Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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Indonesia youth employment at the centre of its
national development policies.
The IYEN Network Coordinating Team,
with technical support from the ILOs youth Building on these developments the
employment project in Indonesia is piloting National Agency for the Employment of
an "advocacy and awareness raising" Youth (APEJ) in partnership with the
programme in East Java province. Ministry of Human Resources and the
Workshops will be convened in East Java to international recruitment organisation,
get feedback from district level Africsearch, and supported by the ILO, are
representatives on the Indonesia Youth holding Mali’s first recruitment fair, Mali
Employment Action Plan (I-YEAP) to feed Talents, in Bamako, 10 -11 Mai 2005, at the
into a provincial level youth employment Palais des Congrès.
strategy, to be implemented at the district
level. The event will enable young graduates and
executives from leading Malian companies
The IYEN is conscious that special to meet and discuss professional
measures are needed to ensure that young development and career opportunities.
people, and in particular, young women are
provided with sufficient opportunity to Rwanda
participate and contribute to these policy
developments. The ILO is therefore The Government of Rwanda and UNDP
conducting a ‘mapping exercise’ to better launched the final report of the UN
understand the range of Indonesian youth Millennium Project on 18 January 2005 in
NGO, and their focus and capacities in Kigali. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda
relation to employment issues. Following specifically mentioned youth employment in
the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami his speech as well as Rwanda’s status as a
this work has initially focused on Aceh Lead Country of the YEN and raised
province, as a region with the most awareness of the National Action Plan
immediate need. This exercise will provide process.
the springboard for a larger, national
mapping exercise. Supported by seed money from UNDP the
Ministry of Labour has produced a draft
Iran National Action Plan on youth employment
and this document was reviewed by a range
Following a joint YEN / ILO mission to Iran of stakeholders including youth who met
in December 2004 a process has been between 22-23 March 2005.
initiated for the development of Iran’s
National Action Plan on youth employment The World Bank country office along with
with close co-ordination between the Iran the Irish Development NGO Trocaire are
National Youth Organisation (NYOIR), the also supporting the NAP process.
Ministry of Labour and with the support of
the ILO, the World Bank and the UNDP News from around the globe
country office. Steps are also being taken to
implement a School-to-Work Transition Congo
Survey (see page 5). Support has been
offered to follow up on existing ILO Thanks to the hard work of the President of
activities in Iran, especially the Iran YWCA-Congo, Mme Alice MIRIMO
Employment Strategy. KABETSI the issue of youth employment is
rising on the agenda of the Congolese
Mali Government.
The President Amadou Toumani Toure has Alice has been pursuing an active campaign
made youth employment the issue of his of advocacy on behalf of the YEN and the
Presidency. For last few years, the YWCA, a member organisation of the YENs
Government of Mali has therefore placed
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Youth Consultative Group. Her activities Research proposals
have included:
The ILO, in support of the YEN, is
• An interview on youth employment and developing a proposal for a research project
the YEN with http://www.radiookapi.net, on Youth Employment and Collective
the radio station of MONUC, the United Security that will tackle the relationship
Nations Mission in Congo. between the two issues. This proposal will
• Articles on YWCA-Congo’s efforts to be discussed during the next High-Level
push for the development of a National Panel meeting in China (see page 1)
Action Plan on youth employment in the
weekly newspaper La Richesse Société Reports
and Enfant & Société, the quarterly
magazine of the Centre Congolais de The YEN Secretariat has also contributed to
L’Enfant et de las Famille (CCEF) a report of the UN Office for West Africa on
ways to address youth unemployment in
YWCA-Congo’s representatives have met West Africa. A UN Security Council
Government officials to discuss the Mission to West Africa in 2004 had asked
possibility of developing a NAP and are UNOWA to "undertake a major
being activity supported by the ILO office in collaborative effort with UN peace missions
Kinshasa. and the rest of the UN system in the sub-
region, as well as other partners, to devise a
practical and concerted regional approach to
News from the the pressing problem of youth
YEN Secretariat unemployment."
An addition to the YEN Secretariat The YEN Secretariat and the ILO have been
actively involved in drafting the module on
February saw the strengthening of the YEN Youth and DDR for an Inter-agency project
Secretariat with the arrival of Sara Spånt, to develop international standards on
Associate Expert on Youth Employment. Disarmament Demobilisation and
She joins the YEN following two years Reintegration (DDR) which will be adopted
working on employment promotion and by all UN agencies and endorsed by the
serving as the ILO Youth Employment United Nations Development Group.
Focal Point in the ILO Sub regional Office
for East Asia in Bangkok. Sara is being Partnerships
funded under the Swedish Junior
Professional Officers Programme. UNHCR and the YEN have agreed to work
Welcome Sara! together to produce a joint paper on youth
unemployment in West Africa to identify
Exploring linkages between conflict and potential linkages between the two
youth employment institutions.
