Pakistan is one of the youngest countries in the world, with nearly 64% of its population under the age of 30. However, over 22 million children remain out of school, and youth unemployment especially among young women continues to rise. These challenges highlight the urgent need for targeted investments in education, skills development, and inclusive opportunities.

The Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) Youth Development Program is designed to empower young people and women through education, capacity building, and community engagement. The program focuses on enhancing access to quality learning, promoting employable skills, and fostering leadership and civic participation. By prioritizing marginalized groups, particularly women-led households, CSD ensures that no one is left behind.

The primary objectives of the programme were as follows:

• • Enhance access to quality education and market-relevant skills for youth and women, especially in underserved communities.
  • Promote economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, employment pathways, and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
  • Strengthen youth leadership, civic engagement, and participation in community development initiatives.
  • Advance gender equality by prioritizing women-led households and advocating for equal rights, inclusion, and protection.

Our approach integrates training, mentorship, and market linkages. We collaborate with academic institutions and the private sector to deliver demand-driven skills and create pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. Through volunteerism, internships, and youth-led initiatives, participants are encouraged to become active agents of change within their communities.

CSD has successfully trained and engaged thousands of youth across urban and vulnerable regions of Sindh and Balochistan. The program has connected home-based workers to income-generating opportunities and actively contributed to campaigns addressing gender-based violence and child marriage. By investing in youth and women, CSD is fostering a more inclusive, skilled, and resilient society, contributing to sustainable development and long-term socio-economic progress in Pakistan.

We believe that empowering youth and women is the foundation of sustainable development. Through education, skills, and opportunity, we are nurturing a generation capable of driving positive change in Pakistan. Together with our partners and communities, we continue to invest in a future where every young person has the chance to thrive and lead.