call for participants

UNITED NATIONS INTER-AGENCY NETWORK ON YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

OPEN MEETING WITH YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS, NETWORKS AND MOVEMENTS

18-20^th September 2013 United Nations Headquarters

Report on the United Nations Inter-agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) Open Meeting with Youth-led Organizations, Networks and Movements

BACKGROUND. The United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD) is a network consisting of 40 UN entities, represented primarily at the headquarters level, whose work is relevant to youth. The aim of the Network is to increase the effectiveness of UN work in youth development by strengthening collaboration and exchange among all relevant UN entities, while respecting and harnessing the benefits of their individual strengths and unique approaches and mandates.

WORK OF THE IANYD: In response to requests from Member States for increased collaboration in the field of youth over the past number of years, as well as to better ensure young people’s participation in the work of the UN, the Inter-agency Network has been working to ensure that young people are actively involved in its work, for example, through the inclusion of young people and civil society organizations in the work of the thematic sub groups of the Inter-agency. In addition,  and as part of the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda, the Inter-agency has been working to better ensure coordination and collaboration of all UN entities working on youth issues, through the development of a UN System-wide Action Plan on Youth (Youth SWAP), which aims to strengthen programming and policies on adolescents and youth in regions and countries on five thematic areas: employment, entrepreneurship, political inclusion, civic engagement and protection of rights, education - including comprehensive sexual education, and health.

The Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development has been working in consultation with young people throughout the development of the Youth-SWAP. In order to further strengthen and continue these partnerships, it will host an open meeting with youth networks, organizations and movements.

OBJECTIVES. The meeting will be an opportunity to share progress made so far on the Youth-SWAP, to identify ways in which young people can participate in implementing it, holding the UN accountable and jointly calling for increased investments in young people. You can participate online or in-person in the meeting taking place at UN Headquarters on 18-20 September 2013.

ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible, you must be:

• Aged between 15-29 years
• Affiliated with and endorsed by a youth-led or youth-focused organisation, network or movement
• Able to prepare for the meeting by reading relevant background materials
• Able to clearly demonstrate a multiplier effect of participating in the meeting
• Willing and able to continue engagement and participation after the meeting

FUNDING. Participants are encouraged to cover their own costs for participation. Limited funding is available to ensure that youth from under-represented and marginalised groups can meaningfully participate in the meeting.

DEADLINE. Applications that require funding must be sent by August 20^th the latest. All other applications should be sent by September 15^th.