During the YEN High-Level Panel meeting These new links focus on improving
in Washington, DC in September 2004 the employment prospects for refugee youth in
Panel urged the World Bank and the ILO to West Africa as one element in breaking the
develop a comprehensive framework on the cycle of unemployment, poverty and conflict
link between youth employment, in the region.
development and collective security as a
basis for the promotion of the YEN strategy. YEN poster campaign set to launch
The YEN Secretariat along with its partners The YEN has developed a set of awareness
at the Bank and the ILO are responding in a raising posters and postcards which will be
number of ways: launched during High Level Panel meeting
in Beijing (see page 1)
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The campaign will have two linked News from Partners
objectives, first to raise awareness of the
importance of youth employment at the
national level and to provide advocacy tools
and resources for youth groups and other
partners to successfully lobby governments GTZ supporting youth participation in
to develop effective policy responses to the Uganda’s PRSP
challenge of youth employment, including
the creation of National Action Plans. YEN partner GTZ is supporting Ugandan
youth organizations to contribute to the
Secondly the campaign will seek to generate Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)
consensus at international meetings in the process in their country.
run up to the Five-Year Review of the
Millennium Declaration of youth This project is part of a series activities
employment being an integral part of the developed by GTZ supporting the
Declaration and a key contribution to participation and empowerment to youth in
achieving all the Millennium Development national development strategies. These
Goals, specifically those related to poverty activities, which include the capacity
reduction. Please contact the YEN building of youth organisations to
Secretariat if you are be interested in using participate in decision-making processes,
some of these materials. were developed in-line with the final
outcomes of the the XV Malente
Visitors to the Secretariat Symposiumand International Youth
Dialogue in October 2004 in Lübeck which
In recent months the YEN has meet with both were held under the banner of Youth
Government delegations from Iran, Kenya Employment, Empowerment and
and Ghana, with the South African Participation; Securing the Future
Employers organizations and with
representatives of the South African In a country-wide evaluation the Ugandan
Umsobomvu Youth Fund. youth organization “Foundation for
Democracy and Conflict Resolution” will
Conversations have focused on the examine the participation of young people in
submission of National Action Plans on the formulation and revision of the PRSP in
youth employment or progress reports Uganda. The outcomes of this review will be
toward the development of such plans by specific recommendations on how to
these counties. strengthen the role and input of youth in the
PRSP process.
The YEN participated in Video Conference
in March 2005 with the US Department of A representative of the “Foundation” will
Labour (US-DOL) to discuss youth present the results of this initiative at the
participation strategies and the linkages World Bank’s Civil Society Global Policy
between the issues of child labour and youth Forum which takes place 20-22 April 2005.
employment. US-DOL are compiling a
listing of youth participation resources so to International Youth
better inform their work in this field. They Federation launches African
would welcome any additions to this list that youth employment initiative.
member of YEN may know of. Please send
your submission to USDOL via the YEN In February 2004, an alliance of global
Secretariat. organizations was launched to help young
people in Africa develop skills and
YEN Secretary, Steven Miller met with strengthen attitudes and behaviours to find
representatives from USAID in Washington and keep jobs.
DC in February to discuss synergies and
possible areas of joint collaboration.
IYF officially launched the “Alliance for
African Youth Employability” with the US
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Agency for International Development http://www.youthactionnet.org/yan_awards.
(USAID), Nokia, and Lions Clubs
International Foundation. Both USAID and ImagineNations – supporting the
Nokia have collectively committed over aspirations of young people
US$1.8 million to the initiative. Lions Clubs
International will utilize its networks in ImagineNations, a new initiative of YEN
Malawi and Rwanda to provide training, High-Level Panel, co-chair Rick Little, is a
mentoring, and placements for the program global alliance of social entrepreneurs,
participants, and to raise additional funds. thought leaders, investors, financial
institutions, global brands, media and
Over five years, the Alliance will promote organizations -- all working together with
employability and employment for more and for young people to inspire positive
than 35,000 disadvantaged young people change in society. ImagineNations seeks to
aged 14 to 29 living in rapidly urbanizing inform and influence policy and program
areas of South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique development, particularly those related to
and Rwanda. Young people will receive not achieving the Millennium Development
only job training, but also career Goals.
counselling, direct placement in internships
and jobs, and the skills to create their own By partnering with investors, leading
businesses. financial institutions and micro-finance
organizations, ImagineNations is working to
YEN supports Youth Action Net in identify opportunities for young people
profiling youth employability in Africa within existing equity funds and loan
portfolios that invest in entrepreneurship and
A dynamic website created by and for young small-scale enterprise—building on “what
people, YouthActionNet spotlights the vital works” in investing and then taking it to
role that youth play in leading positive scale. In some cases, new funds or structures
change around the world. Launched in 2001 may be required, but, wherever possible, the
by the International Youth Foundation (IYF) focus will be on existing infrastructure.
