By Gaayathri Nair, Janet Ajao and Suloshini Jahanath *

The ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum was an exciting experience for the three of us. The atmosphere at the forum was electrifying, perhaps, because young people were thrilled to be meaningfully participating in the post-2015 development agenda. Over 700 participants attended the forum in Bali, Indonesia while thousands more participated online. The Forum was part of the official review of the International Conference on Population and Development’s Programme of Action and was a great opportunity for us to connect with young people around the world, and to contribute to the future global development agenda.

The forum was highly participatory, and all the recommendations of the Bali Declaration were formulated through mechanisms that included virtual consultations and world café style discussion groups. Through these, different perspectives were addressed and discussed. It was exciting to see young people sitting next to government officials and UN representatives, able to engage with them on issues that concern them.

The plenary sessions captured the core issues regarding youth and discussed these issues under five broad topics: ‘Staying healthy’, ‘Comprehensive education’, ‘Transitions to decent employment for youth’, ‘Families, youth-rights and well-being - including sexuality’ and ‘Fully inclusive civic participation’.  Although the topics of the plenary sessions were important and inclusive, it was interesting to see that the presenters and authors were not young people themselves.  One of the young respondents in the ‘Staying Healthy’ session made the comment that young people are the “scholars of their own experiences” and should be treated like that. She stressed that young people should be allowed to speak of their own experiences rather than merely commenting on works that have been done by others.

Besides the main event, we, as participants from the Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), also participated in a number of side events. One of these events was the caucus for sexual and reproductive rights. The caucus brought more than 40 youth activists from around the world who work on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) to develop advocacy and communications strategies that capture the needs and rights of young people in the ICPD review processes. It was a great opportunity for us, through the caucus, to work on coherence and consistency among various organisations working on SRHR.

A parallel consultation on the ICPD High Level Task Force was organised by the Youth Coalition of Sexual and Reproductive Rights and the ARROW during the Global Youth Forum. Two members of the High Level Task Force joined the consultation with almost 20 selected youth activists. The consultation asked young people to comment on the work of ICPD High Level Task Force while informing participants on its structure, its position in ICPD and relevance to the post 2015 processes. The consultation successfully developed a set of recommendations for the High Level Task Force that will be integrated into a policy brief to help youth organisations and networks to navigate the ICPD and post 2015 processes.

Overall, the forum was an extremely positive experience for us, not only for the outcomes and participatory processes, but also for its significance in providing an excellent platform for young people from across the globe to come together to share stories, and to renew their passions for working with and for young people. Coming together helps us to remember that we are not isolated, and it reminds that there are young people everywhere who are committed to the same issues we work on, and thus, we can draw on their strength, compassion and vision to help our individual work go further. As young persons working for an organisation that focuses on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) issues, it was especially exciting for us to see active deliberations of such forums on these issues.

More at www.icpdyouth.org & http://www.youtube.com/user/GlobalYouthForum

* Gaayathri Nair, Janet Ajao and Suloshini Jahanath are the youth participants who attended the The ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum on behalf of Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Malaysia.

Secretary-General Appoints Ahmad Alhindawi as his Envoy on Youth

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on January 17, 2013 the appointment of Ahmad Alhindawi of Jordan as his Envoy on Youth.  The Secretary-General in his Five-Year Action Agenda identified “Working with and for Women and Young People” as one of his top priorities.  In this context, the Envoy on Youth will work to address the needs of the largest generation of youth the world has ever known.

Mr. Alhindawi is a strong youth advocate and brings to this position extensive knowledge of and commitment to working on youth issues at the local, regional and international level.  Since December 2012, he has been Team Leader at the World Bank funded program to the League of Arab States on Institutional Development to Strengthen Arab Policy and Participation.  Prior to this, he served as the Youth Policy Advisor in the League of Arab States in Cairo and Officer in the Technical Secretariat of the Arab Youth and Sports Ministers Council (2009-2012).  Mr. Alhindawi also served as Team Leader for the National Youth Policy Project in Iraq, Youth Program Associate at the UNFPA-Iraq office and Emergency Program Officer at Save the Children.  He also supported the Danish Youth Council's projects in the Middle East and North Africa as regional consultant.  

