Putting Youth at the Heart of International Development

www.YouthInDevelopment.org.uk

What is Youth Working Group?

The DFID / CSO Youth Working Group is a group of 11 organisations and a wider network of 30+ organisations concerned with youth involvement in international development. It was established in 2007, in partnership with DfID, to help put young people at the heart of the development, recognising their huge potential as partners and leaders in the process, as well as their specific needs as beneficiaries.

What does the Youth Working Group do?

The Youth Working Group has one, clear aim: To work alongside DfID and other development policy makers to champion and support the development and implementation of effective and youth-focused policies that meet the needs and rights of young people in the Global South. Our objectives reflect the three key areas of our aim: participation, policy and the network. Objective 1 (Participation): To facilitate and advocate for the meaningful participation of young people from the Global South in decisions and processes that affect them. Objective 2 (Policy): To be proactive as a network to highlight gaps and suggest evidence based improvements to new or existing DFID policies and programmes that empower and support young people. Objective 3 (Network): To be a learning network, connected to young people and youth organisations around the world, that is positioned to advise and challenge on issues that relate to youth in development.

Who is part of the Youth Working Group?

The Youth Working group is made up of 10 UK based organisations, 4 youth representatives that are selected annually and a number of co-opted individuals. In addition to this, there is wider network of around 30+ organisations. Each year a member of the Youth Working Group takes on the role as the Secretariat organisation. This is currently Restless Development. The Youth Working Group currently includes: British Youth Council, Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council, International Planned Parenthood Foundation, Peace Child International, Plan UK, Restless Development, VSO, War Child, World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts and Y Care International.

DFID | CSO Youth Working Group www.youthindevelopment.org.uk

What have we achieved?

The Youth Working Group, DfID and other agencies have been working together on a number of events, issues, development policy and youth participation. Heres a snapshot of the work weve been part of: Youth Participation Guide: with DfID funding we developed and published Youth Participation in Development to detail the added value that youth participation brings to the work of donor agencies. Launched at DfID in April 2010, the guide has been commended by the Secretary of State, Andrew Mitchell. The guide, support and tools can be accessed online www.ygproject.org. Landmark Debate on Youth and International Development: we produced briefing papers for the first ever debate in the House of Lords on young people and international development, held to mark the UN International Year of Youth (April 2011). Young People Meet with Ministers Ahead of MDG Summit: we coordinated an event hosted at the Girl Hub where young people in the UK met with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Secretary of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell to give their views ahead of the Global Millennium Development Goals Summit (September 2010). Youth Consultation for DfID White Paper: we facilitated Youth Consultation on the 2009 Development White Paper, recruiting youth participants and providing trained youth facilitators (March 2009)

How can you get involved?

Depending on who you are, there are a number of ways to get involved: Keep in touch online - Check out our website at www.youthindevelopment.org.uk for all our latest news and updates or follow us on Facebook by searching for Young People in Development (UK) and on twitter at @YWGUK. Join Organisations and agencies who are interested in youth and development issues can join the wider network mailing. Get in touch using the details below. Young people can find out about events, campaigns and projects to get involved in from our Facebook page. Yearly opportunities to become Youth Representatives on the Youth Working Group are also advertised here. For more information please contact info@youthindevelopment.org.uk or contact us through our website at www.youthindevelopment.org.uk.

DFID | CSO Youth Working Group www.youthindevelopment.org.uk