Youth-Led Climate Award honours 10 organisations

Ten youth-led organisations have received the "Youth-Led Climate Award 2026" for their efforts to address climate change through locally designed initiatives.

Organised by VSO Bangladesh under the theme “Spark the Change, Lead the Climate Future”, the awards were presented today at the Liberation War Museum in Agargaon, Dhaka.

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The awardees will receive grants to implement climate initiatives in their communities, addressing local climate challenges while contributing to community resilience, sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), VSO Bangladesh said in a statement.

Asadul Habib Dulu, minister for disaster management and relief, attended the event as chief guest and presented the awards to the selected organisations.

The programme began with remarks from Khabirul Haque Kamal, country director of VSO Bangladesh, followed by an overview of VSO, the Volunteer Development Forum (VDF) and the award initiative.

Previous award winners also shared their experiences and the impact of projects they implemented in 2025. They were formally recognised for their continued contributions to community-led climate action.

The event also recognised members of the Youth-Led Climate Award judging panel for their role in assessing and selecting the initiatives.

Abul Hossain, former secretary of the women and children affairs ministry and chair of the VDF Advisory Committee; Shaikh Mohammad Jobayed Hossain, joint secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports; ASM Marjan Nur, climate and environment adviser at the British High Commission in Dhaka; Md Golam Mahboob, director of SAARC Agriculture Centre; Talha Jamal, country director of Islamic Relief Bangladesh; and Md Masum Ahmed, deputy secretary (youth-I section) of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, also attended the programme.