Youth Participation Guidance Workshop Summit Hotel, Kathmandu 17 April 2009 DFID-CSO Working Group
description
Transcript of Youth Participation Guidance Workshop Summit Hotel, Kathmandu 17 April 2009 DFID-CSO Working Group
Youth Participation Guidance Workshop
Summit Hotel, Kathmandu17 April 2009
DFID-CSO Working Group
Aims of the workshop
• To inform key partners regarding the aims of the Youth Guidance Project.
• Increased awareness on youth participation issues and commitment built towards taking action in this area.
• Collaborative discussion on scoping the potential strategic opportunities for youth participation.
Youth Guidance Project
SPW volunteers in Sierra Leone training youth on women’s
rights
First-ever mock Youth Parliament held in Nepal after
16 years of civil conflict, organized by SPW
Definitions: Youth Participation?
• For this project focusing on one aspect of youth: UN legal definition young people aged 15-24
• What is youth participation? What words come to your mind? Brainstorm with partner…
Youth Guidance Project
Definitions: Youth Participation?
Participation is an ongoing process of … active involvement in decision making (at different levels) in matters that concern them. It requires information sharing and dialogue between children and adults, which is based on mutual respect and power sharing. Genuine participation gives children [youth] the power to shape both the process and outcome. Participation is proactive.’ (Source: Save the Children’s UK Regional office in South and Central Asia, 2001)
Youth Guidance Project
Why this project?
• Identified as a need by:– DFID as a component of their increasing work
and attention on young people – By other NGOs as part of the DFID-CSO
Youth Working Group– Direct partnership between donors & CSOs to
prove youth participation works!
Youth Guidance Project
What we’re aiming to achieve:
• Creation of youth participation guidance materials for bi-lateral and multi-lateral donor agencies
• Uniquely tested and developed in partnership with those agencies during two pilot phases (in Uganda and Nepal)
Youth Guidance Project
Structure
Bilaterals and multi-lateral support at HQ level (input of resources and case studies) from:
UNICEF, World Bank, UNFPA, GTZ, NZ Aid
The Project is led by Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW) on behalf of the DFID-CSO Working Group on Youth.
Key members of the UK Project Committee (7) from this Group are: Plan International, UNICEF, SPW, British Youth Council (BYC), the Commonwealth Youth
Exchange Council (CYEC), Peace Child international (PCI) & International Alert.
DFID Equity & Rights Team in London
UK Project team: Project Manager & 3 P/t Youth
Participation Officers
Co-ordinated by SPW Uganda:
SPW Director & Ugandan Youth
Participation Officer
Co-ordinated by SPW Nepal:
SPW Director, & Nepal Youth Participation
Officer
Supported Project Committee (support
team to set up)
Supported Project Committee (support
team to set up)
SMART piloting of resources that add value to
selected in country partners
work
SMART piloting of resources that add value to
selected in country partners
work
The Guide….
• Part 1 - Rationale for working with and for youth
• Part 2 – Generic resources and case studies on youth policy and programming, including specific tools for:- Sexual and Reproductive Health, HIV and AIDS- Governance, Voice and Accountability- Post - Conflict Transitions and Youth Civic Participation (link to employment)
• Part 3 - Process of producing the Guide itself: a project in youth participation.
Youth Guidance Project
An example case study….
How to involve young people as researchers• The WRC sought to improve services and protection to adolescents affected
by armed conflict: Kosovo; Sierra Leone; and northern Uganda.• Experiences of adolescents affected by war and persecution, and the
international and local responses. They were designed and led by young people, which included individual interviews & focus group discussions.
How did Donor Agencies benefit? • The United Nations Security Council incorporated recommendations of
adolescents in Sierra Leone on HIV/AIDS & sexual exploitation of children by aid workers into Resolution 1460 (on Children and Armed Conflict).
• Danida responded to the recommendations by working with young people and community leaders in northern Uganda to design and implement a new Education Initiative (secondary schooling).