As part of his voluntary work, Mr. Alhindwai was among the co-founders of the All Jordan Youth Commission.  He also co-founded and headed the Youth for Democracy Network at the Jordanian Commission for Democratic Culture and co-founded the International Youth Council in New York.  

Born in 1984, Mr. Alhindawi holds a Masters degree in Advanced European and International Relations and a diploma as “Policy Officer in European and International Organizations” from the Institut Européen in Nice, and a Bachelors degree in Computer Information Systems from the Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan.

Statement of the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD)*

The United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) welcomes the appointment of the UN Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth Mr. Ahmad Alhindawi (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=43944&Cr=youth&Cr1=#.UPhLix1X3Sl). The unprecedented appointment of the 28 year old young Jordanian is a crucial indicator of the growing importance of youth within the United Nations.  The IANYD assures its highest level of support and collaboration to the newly appointed Envoy. Mr. Alhindawi will play a critical role in the engagement and involvement of young people and youth-led organizations in the work of the United Nations, including in preparations and advocacy for the post-2015 UN development agenda.

This appointment is a groundbreaking initiative of the Secretary-General’s Five-Year Action Agenda in which working with and for young people is a generational imperative.  The Secretary-General is focusing on addressing the needs of the largest generation of young people the world has ever known by deepening the youth focus of existing programmes on employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, citizenship and protection of rights, and education, including on sexual and reproductive health. To advance this agenda, the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) is developing a System Wide Action Plan on Youth.  In addition, UN Volunteers is preparing a Youth Volunteer Strategy.

*The United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) is a network consisting of UN entities, represented at the headquarters level, whose work is relevant to youth. To learn more about the Network click here: http://social.un.org/youthyear/unianyd.html

UNDESA

Write the World Youth Report 2013 with us! Provide your perspectives on youth migration!!

The theme of the World Youth Report 2013 is ‘Youth and Migration’. The report will address youth migration from a youth viewpoint, accommodating young peoples’ concerns over migration from their own perspectives, based on their own experiences, and in their own voices. For this purpose, the United Nations Focal Point on Youth of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs invites young people between the ages of 15 and 35 to share their views on the opportunities, challenges, and the impacts of migration on them. You can participate in many of the online interactive activities including e-consultations, Google+ hangout and surveys that will begin on 23 January, 2013.

Share your stories, views and suggestions and encourage other young people to join the global conversation on youth migration at: http://www.unworldyouthreport.org. Email us at: youth@un.org if you or your organization would like to collaborate with us in enhancing youth participation in this process.

You can also join the conversation on our social media platforms:

• Follow us on Twitter: @UN4Youth

• Follow the conversation using hashtag: #youthmigration
• Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNyouthyear

UNESCO

Elections and Prevention of Youth Violence in the Mano River Union

In the run up to the November 2012 elections in Sierra Leone, a three-day stakeholders’ dialogue was held in Freetown to secure commitment of relevant stakeholders, towards the prevention of electoral violence, especially affecting youth. Organized by Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) and Centre for Coordination of Youth Activities (CCYA), the dialogue was supported by UNESCO, TRUSTAFRICA and Action Aid. The event brought together over one hundred participants from civil society in Sierra Leone, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia, along with youth representatives from Ghana and Kenya. Heads of key security agencies in Sierra Leone, including the Inspector General of Police, and the Chief of Staff in the Office of the National Security Advisor also participated in the dialogue which resulted in a communiqué emphasizing, among others, the need for sustained campaigning on non-violence in electoral processes, and for educating youth on their role in such processes.

