WHAT'S NEW: Youth Advisory Groups - New Allies in the World Bank's Work Working Paper Series No. 6
By Akiko Ishii
April 2008
Download [PDF - 3.25MB] If the World Bank wants to be true to its commitment of scaling up investment in children and youth, it must not only work for them but also work with them. More and more, World Bank clients and donors are recognizing the potential of young people as development actors. Given a chance, young people can contribute significantly to the Bank’s mission of alleviating poverty through economic, social, and political development. Youth Advisory Groups are a promising, new Bank initiative that links youth and decision makers in effecting changes in their communities that benefit all. This report captures the experiences and lessons learned from this initiative and outlines the variety of approaches and activities possible within the Youth Advisory Group framework. The report also highlights the benefits to the World Bank of including youth in Bank projects and analytic work while the youth, in turn, gain competencies and leadership skills that can change their lives and make them agents of change in their communities. Learn More about the Series FEATURE: Children and Youth Policy Toolkit - Now Available in Arabic "SupportingYouth at Risk - A Policy Toolkit for Middle-Income Countries"
Find more about the Toolkit This Policy Toolkit is produced in response to a growing demand from government clients and partners for advice on how to create and implement effective policies for at-risk youth. The Toolkit highlights 22 policies (six core policies, nine promising policies, and seven general policies) that have been effective in addressing the following 5 key risk areas for young people around the world; Youth unemployment, underemployment, and lack of formal sector employment; Early school leaving; Risky sexual behavior leading to early childbearing and HIV/AIDS; Crime and violence; and Substance abuse. Investing in Children and YouthNearly half the people of the world today are under 25 years old. Nine out of ten of these young people live in developing countries. A billion of them will need jobs in the next decade. More importantly, the majority of the developing world's poor are children and youth. Although significant progress has been made in reducing income poverty worldwide the fact remains that most of the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) outcomes directly targeting the young are not likely to be met unless greater attention is paid to the next generation. The World Bank is the world's largest lender for education and health: the two sectors most directly related to children and youth outcomes. Moreover, it has contributed significantly to addressing the issues of poverty, HIV/AIDS, nutrition, social protection and social development, all sectors affecting the lives of young people. How, then, can we build on this experience to respond to the clear message of the MDG Global Monitoring Report that we need to scale up action significantly and swiftly? It is the purpose of this website to: Outline the World Bank's response to this challenges by providing the Children and Youth Unit's Conceptual Framework which helps to systematically identify key vulnerabilities and strategic opportunities for scaling up investment in children and youth. Provide useful resources such as statistics, best practices, projects and publications reflecting the World Bank's experience with children and youth policy. Offer comprehensive up-to-date information about the World Bank's activities with regards to children and youth. Provide linkages to other development institutions engaged in working with children and youth.
The Children and Youth website is complemented by the World Bank's youth portal Youthink! which caters to a young audience directly. Back to Top | 
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