July 2017

Feature Article

 

UN Entities Highlighted News

UN DESA: International Youth Day 2017 - “Youth Building Peace”

International Youth Day 2017 is celebrated once again this year on 12 August 2017. This year’s theme  is "Youth Building Peace” and will explore the various ways in which young people are contributing to building and sustaining peace, in line with  United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace and security.  Learn more about how you can be part of the celebrations by organizing your own event or activity in your community with the help of the 2017 Toolkit on the Ways to Celebrate International Youth Day! Events or activities can also be plotted on the this year’s International Youth Day World Map of Events!

 

UN DESA: International Youth Day Event at United Nations Headquarters (Register! Or Watch live!)

The official commemorative event for International Youth Day 2017 will take place at the United Nations Headquarters on the 11 August 2017. The event will highlight the importance of young people as equal partners in conflict resolution and decision-making as well as agents of change in peace processes. It will bring together young people actively in peacebuilding and the prevention of violence, in addition to representatives of Member States and United Nations entities. Watch it online on that day here to hear the voices of youth who are working towards the achievement of peace in their communities. Those in New York on 11 August can register to attend the event here.  More

 

 

 


UNCDF: How Access to Financial Services and Financial Education Affects Young People

UNESCO: Youth, Peace Building and Regional Solidarity: Lessons from Africa

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Gambia National Commission, held an international conference from the 9 to 10 May 2017. The conference provided youth with a platform to share experiences and lessons learned and strengthen their capacity to lead actions at both the community and national levels. The conference took place after the Gambian young women and men used their power to propel a democratic transition. Although African youth usually do not have sufficient spaces to discuss issues that affect them, the opportunity enabled them to learn from each other and foster dynamic youth action across the continent. As a way forward, a Promotion Platform was adopted to engage youth to share their reflections on the role of the youth in a democratic transition in Africa. More


 

UNDESA: “Youth Policies and Inequalities in Latin America” International Meeting

UNESCO: Towards a National Youth Strategy in Libya

In the context of the Networks of Mediterranean Youth (NET-MED) project in Libya, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is working together with the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) in the development of an evidence-based youth policy paper for Libya. This will be done through the active contribution of partner youth organizations. The focus of activities over the second half of 2017 will be on piloting by youth of a number of recommendations coming from the paper, as well as the development of local youth strategies as a bottom-up approach to advocate for a national youth strategy in Libya. More

 

 

 

 

 

UNDP: #ACTon2250 – First Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace & Security

UNESCO: Tsawar M3aya exhibition: Youth, Freedom of Expression and Editorial Cartoons in Morocco

Youth organizations of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Networks of Mediterranean Youth (NET- MED), joined efforts with the Non- Governmental Organization (NGO), Cartooning for Peace, to organize an exhibition to raise awareness about youth issues and freedom of expression through editorial cartooning. The exhibition “Tsawar M3aya” (“Imagine with me”) was inaugurated on 11 April in the presence of the French cartoonist Plantu, a world-renowned head cartoon editor of Le Monde. The exhibition illustrated the perspectives of young people’s key challenges in Morocco. A pedagogical type of cartoons and accompanying texts were on display for the public to view and reflect on. Following the exhibition, 10 cartoonists and 10 young leaders were trained to conduct pedagogical activities based on the exhibition contents. YouTube video and more


 

PBSO: Youth, Peace and Security Regional Consultation and High-Level Dialogue in Amman, Jordan

UNESCO: Youth and Social Innovation: A Dialogue on Bottom-up Social Development in Latin America

Representatives of about 150 young women and men from civil society, academia, international organizations and governments from Latin America met at a seminar to discuss the challenges of social development and innovation, civic engagement and community actions. The seminar, “Youth and Social Innovation: A Dialogue on Bottom-up Social Development” was organized by the (UNESCO) Offices in Brazil and Mexico and was held on 11 May in Mexico City.  During the event, a Spanish version of the “Bottom-up social development in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro: a toolkit” (Desarrollo social de base em favelas de Río de Janeiro: un manual práctico) was presented. The toolkit contained evidence-based tools, information and concepts regarding the social development model found in grassroots organizations. More

 

 

UNDP: Innovation for Violence Prevention in Panama

UNESCO: INCREA LAB: Opportunities for Indigenous Cultural Entrepreneurs

The International Fund for Cultural Diversity (IFCD) which is the operational arm of the 2005 Convention for the protection and the promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions, funded a project in Guatemala to promote indigenous grassroots micro-initiatives in the audiovisual sector, contributing to the economic development and social cohesion in rural Guatemala. Over 100 young indigenous cultural entrepreneurs were trained at INCREA LAB (coaching, mentoring and training center) in audiovisual creation and the use of digital technologies. As a result, business initiatives from young cultural industry professionals were developed through the provision of seed funding and networking. The project also built a partnership with the University of San Carlos for the creation of professional certification programme for young cultural managers. More

 

 

UNDP: Join the Arab States Space on the Youth4Peace Global Knowledge Portal!