and Nokia, YouthActionNet serves as a
virtual gathering place for young people Through partnerships with commercial
looking to connect with each other -- and banks, private equity funds and investors,
with ideas for how to make a difference in corporations, philanthropists, international
their communities. organizations and local NGOs,
ImagineNations is developing a network of
In March and April 2005, with support from widely available access points for young
the YEN and other partners including LEAP adults to capital and business coaching for
Africa, and Youth Development Network of their entrepreneurial ideas. Focusing initially
South Africa this site celebrated African on Indonesia, the Middle East and Zambia,
Youth Employability Month where these investment opportunities, offered
recognition was given to young people in through ImagineNations’ partners, will
Africa who are helping themselves and other encourage savings and provide access to soft
young men and women to build and enhance loans, loan-guarantees and fully market-
their own employability. Activities based loans and investments.
promoted by the site included an Essay
Contest, a Youth Employability Toolkit, ImagineNations’ partners will provide
articles, featured profiles and projects, a young entrepreneurs with the financial
survey and a quiz. resources, training, coaching, mentoring and
business development services they need to
YouthActionNet is also inviting nominations start and expand micro-enterprises and small
for its twice-annual awards scheme that aims businesses.
to recognize the achievements of 20
outstanding young leaders around the world.
Eligibly criteria and application information
can be found at:
9
youth. The campaign aims to use
communications information both to
increase visibility and the empowerment of
youth.
ICFTU issue global call to action against
poverty 2005 IOE member organization
supports career
ICFTU has declared 2005 a year of action in development for South
pushing governments to make progress in African youth
the fight against poverty. At the ICFTU
Congress in December 2004, the ICFTU IOE member organization, Business Unity
announced the Global Call to Action for South Africa (BUSA) is supporting an
Against Poverty, backed by a wide-ranging innovative employability scheme for the
coalition of groups, which are determined to country’s youth. Brightest Young Minds
get governments to take decisive action to (BYM) is a voluntary association of students
reduce global poverty in 2005. The Global with a vision "to create a platform that
Call to Action Against Poverty was showcases the potential of students and fast
launched formally at the World Social tracks their development for the benefit of
Forum in Porto Alegre in January 2005. Fact South Africa". The association exposes
sheets (including one on the linkage between students to business leaders and top
“Decent Work” and poverty reduction) and companies in an environment that fosters
campaign material can be found on ICFTU’s innovation and facilitates initiative.
site.
Corporate sponsors of BYM include
ICFTU-APRO Survey on Youth Sanlam, BHP Billiton and Microsoft. BYM
Employment in Asia and the Pacific hosts an annual conference to publicise the
initiative and introduce the students to their
ICFTU-APRO carried out a survey among corporate partners. Numerous follow-up
its affiliates in 2004 to collect more detailed contact sessions are held between small
information on youth employment and groups of delegates and representatives from
examine the youth employment situation in organisations that support BYM. Two thirds
the region. of the students involved in BYM are black
South Africans.
The survey examined youth unemployment
trends, and national as well as trade union AFRICATIP meeting focuses
policies and actions on youth employment. on strengthening its work on
youth employment
The survey outcomes, resulted in ICFTU-
APRO placing youth employment at the
core of its future actions, policies and AFRICATIP (Association Régionale des
strategies. Agences d'Exécution des Travaux d'Intérêt
Public) is regional network of 15 national
Youth employment initiative proposed by agencies that manage labour intensive public
the Euro-Med Youth Trade Union works programmes (AGETIP). These
Network (EMYTUN) AGETIP’s, the first which was developed in
Senegal, are geared toward working with
EMYTUN is launching a campaign to create urban authorities in labour-intensive urban
awareness on the need to create job development. A meeting of AFRICATIP in
opportunities and more employment for Bamako, Mali, 22-23 February, 2005,
youth living in Euro-Med region including convened 60 participants from 15 African
Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. countries and experts from the ILO and the
YEN Network, thereby bringing together
The EMYTUN therefore believes international, regional and national actors.
Governments need to take immediate action They explored strategies to better promote
in order to create more employment for youth employment in the various AGETIP
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programmes and evaluated components such YES and YEN partner
as training and more specific beneficiary in support of the
targeting to infuse their job creation with a submission of National
more integrated, long term and durable Action Plans on youth
perspective. In many countries, these employment
targeted programmes are instrumental in
promoting labour market attachment of YEN and YES are collaborating in order to
young people, and at the same time, strengthen the substantive participation of
improving infrastructure. The meeting came young people in the development and
up with a series of recommendations for implementation of National Action Plans in
national Agencies to follow. High-Level YEN lead countries and beyond through the
Panel member and former Director-General in-country co-operation of their affiliates
for the Senegalese AGETIP, Mr Magatte and partners.
