- Strengthened trust between communities and public institutions
B. Social Cohesion and Inclusion
Activities
- Community dialogues promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence
- Inclusion programs engaging marginalized groups
- Campaigns addressing misinformation and social division
Expected Outcomes
- Improved inter-community trust
- Increased participation of marginalized groups
- Reduced social tensions at community level
C. Health Advocacy: Action to End Smoking
Activities
- Coalition-building with government, researchers, and civil society
- Policy advocacy and public awareness campaigns
- Citizen engagement in tobacco control initiatives
Expected Outcomes
- Increased public awareness on tobacco harms
- Stronger citizen support for tobacco control policies
- Contribution to reduced smoking prevalence over time
D. Youth Leadership and Civic Development
Activities
- Youth civic leadership training programs
- Mentorship and action projects led by young leaders
- University and community partnerships
Expected Outcomes
- Emergence of youth civic leaders
- Increased youth participation in governance and advocacy
- Sustainable pipeline of community change-makers
6. Target Beneficiaries
- Citizens seeking voice and representation
- Youth and emerging community leaders
- Marginalized and underrepresented communities
- Local and national policymakers engaging in participatory governance
7. Implementation Strategy
- Partnership with local government institutions, universities, CSOs, and community groups
- Evidence-based program design and adaptive learning
- Strong monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) framework
- Compliance with national laws and donor requirements
8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Key indicators include:
- Number of citizens engaged in governance initiatives
- Number of policies or decisions influenced by citizen input
- Diversity and inclusion metrics across programs
- Public health advocacy outputs and outcomes
Annual impact reports will document progress, lessons learned, and outcomes.
9. Organizational Capacity and Management
Shokriyo is governed by a Board of Directors with expertise in governance, public policy, and development. The organization operates through dedicated teams covering:
- Program implementation
- Partnerships and fundraising
- Communications and outreach
- Monitoring and evaluation
10. Budget Summary (Illustrative)
Major cost categories include staffing, program delivery, events, research, technology, and monitoring. A detailed budget will be shared later.
11. Risk Management
Key Risks
- Funding volatility
- Political sensitivity of civic engagement work
- Operational scaling challenges
Mitigation Measures
- Diversified funding sources
- Transparent communication and evidence-based advocacy
- Strong community and institutional partnerships
12. Sustainability and Growth
Shokriyo’s sustainability strategy includes:
- Diversified donor and CSR partnerships
- Fee-based research and training services
- Individual donor engagement
- Gradual geographic expansion and digital platforms
13. Conclusion By empowering citizens, strengthening social cohesion, and fostering inclusive governance, Shokriyo contributes to a more democratic and resilient Bangladesh. With donor support, Shokriyo will scale its impact, strengthen participatory governance systems, and ensure that citizens, especially youth and marginalized groups, play a meaningful role in shaping their future.