Did you know that in South Asia, women are three times less likely to be employed in full-time work than men? Gender disparity in education, linked to prevailing socio-cultural and gender biases, is also a significant challenge.

UNICEF has long worked with and for children, especially girls, so that they can reach their full potential and lead better lives. But the question remains: are we doing enough to advance gender equality, too?

In the latest episode of Upbeat: The Podcast, UNICEF Associate Director for Gender Equality, Lauren Rumble, discusses the importance of adopting a gender-responsive and transformative approach in our programming to ensure that future interventions are effective. One example of this is the Adolescent Skills and Employability (ASE) program in the region, which aims to strengthen education and skilling systems for the most vulnerable adolescents and youth who are not in education, employment, or training.

We also had the chance to hear from Sila Shahid, a youth advocate for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, about her experiences tackling gender disparities and creating real change.

Join the conversation and learn more about how we can all work towards a more equal and just world for all.

Youth-adult partnerships and youth leadership are key to sustainable change. This is possible when adults see young people as meaningful partners on issues facing youth and the programs and policies that impact them.

🎙️ Upbeat: The Podcast is back and bigger than ever! For the first episode of this season, we’ll discuss everything there is to know about the Orange Economy.

Join hosts John Trew, Education Specialist and Generation Unlimited Focal Point at UNICEF ROSA, and young Jordanian Palestinian artist Lina Abojaradeh together with Universidade Federal da Bahia student editor Rute Souza Cruz and Brave Story founder Cris Roxas as they discuss where Orange Economy workers, particularly young people, stand in the future of work.

🎙️ Episode 6 of Upbeat: The Podcast is out!

Join John Trew and Ameera Latheef as they discuss with Shreya K.C and Zainab Waheed - both climate change champions and activists - UNICEF’s “One Planet, One Youth, One Love” initiative, the landmark agreement signed at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, and the aspirations and challenges for young people when it comes to climate action and youth employment in sustainable economies.

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🎙️ Episode 5 of Upbeat: The Podcast is out!

We are so happy to have had the opportunity to record a podcast with three outstanding speakers and facilitators from the UNICEF 75 consultations! We have Prashansha KC, Speaker for the UNICEF 75 Employability Skills Consultation, Jony Ahmed, Speaker for the UNICEF 75 Employability Skills Consultation, and Zeeba Hamid, Facilitator for the UNICEF 75 Climate Change Consultation.

This episode highlights the importance of working together with the youth and as UNICEF, what next steps should we undertake to continue and strengthen this collaboration.

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🎙️ Episode 4 of Upbeat: The Podcast is finally out!

In this episode, we are joined by our guests Priota Iftekhar, FLAG Girl, Bangladesh; Shiba Satyal Banskota, Gender Progamme Knowledge Management Specialist; and Manasha Dhakal, Executive Director, Blue Diamonds Society.

The episode highlights the journey of two incredible women sharing their inspiring journey on how they became the empowering women they are today as they celebrate and dig deeper about the relevance and importance of International Women's Month.

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Listen to one of the best podcasts we've had on Upbeat: The Podcast thus far as we go head to head with two of our guests that are making a change for adolescents and young people in India and Bangladesh.

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In this episode, we are joined by our guests Herve Morin, Office of Innovations, UNICEF Headquarters; Mazeena Jameel, ADAP Focal Point, UNICEF Maldives; and Neelam Pol, Innovations Specialist, UNICEF India.

The episode highlights how innovations are being catalyzed and leveraged within UNICEF through UNICEF’s Office of Innovation and the Set Aside 2 Initiative and will dive deeper into the upcoming ASE Generation project to be implemented by UNICEF ROSA, together with the offices of Bangladesh, India, Bhutan, and Maldives.

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As we commemorate World Youth Skills Day 2021 and celebrate the creativity and resilience of young people despite the pandemic we officially bring to you the launch episode of Upbeat: The Podcast! 

We also discuss the importance of shared-value partnerships in joining forces for and with young people. Podcast hosts John Trew, the Education Specialist, and Generation Unlimited Focal Point at UNICEF ROSA, and Riju Manandhar, a Youth Volunteer from Nepal Scouts, are joined by guests, George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF ROSA’s Regional Director, and Kevin Frey, the CEO of Generation Unlimited.

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Join John Trew, Education Specialist and Generation Unlimited Focal Point at UNICEF ROSA, and young people from the region as they unpack the challenges and opportunities experienced by practitioners on the future of work in the region. We will be featuring colleagues, experts, and thought leaders highlighting national and regional skills and employability trends.