Wade, made a joint presentation at the http://www.yesweb.org/docs/YES-YEN.pdf
meeting with YEN Secretary Steven Miller.
Following a successful YES Summit in Vera
Rotary International Cruz, Mexico in October 2004, which the
champions youth employment YEN participated in, the Government of
Kenya has agreed to host YES 2006 in
Nairobi in October of 2006 with the support
Following a decision in 2004 by the Board of UN Habitat.
of Rotary International to encourage clubs to
offer professional support to youth who start
their own businesses and to support the
YEN, Rotary has increased its work on
youth employment: UN-HABITAT engagement with
youth
- Rotary pilot projects are underway, in
partnership with the ILO, to assist local At UN-HABITATs Governing Council (4-8
Rotary Clubs in Mauritius, Mexico, and April 2005) the draft report "UN-HABITAT
Guatemala to design and implement and Youth: Strategy for Enhanced
schemes to provide computer skills training Engagement" was discussed.
and on-the-job work attachments to young
people with disabilities. Twelve young people participated in the
- Rotary is exploring the potential role for discussions and will help to form a
Rotarians across the world to become committee that will advise the Agency on
mentors, trustees and funders for local youth the formation of its interim youth
entrepreneurship schemes, based on a model consultative mechanism. This youth group
developed between the ILO and Youth also met for a youth forum on 3-4 April to
Business International (YBI) in the generate inputs into the Governing Council
Philippines - the Philippine Youth Business Agenda.
Foundation.
- Rotary chapters are lending the YEN a hand News from Youth
in urging governments to submit progress
reports on the development of National IUSY Statement of Support for
Action Plans on Youth Employment. (see More and Better Jobs for Young
page 1) People
- A young entrepreneur supported into
business by the Rotary Club of Ferney- At its presidium meeting in Porto Alegre,
Voltaire (France) made a star appearance in Brazil 22 – 25 January 2005 the
a curtain raiser video on youth employment International Union of Socialist Youth
during the opening of the 7th ILO European (IUSY), agreed a statement on youth
Regional Meeting, Budapest, 14-18 employment. In this statement IUSY, a
February 2005. member organization of the YENs Youth
Consultative Group, urged governments to
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establish binding strategies to fight youth ICYO functions as an umbrella organization
unemployment and informal work, of youth NGOs in India. Its family consists
underlining that governments have, of over 354 organizations spread in 122
regardless of levels of economic districts of 22 states in India.
development, a responsibility to guarantee icyo@icyo-india.org
each young person access to decent work.
IUSY also welcomed the planned discussion Scouts partner with ILO
item on youth employment during the June on the issue of child
International Labor Conference. labour.
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activities, to benefit other young people and Acehnese children to be trained in practical skills
the community, as well as themselves Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies
10/03/2005
Global Youth Service Day (April 15-17,
Career breakthrough Mentoring helps our young
2005) people
Liverpool Leader (UK) 23/03/2005
Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) is an
annual global event led by Youth Service Calendar
America with the Global Youth Action
Network. The goals of GYSD are: to build 2 to 4 May 2005: Youth Employment, Trends,
the capacity of organizations to promote Polices and New Approaches,
youth participation, service, and learning; to Badboll, Germany
educate the public, the media, and policy-
makers about the year-round contributions 21-22 May 2005: YEN High-Level Panel
of youth around the world; to mobilize Meeting, Beijing, China
youth and adults to meet the needs of their
communities through volunteering; and to 12 to 16 May 2005: Latin America and
share effective practices in youth services Caribbean Youth Leadership Summit, Office of
and civic engagement. Sport for Development and Peace, Belo
Horizonte, Brazil
Media / Press activities
12 to 16 May 2005: Pacific Youth MDG
Summit - UNDP Samoa
ILO Director-General Juan Somavia was
interviewed by NHK World Radio (Japan) 31 May – 16 June 2005: International Labour
on youth employment whilst attending the Conference (including discussion on Youth
symposium Globalization and the Future of Employment)
Youth in Asia (Tokyo, December 2004)
7 – 10 June 2005: Instituto Ethos, 2005
Interview with ILO Brazil Director Armand International Conference - Business and Social
Pereira by UNDP Brazil on the ILOs role Responsibility. São Paulo, Brazil
and activities in the country.
6-8 July 2005: G8 Summit, Gleneagles,
Scotland
Justin Sykes of the YEN Secretariat was
interviewed by the World Association of 30 July - 08 August 2005: 3rd World Youth
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) for Congress, Stirling, Scotland.
the March 2005 edition of their global
publication ‘Our World News’ which will be September 2005: ILO Subregional Office for
online shortly at: Southern Africa (Harare) Tripartite Meeting on
http://www.wagggsworld.org Youth Employment (TBC)
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