Contact:ar.lamin@unesco.org

Youth and the Peace Pact on Violence-Free Elections in Ghana

As part of its work on promoting youth civic engagement and participation in democratic processes across Africa, UNESCO supported a High Level Meeting in Ghana on the theme “Promoting Peaceful Elections and Justice: Taking a Stand against Electoral Violence, Impunity and Injustice”, organized in Kumasi, on 27 November 2012. In advance of the presidential elections of 7 December 2012, the meeting brought together the presidential candidates representing seven political parties and one independent candidate, who signed the Kumasi Declaration, committing them to “peaceful” and “violence-free” presidential elections, particularly in terms of preventing the involvement of youth in electoral violence. Hosted at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the meeting was attended by students and members of youth organizations.

Contact:ar.lamin@unesco.org

Regional Conference - “ONLINE Prevention”!

The Association of UNESCO Clubs of Belarus hosted a regional conference, in Minsk, on 9 December 2012, which brought together over 100 representatives of youth organizations, youth friendly clinics, LGBT and PLHIV organizations from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Moldova, to discuss the use of the Internet and social media networks for health and HIV prevention education among young people. The conference reviewed the outputs of the ONLINE-Prevention project launched by UNESCO in cooperation with UNAIDS in 2012. About 3 million people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia were exposed to promotional materials developed by the project to raise young people’s awareness on HIV prevention and reproductive health and sexuality via Internet and social media.

More information at : http://www.unesco.org/new/en/moscow/about-this-office/single view/news/online_prevention_on_the_agenda_of_youth_organizations_in_eastern_europe_and_central_asia/

Cultural Heritage in a Box

UNESCO is developing a “Cultural Heritage in a Box” kit for Iraqi young women and men aged 12-19. This kit will include a range of different materials, such as local cultural objects specimens, images, and explanatory tales specially designed for the target audience. In order to contextualize the function and use of proposed educational materials and to enhance their long-term impact and sustainability, as well as to ensure an effective distribution of the kit, the “Cultural Heritage in a Box” kit has been included as a resource tool within the broader project on “Civic Values and Life skills Education for Adolescents in Iraq”, currently implemented by UNESCO in four Governorates in Iraq.

Contact: e.planche@unesco.org; m.minana@unesco.org

UN-Habitat

Urban Youth Fund – Indian Window

The Urban Youth Fund is a fund established in 2009 by UN-Habitat with the support of the Government of Norway to support youth-led oganizations in the developing world. To date the Fund has supported 212 youth groups to undertake projects focused on issues such as ICT, Governance, Entrepreneurship, and other human settlement issues in Latin America, Africa, MENA and Asia Pacific region.

In 2013 UN-Habitat has partnered with the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation in India to open-up an Indian Youth Fund window. This funding window targets specifically youth-led groups in India using the overall approach and framework of the Urban Youth Fund with the Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation to provide funding for the scheme. The India Youth Fund Window will be a pilot project for three years. After that, depending on the level of success and resources, the funding window will be expanded.

For more information, Please contact Jon-Andreas Solberg (jon-andreas.solberg@unhabitat.org)

UNCDF

YouthStart

YouthStart, a UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) programme in partnership with The MasterCard Foundation aims to reach 200,000 youth in Sub-Saharan Africa with demand-driven financial and non-financial services, in particular savings and financial education, by 2014. As of January 2013, US$7.1 million has been awarded to 10 Financial Service Providers (FSPs) in eight different countries. Of that amount, US$4.4 million has so far been disbursed to design, deliver and scale up demand-driven youth financial services and youth-centric programmes in partnership with youth serving organizations. Almost all the YouthStart partners successfully completed pilot testing of their youth-friendly financial and non-financial services. As of September 2012, over 40,000 youth opened savings accounts and saved almost US$550,000, and almost 30,000 of those participated in financial-literacy training. These figures show an outstanding performance of the YouthStart programme of over 120% of the targets set for 2012.

