Strengthening Social Cohesion, Inclusive Citizenship, and Youth Leadership.
1. Executive Summary
Bangladesh’s long-standing tradition of cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity is increasingly challenged by social polarization, misinformation, and declining civic trust, especially among youth.
Shokriyo proposes the Diversity for Peace (D4P) initiative to strengthen tolerance, inclusion, and social cohesion through:
- Youth leadership and civic engagement
- Community dialogue and trust-building
- Digital peacebuilding and misinformation prevention
- Institutional collaboration
Over 3 years, the project will:
- Reach 50,000+ direct beneficiaries
- Train 1,500 youth leaders
- Support 150 youth-led initiatives
- Reach 1M+ people digitally
2. Organizational Background: Shokriyo
Shokriyo is a Bangladesh-based social enterprise promoting active citizenship, inclusive governance, and social cohesion.
It works by:
- Connecting citizens with government and institutions
- Promoting Civic Education and Participation
- Implementing youth-led social action projects
Vision:
An inclusive society where everyone is valued and participates in shaping public life
Core Strengths:
- Youth-centered programming
- Digital literacy
- Governance and civic engagement initiatives
3. Problem Statement
Bangladesh faces emerging risks:
Social Challenges
- Increasing inter-community tensions
- Limited inclusive dialogue platforms
- Exclusion of marginalized communities
Digital Challenges
- Spread of misinformation and hate speech
- Youth exposure to polarizing narratives
Institutional Challenges
- Weak trust between youth and institutions
Evidence shows that extremism and social division are often driven by misinformation, inequality, and lack of engagement
4. Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To strengthen peaceful coexistence, social cohesion, and inclusive governance in Bangladesh.
Specific Objectives
- Promote tolerance and diversity across communities
- Empower youth as peacebuilders and civic leaders
- Strengthen trust between citizens and institutions
- Reduce misinformation and digital harms
5. Theory of Change
If:
- Youth are empowered with civic and digital skills
- Communities engage in dialogue and collaboration
- Positive narratives replace misinformation
Then:
- Trust and tolerance will increase
- Youth will drive social change
- Communities will become more resilient
Result:
A peaceful, inclusive, and participatory society
6. Project Components
Component 1: Community Dialogue & Social Cohesion
- Peace Dialogue Circles
- Cultural exchange events
- Inclusion programs
✔ Based on grassroots models engaging diverse communities
Component 2: Youth Leadership & Action
- Youth Peace Ambassador training
- Social action grants
- Creative engagement (film, storytelling)
✔ Inspired by youth-led initiatives like peace film festivals promoting tolerance
Component 3: Institutional Dialogue
- Youth–police dialogue
- Citizen–government forums
✔ Proven to improve trust and collaboration
Component 4: Digital Peace & Information Integrity
- Campaigns on cyber safety and hate speech
- Media literacy training
- Digital storytelling
✔ Builds on successful campaigns addressing cyberbullying and misinformation
Component 5: Gender Equality & Inclusion
- Women-led peace initiatives
- Safe digital spaces
- Gender-sensitive programming
✔ Aligns with gender-focused peacebuilding approaches
7. Results Framework (Logframe)
Impact
| Indicator | Target |
| Increase in social cohesion index | +20% |
Outcomes
| Outcome | Indicator | Target |
| Social cohesion improved | % reporting increased tolerance | 70% |
| Youth leadership strengthened | Youth-led initiatives | 150 |
| Institutional trust improved | % increase in trust | 25% |
| Reduced digital harm | Awareness improvement | 40% |
Outputs
| Output | Indicator | Target |
| Community dialogues | # sessions | 300 |
| Youth trained | # participants | 1,500 |
| Campaigns launched | # campaigns | 20 |
| Online reach | # people | 51,000,000+ |
| Stakeholder dialogues | # events | 60 |
8. Implementation Strategy
- Partnership with NGOs, CSOs, universities
- Collaboration with government institutions
- Hybrid delivery (offline + digital)
- Youth-driven approach
9. Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning
- Baseline, midline, endline evaluations
- Digital analytics
- Participatory feedback tools
10. Risk Management
| Risk | Mitigation |
| Political sensitivity | Neutral positioning |
| Online backlash | Strong moderation strategy |
| Low participation | Community partnerships |
11. Budget Summary (3 Years)
| Category | USD |
| Personnel | 262,000 |
| Program Costs | 220,000 |
| Monitoring & Evaluation | 50,000 |
| Operations | 65,000 |
Total: USD 550,000
Budget aligns with:
- Staffing
- Community programs
- Youth initiatives
- Digital campaigns
- Monitoring systems
12. Sustainability
- Youth-led networks
- Local partnerships
- Digital platforms for scale
- Diversified funding
13. Conclusion
The Diversity for Peace (D4P) initiative provides a scalable, evidence-based, and youth-driven solution to strengthen social cohesion in Bangladesh.
By combining:
- Community dialogue
- Youth leadership
- Digital innovation
- Institutional engagement
Shokriyo is positioned to deliver transformational impact toward a peaceful and inclusive society.