UNDP: Summary of Joint E-Discussion on Youth Political Participation

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through UNDP4Youth and iKNOW Politics co-convened an e-Discussion on Youth Political Participation, held from 3 April to 8 May 2017. Fifteen participants from Sub-Saharan Africa, Arab region, the America and Europe participated in an online debate and submitted contributions. Comprising of experts, members of civil society organizations, students, and representatives of government institutions, the participants commonly stressed the urgent need for action, to give young people the opportunity and power to influence policies that affect their lives by introducing measures aimed at increasing their interest and participation in politics. More

 

 

 

 

World Bank Group: Launch of The Ideas for Action Competition

ILO: UN Agencies Launch Youth Entrepreneurship and Self-employment Campaign

The United Nations system- the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Training  Centre (ITC), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)- launched a campaign under the aegis of the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth on the occasion of Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises International Day, held on the 27 June 2017. The UN agencies focused on solutions to address the unique obstacles to youth entrepreneurship and self-employment. The ILO, ITC, UNCDF, UNIDO and UNCTAD lead the global campaign to promote actions needed to effectively enable young entrepreneurs to succeed and improve the sustainability and quality of self-employment opportunities for youth. More


World Bank Group: Launch of The Ideas for Action Competition

ILO: Skills for the Future of Work

World Youth Skills Day was celebrated on 17 July 2017 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event theme focused on “Skills for the future of work”. The International Labour Organization (ILO) called for joint work and highlighted the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth as a platform for action. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) presented the Digital Skills for Decent Jobs for Youth Campaign recently launched together with the ILO under the aegis of the Global Initiative. The newly appointed UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Jayathma Wickramanayake reiterated the commitment contained in the 2030 Agenda to substantially increase the number of youth who have relevant skills. More

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


World Bank Group: Launch of The Ideas for Action Competition

ILO trainings on evaluation of youth employment and gender audits

The International Training Centre (ITC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is organizing trainings as part of an IFAD-financed project entitled “Strengthening Gender Monitoring and Evaluation in Rural Employment in the Near East and North Africa”. Applicants are invited to follow this link to register in the Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) for a facilitator certification in Arabic. Thecourse duration is from: 4 September to 6 October (online phase) and 9 October to 13 October (residential phase at ITC/ILO Turin, Italy). In addition, the course, “Developing a monitoring and evaluation framework for youth and women employment programmes” will take place from  4 to 8 September at ITC/ILO Turin. More

 


 

 

 

 

 

World Bank Group: Launch of The Ideas for Action Competition

Call for Applications for Young Peacebuilders in North Africa and Middle East

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is pleased to launch the Call for Applications for Young Peacebuilders in the Middle East and North Africa. The programme is open to participants from the Middle East and North Africa, who are between 18 to 25 years old, and with a strong interest in growing their ability to act as agents of peace. The aim is to support the growth of networks of young peacebuilders equipped with the tools to address stereotypes, prejudice and polarization in order to build more inclusive and peaceful societies within their communities and globally. Deadline to apply: August 31. More

   

Publications

World Bank Group: Launch of The Ideas for Action Competition

UNDP: Youth Participation in Electoral Processes - Handbook for Electoral Management Bodies

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the EC-UNDP joint task force on electoral assistance (JTF), published a handbook for electoral management bodies to ensure that all segments of the society, including youth are empowered to fully participate in the electoral process as voters, candidates or officials. Specifically designed for electoral management bodies (EMBs), the handbook provides strategies and entry points to assist EMBs in removing barriers to youth electoral participation at different levels and in different areas. The publication also explores how EMBs could capitalize on innovative solutions to make electoral processes more inclusive and peaceful and links these objectives to the outcomes and indicators of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 16 on peace, justice and strong institutions. More



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Reference herein to any organization, view, or event is intended for explicit description only and does not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by the United Nations, or anyone else.

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