IFAD

Promoting Youth Employment in Rural Burundi

In response to high youth unemployment rates in Burundi, IFAD’s country team has added a rural youth employment component to its successful on-going Value Chain Development Programme (PRODEFI). The new component, adding US$6.6 million to the on-going programme grant of US$39.6 million,will target 20,000 young rural people in Bubanza and Ngozi provinces, helping them to develop micro enterprises along the value chains promoted by PRODEFI, as well as in other economic sectors. The new component will: (i) create employment around PRODEFI chain activities in collaboration with professional bodies on youth employment, farmers’ organisations and agricultural producers; (ii) provide job training through existing training institutions, including technical support on innovative approaches to expand income-generating activities that require little or no land; and (iii) set up sustainable financing mechanisms, in partnership with local financial institutions, to enable young people to access financial services tailored to their needs.

For more information, please contact Mr Hamed Haidara, IFAD Country Director and Representative in Burundi at h.haidara@ifad.org

UNRWA

Creating Alternatives for Students

15-year-old Ranim prioritized her studies even while fleeing from her home in Syria in the wake of the crisis. “My books were the first things I took with me when I left my home. Third grade is a little hard and I have to study well before final exams in June.”

To help students like Ranim who are facing obstacles to education and normal life in Syria, UNRWA’s education programme is currently developing a set of educational materials that will allow children in the country to study from home. This will include home study materials and lessons on CDs for viewing on video among other alternative materials.

Youth Employment Network (YEN)

Impact Evaluation Portfolio

Recognizing the need to improve the effectiveness of youth employment programmes and contribute to a global understanding of what works for youth, YEN has a strong focus on monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of youth employment programmes. The Impact Evaluation is a compilation of the M&E projects YEN has been conducting in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa regions. The Portfolio gives a snapshot of each of these efforts by reporting on the intervention, evaluation questions, evaluation design, and timeline of activities.

Web: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/yen/whatwedo/projects/ie/ie_portfolio.htm

Arab Youth & Entrepreneurship: Holistic Approaches to Nurturing Local Ecosystems (February 16-18, 2013 / Doha, Qatar)

The three-day event aims to identify ways of improving local ecosystems to increase entrepreneurial activity and enhance economic opportunities for young people in the MENA region by showcasing best practices and creating space for 250-300 participants to network, share experiences, and learn from each other. The conference is being organized by Silatech and the Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI), in partnership with the Global Partnership for Youth Employment (GPYE), the World Bank, and the Doha Municipality. At this conference, the Youth Employment Network (YEN) will highlight recent findings from impact evaluations in the region. The objective of YEN’s session on “Youth Entrepreneurship Interventions: Using Evidence to Improve Impact” is to disseminate rigorous evidence on how to achieve impact in entrepreneurship development.

More information: Please visit www.araburban.org and www.silatech.com

UN Regional Commissions

ECA Supports the Implementation of Youth Employment Policies in West Africa

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) provided technical and financial support to the Foundation for Future Leaders International (FFLI) for the organization of a sub-regional  meeting on the theme “Youth employment: implementation of strategies to address youth unemployment in West Africa.” The meeting, held in Accra, Ghana, during 25-26 June 2012, provided an opportunity for youth entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to analyze major challenges and concerns, to review existing policy frameworks, and to provide directions for addressing youth unemployment in West Africa.

The meeting adopted the Accra Declaration on the implementation of strategic policy frameworks for youth employment in West Africa. FFLI, in collaboration with UNECA, will ensure the effective implementation of the Declaration, and sustain further dialogue with the youth and other stakeholders. The meeting was attended by governmental experts from ECOWAS Member States, youth organizations, private sector representatives, youth development specialists, academia, and experts from the United Nations system.

UNECA, AfDB Launch Joint Youth Employment Drive

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have launched a joint project to tackle challenges of youth unemployment in the sub-region. The two organizations have identified and discussed possible areas where they will be working together in helping countries tackle their various challenges during high-level talks at the AfDB offices in Lusaka, Zambia. The high-level talks will be followed by a joint technical meeting between the two organizations.