• Young people gained access to high-level policy discussions at the Winnipeg Conference on War-affected Children in September 2000, the United Nations Special Session on Children in May 2002
WRC, 2005, “Youth Speak Out”
Youth Guidance Project
The Pilot…
Proving it works: Testing youth participation through a number of discrete, time-bound initiatives identified as a group of partners
• 10 months in Uganda and Nepal
• Coordinated by SPW Nepal in partnership with donor agencies and other CSO’s
• Adding value to and providing an additional resource and support to donor agencies
Youth Guidance Project
SPW Uganda Former Volunteer Richard Wanzala addressing MPs in the UK Houses of
Parliament on the need to engage young people in development.
Mr Uday Raj Pandey
Coordinator
National Youth Policy Drafting Task Force
Youth Guidance Project
Draft National Youth Policy
ObjectiveMake youth accountable and responsible towards nation, Nationality and Federal Republic Structure
Ensuring the fundamental rights of youth engage them in productive sector for the economic, social and political development of the Nation by their meaningful participation at all levels.
Instate dignity of labor, develop intellectual and physical capabilities among youth whereby the youth can remain safe from ill practices hence develop capable youth.
Major AreasEducation: Formal and Informal Youth Empowerment and Leadership Development Employment: Domestic and ForeignParticipation: Social and Cultural Youth Mobilization Health and Family Well being: HIV/AIDS, Malnutrition, healthy lifestyle, mental health, Culture, Sports and Entertainment Drug abuseHuman TraffickingEnvironment and Sustainable Development Science and TechnologySustainable Peace Building and Conflict transformation
Implementation Mechanism
STRUCTURE OF NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCILPresident (Youth Minister)
Executive Vice President
Director
Deputy Director
(At Central Level)Counseling Information Skill development and Employment
(At District Level)
Office Secretary Counseling Information Skill development and Employment
Thank You!
Mr Uday Raj PandeyCoordinator
National Youth Policy Drafting Task Force
Themes from meetings…
• Consensus amongst partners on engaging young people as a priority at government, CSO & donor level
• Consensus there is a need for co-ordination to avoid duplication & sharing of lessons learnt
• Possible areas to engage youth as partners (not just as beneficiaries)…
Youth Guidance Project
Potential menu of activities
Policy• The new National Development Plan• National Youth Policy• National Plan of Action for Youth Employment
Youth Guidance Project
Potential menu of activities
Research• Mapping of donor youth interventions & policies in Nepal (& CSOs?)• Youth led Research:
• Are youth interventions actually benefitting target groups? • Gender based violence• Linkages between child and youth clubs: What next for child
club members?• What are the best structural mechanisms for youth governance
(national youth councils, local and district committee representation)?
• Life skills packages for adolescent girls in the employment fund: what’s needed?
• Youth & security• Transparency & accountability• Other thematic areas?
Youth Guidance Project
Potential menu of activities
Coordination & donor organisational development
• Guiding framework for donors (principles/ ‘do no harm’)• Co-ordinating mechanism/body (involving donors and
CSOs?) • Youth on donor project advisory committees/ proposal
review panels• Creating a Bank of donor youth fellowships• Greater direct contact with senior staff and youth• Youth adult partnerships/mentoring
Youth Guidance Project
Potential menu of activities
Programmatic processes
• Development of donor proposal guidelines (for youth interventions)• Involving youth in donor/national youth audits/assessments (what
are young people’s needs?)• Youth led Monitoring & Evaluation (e.g. UNFPA & youth score card
or age disaggregation in wider M&E interventions)• Celebrating the success of youth (recognition & reinforcement: local,
district & national levels)• Youth adult partnerships/mentoring (e.g INGOs mentoring youth
NGOs)• Youth Access to Information: consultations; dissemination; policy
into practice
Youth Guidance Project
Questions for discussion
1. In addition to the potential areas identified are there other existing and future areas of donor work where youth participation could add value?
2. Identify any potential activities that your organisation may be willing to pilot?
Youth Guidance ProjectYouth Guidance Project
Next Steps
• Write up of workshop and discussions
• Prioritising areas to take forward
• Feedback to wider donor agency network
• Development of work plan
• Next group meeting
Youth Guidance Project
…http://blog.ygproject.org/