‘The Network’ and Progress so far
Hello everyone! As our project progresses there is a real sense of momentum around this work, especially now that our colleagues in Uganda and Nepal are on board and have commenced work piloting the guide. Thus I thought it an opportune time to write a couple of posts sharing some information and reflections on the process that has brought us to this point.
The DfID/Civil Society Organisation Youth Advocacy Network (or just ‘The Network for short!) is a collaboration between numerous NGOs working in International Development and Youth Participation and the Equity and Rights team of the UK Department for International Development. Partners including the British Youth Council, the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council, Student Partnerships Worldwide, Y-Care (the Development arm of the YMCA) V (A UK organisation developing young volunteers) and many more too numerous to mention here have been active in meetings, working groups and now projects focussed on driving the youth participation agenda into the collective DfID conscious; making sure that young people in the UK and the developing world get more of a proportionate say in the processes and decisions that affect them.
Over the past year or so I have participated as a delegate and a facilitator in numerous meetings of the network and witnessed a part of a number of positive changes. As a result of the ongoing dialogue the network has sustained DfID has
* Funded the production of our ‘Youth Guidance Project’ for National governments and international donor agencies showcasing best practice in youth participation projects across three areas: Governance, Voice and Accountability, HIV/AIDs and Sexual Reproductive Health and Post Conflict Transitions, currently being piloted in Uganda and Nepal.
* Commissioned two pieces of research on Youth Employment and Youth in Conflict and Post Conflict Situations to inform DfID practice.
* Recruited and trained ‘Young Reporters’ to document various key events, including the inaugural DfID conference and the G20, interviewing luminaries such as Bob Geldof (Former Pop star, media mogul and development campaigner, Krishnan Guru Murphy (National Television journalist and presenter) and David Milliband ( British Foreign Secretary) along the way.
* Organised a youth specific 1 day consultation, inviting representatives from various youth boards and organisations, including Oxfam GB, Plan UK, Peacechild International, Engineers without Borders, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the DfiD Platform 2 Youth Volunteering scheme. Participants discussed the themes of the new DfID White Paper laying out new directions in Development policy and the G20 event that took place in London this month and presented their own views and recommendations to DfID staff and ministers. (Look out for a more detailed post on this to follow!)
I feel privileged to have been a part of this work so far and look forward to seeing the developments that lie ahead as the network continuines to push youth issues higher on the agenda of key decision makers in DfID.
Please stay in touch with our particular project wherever you may be in the world via this blog and share your feedback, ideas and suggestions on youth participation with us!
Looking forward to hearing from you
Derek