UNIC Mexico City, Mexico

Art and Human Rights

Using web-based tools, the UN Information Centre (UNIC) in Mexico City discussed the role of art in promoting human rights with art students in Paris and New York on 12 December.

Two artists and human rights activists in Mexico shared their experiences in using film and music to highlight human right abuses while an installation artist in France briefed on his project “Dynamo Fukushima,” where visitors pedaled hundreds of bicycles in solidarity with Japan after 2011 tsunami. Discussing the relationship between art and politics, most agreed that since art reflected life, and no life could remain unaffected by politics, it was natural for the two to connect.

UNIC New Delhi, India

‘Animating’ the Future We Want

The UN Information Centre (UNIC) in New Delhi collaborated with the Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics to present the ninth edition of the 24FPS International Animation Awards. The theme for the Awards was ‘The Future We Want’, encouraging young animation filmmakers to explore new ideas and solutions to some of the most pressing global challenges.

Attendees included animation design students, their mentors as well as animation and visual effects professionals from India and abroad.

At the event, the participants recognized the enormous potential of young people in India– their energy, their creative spirit, and stressed on the need to channel this spirit into the common good for the society.

UNIC Buenos Aires, Argentina

Forum of the Youth

In November 2012, Embalse, a small town located 400 miles from Buenos Aires in the center of Argentina, became the country's "youth capital".  Hosting the XIII edition of the "Forum of the Youth", the annual event, organized by the NGO "Fundación Hernandiana" brought together 15 to 17 year olds from all over Argentina to debate and analyze global issues while developing local solutions.

The Director of the UN Information Centre in Buenos Aires opened the session as the keynote speaker with the main message of "think global and act local"; a concept well received by the audience. His speech was followed by an hour of questions and answers that covered a wide range of UN topics, from sustainable development and climate change, to reforming the UN.

UNIC Baku, Azerbaijan

Taking a Global Perspective

On 11 January, the UN Office in Baku teamed up with a local secondary school to screen and discuss the UN Year in Review which highlighted the UN’s role during a remarkable and challenging 2012. In the event, discussions on the UN’s work and the efforts undertaken in peace, security and human rights were followed by screening of a nine-minute documentary. Students were particularly interested in learning about how celebrities, amongst others, promoted peace and human rights. 

Students were very encouraged with the works of the United Nations. One of the participants shared his dreams of having a diplomatic career referring to the documentary that “I am even more convinced that I will pursue my international career after watching the movie, and hope to help those people in need.” Another participant said “It was a true gift for me to be able to spend time with the UN team; it brought the global organization closer to us to our classroom”.

UNIC Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Engaging youth through social media

The UN Office (UNO) in Tashkent started 2013 by looking back at 2012 and engaging youth via social media on two tracks. First, UNO held a Twitter contest on @unictashkent. Prizes were awarded to followers who correctly answered UN-related questions. Second, UNO spoke to a group of young and prominent personalities in Uzbekistan to name their best 2012 “UN Moment”. Amongst others, Nodira Maksudova, a news-editor of Radio “Grande” and the winner of “Oltin Qalam 2012” (Golden Pen) Award for the Excellence in Journalism cited a Song Contest on the Millennium Development Goals, in which 89 boys and 13 girls participated with 64 performances in Uzbek, 50 in Russian and 13 in English. 

My World – Global Week of Action Campaign (21– 28 January, 2013)

Get your Partner Code!

MY World is a global survey, initiated by the United Nations and partners, asking young people to choose their priorities for a better world. Results of the surveys will be shared with world leaders in setting the next global development agenda.

My World wants to ensure that the work any organization does to drive voters to the MyWorld2015.org website are recognized. In order for mobilization efforts to be tracked, organizations can use their MY World partner code as part of the link they distribute. For example, if an organization is given partner code "green", they can add it to link like: http://myworld2015.org/?partner=green

When a potential voter uses that link to get to the MY World website, a record will be made that they came in via your mobilization efforts. My World will be regularly reporting back to partners on the number of voters that have used their "custom link", giving the organization a clear measurement of the effectiveness of your mobilization efforts.

To get a partner code, please send a request to support@myworld2015.org the codes can be up to 8 characters. In your message please indicate the code that you would prefer. Or you can register and submit you application at MY World's Partners' Site

The Worldwide Journal on Youth Employment

Self Employed Youth Organization (SEYO) in collaboration with different Youth Led Organizations from all over the world (e.g. World Youth Foundation, International Young Professionals Foundation) is in the process of starting the Worldwide Journal on Youth Employment.

The Journal will be the world lens to give insight on the best practices, policies and programmes adopted by UN Member States, civil society, and private sectors, aimed at responding to the root causes of youth unemployment and challenges facing youth to penetrate the labor market. In addition it will highlight different youth initiatives that are replicable or that can inspire fellow youth in different corners of the world.

Any legitimate youth led organization, National Youth council or any organization/entity working on youth issues worldwide interested in the project, can contact: Aloys NTEZIMANA at aloys@selfemployed-youth.org not later than 22nd February, 2013. At least one organization is required per country as focal point to coordinate the project related activities.

Peace Child International and Green Cross International Networks

Take Part in the Green Cross Anniversary Musical 2050-The Future We Want

Peace Child International and Green Cross International Networks invite youth organizations and other stakeholders to recruit young people (age 18-25) from their membership and networks to audition to take part in the musical performance, which will form a key feature of Green Cross International's 20th Anniversary Celebrations in the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva, on 3rd September 2013.

The Musical will be jointly produced by Peace Child International and Green Cross International. It will be based on the popular Peace Child musical, which has formed a key instrument of youth citizen diplomacy in the resolution of many conflicts around the world. The new edition developed for this performance will take the audience on a retrospective journey from 2050, when the world has reached the “FutureWeWant.” The story will tell how we create that future through efforts of young people, using inspiration and positivity to show how the challenges of our time can be tackled. It will be written by members of the cast in an intense rehearsal period from 19th August to 2nd Sept.

The organizers are looking for young people with not just exceptional performing abilities as singers, dancers and/or actors - but also with a keen interest in the global issues that will shape their lives in this century and urge the youth organizations and other stakeholders  to seek them out, and encourage them to apply to: musical@peacechild.org, with a brief CV, letter explaining their interest in the project and why they feel they are an ideal candidate for its cast; + a photograph and, if possible, a link to an online video.

Apply by 1st March 2013. Each short-listed candidate will be interviewed by Skype in March 2013. Final decisions will be made by 31st March. All expenses for accommodation, food and domestic transportation will be covered for each cast member from their arrival at Geneva Airport on 18th August to their departure (on or after 4th Sept.)

For more information, please contact: musical@peacechild.org or - for

Green Cross partners, contact Paul Garwood at: paul.garwood@gci.ch

Youth and Work: Restoring Teen and Young Adult Connections to Opportunity

Nearly 6.5 million U.S. teens and young adults are neither in school nor in the workforce, veering toward chronic underemployment as adults and failing to gain the skills employers need in the 21st century, according to a new Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Many of these young people, ranging from ages 16 to 24, face numerous obstacles, according to the report, Youth and Work: Restoring Teen and Young Adult Connections to Opportunity.

Often described as disconnected youth, they are encountering greater competition from older workers for increasingly scarce entry-level jobs, especially in light of the recession.

The report emphasizes the need to provide multiple, flexible pathways to success for disconnected young people and to find ways to reengage high school dropouts.

The report can be found here: http://www.aecf.org/~/media/Pubs/Initiatives/KIDS%20COUNT/Y/youthandworkpolicyreport/kidscountyouthandwork.pdf