Kenya’s National Youth Summit set to kick off a new era in youth development

Kenya’s National Youth Summit 2013 set to kick off from January 31st to February 1st 2013 will bring together 2,000 young leaders from across the country’s 47 counties to inspire pride, patriotism and social cohesion among the young people.

According to the 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census, the youth aged below 35 years account for more than 70%. This is a significant cohort of the national population that can influence social, economic and political transformation. The youth are therefore critical in achieving the ambitous goals set out in the nation’s development roadmap known as Vision 2030.

With 2013 being a year for general elections, the National Youth Summit is informed by the need to rebrand and inspire young people to act as peace ambassadors who choose to take responsibility and make a difference in their communities.

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Global Health & Innovation Conference 2013, Call for Abstracts

Date: Saturday, April 13 – Sunday, April 14, 2013
Venue: Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Described as “A Meeting of Minds” by CNN, The Global Health & Innovation Conference is the world’s largest global health and social entrepreneurship conference. In its tenth year, the conference brings together 2,200 leaders, changemakers, students, and professionals from all fields of global health, international development, and social entrepreneurship.

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Youth Unemployment Outlook August 8th 2012

Inadequate job creation for school leavers remains a major challenge in Kenya

President Kibaki tells African leaders to invest in the youth as a way to become globally competitive in terms of human capital.

Ugandan billionaire launches mentorship portal

Ashish J. Thakkar, CEO of the Mara Group, says the Mara.com portal will nurture an ecosystem for youth while improving skills and emerging talent.

UK coalition government relaunches its flagship youth contract

Through government backed wage subsidies and other incentives, firms are encouraged to take on 18 to 24-year-olds and give them a leg up on the employment ladder.

 

 

 

Youth Unemployment Outlook – August 7th 2012

Do ILO regulations contribute to youth unemployment?

The African Development Bank has claimed that labour regulations were “excessively rigid” and contributed to youth unemployment.

South Africa’s DA presents plan to tackle youth unemployment.

This is the second in a series of five thematic plans to grow the nation’s economy and create jobs. Helen Zille’s party’s campaign to tackle youth unemployment includes a voucher scheme for potential entrepreneurs, a youth wage subsidy and a programme for apprentices.

Scotland’s youth jobless rate reaches 49 per cent

In March this year, Scottish Borders Council missed out on Scottish Government funding worth £9 million to tackle youth unemployment.

South Tyneside’s UcanB program tasked with tackle growing problems created by rising youth unemployment

The project is targeted at young adults who have left school with little or no qualifications.

In China prospects for educated workers gets worse

The Chinese media is rife with tales of overeducated young people taking jobs as cashiers, assembly-line workers, even “night soil collectors.”

 

 

 

2012 SNCR Excellence in New Communications Awards

The Society for New Communications Research (SNCR) Awards honor the work of corporations, governmental and nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, media outlets and individuals who are innovating the use of social media, ICT, mobile media, and collaborative technologies in the areas of business, media, and professional communications, including advertising, marketing, public relations, corporate communications, and CRM, as well as entertainment, education, politics, and social initiatives.

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VGIF Small Grants for Grassroots Projects

The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF) is providing small grants for grassroots projects that empower women and girls in developing countries. It supports women’s organizations based outside of the United States by providing small grants for an array of community needs up to $7,500 USD.

The areas of support are:

• Community development
• Health and nutritional support
• Literacy and leadership training
• Educational seminars and workshops
• Women’s human rights
• Organizations that are governed and directed by women.

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Internet Society Ambassadors to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF)

The Internet Society is inviting applications for the 2012 Internet Society Ambassadors to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

As part of the Internet Society’s Next Generation Leaders (NGL) programme, the Ambassadorships to the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) are available to Internet Society members between the ages of 20 and 40.

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) is a multi-stakeholder forum for policy dialogue on issues of Internet governance. It brings together government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders, including the technical and academic community, on an equal basis and through an open and inclusive process. The IGF facilitates a common understanding of how to maximize Internet opportunities and address risks and challenges that arise.

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Qatar Foundation WISE Education Leadership Program

October 7 – 10, 2012

Doha, Qatar

 

About the Program

The WISE Education Leadership Program was launched at the Qatar Foundation’s inaugural World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in 2009 to support current and emerging leaders in higher education around the world.

This four-day workshop aims to help prepare the next generation of global higher education leaders to manage the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

The goals of the WISE Education Leadership Program are to develop the leadership and administrative skill sets of new university presidents and serve as an enabling environment for change and development. The WISE Education Leadership Program will provide experience-based training through case studies, workshops, expert speakers and role-playing exercises.

Key topics that will be covered during the WISE Education Leadership Program include:

• Best Practices in Institutional Management
• Principles of Leadership and Variety of Academic Leadership Styles
• Institutional and Personal Agendas/Goals
• Coaching and Team Building
• Decision Making
• Working with Governing and Advisory Boards
• Managing Academic Personnel and Resources

 

Participation in the WISE Education Leadership Program is free of charge. The Qatar Foundation will also provide round-trip airfare to Doha, hotel accommodations, local transport, meals and conference materials.

The WISE Education Leadership Program is being organized by the International Association of University Presidents (IAUP), the Institute of International Education (IIE), the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) and Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF).

 

Eligibility

Presidents, vice-chancellors, and other heads of tertiary education institutions appointed to the current position after January 1, 2011 are eligible to apply to the third WISE Education Leadership Program that will take place in Doha from October 7 – 10, 2012.

All applications must be received by July 3^rd 2012.

Participants who are selected for the program will be notified by the end of August.

Get more information on how to apply

Find more fellowship opportunities

Terms of Reference for a Baseline Assessment on the Status of Young Women in Political Parties

Background

 

The Youth Agenda (YAA) is a premier youth organization that works towards a ‘just, equitable and progressive society in which young people fully enjoy social, economic and political rights and opportunities’. This vision is grounded in the belief that it is possible to realize a globally competitive and prosperous nation with a high quality of life in the near future, as envisaged by Kenya’s Vision 2030. One of our core mandates is to facilitate technical and legislative support to youth and those in leadership positions, in parliament, government and devolved units.

 

Through the support of UN Women – GGP III Programme, the Youth Agenda is implementing the Get Involved Initiative (scaling up young women participation in Kenya electoral processes) that aims to increase understanding of gender gains amongst young people particularly young women. The focus will be to ensure that young women gain the adequate skills and information to ‘get involved’ in the electoral process whether as aspirants or active citizens in governance issues. As such more young women will participate effectively in political parties and engage meaningfully within the new devolved structure.

 

The Get Involved Initiative: Outcome

 

YAA seeks to achieve one key outcome through the Get Involved Initiative: contribute towards protecting and promoting the right of women to participate in the electoral processes and governance in Kenya by end of 2012.

 

Objective and Scope of Baseline Assessment

 

The main objective of the consultancy is to determine the status of youth (that is young women) within key political parties in Kenya. The baseline assessment will collect quantitative data and will look to assess the following issues:

 

• the existence of political parties;
• the existence of youth leagues within these political parties and their mandate thereof;
• youth membership (especially young women) in political parties; and
• the roles young women play within the political parties.

 

The results will be used to develop a status report on youth representation and participation in political parties, with recommendations on frameworks and actions to be undertaken to provide an opportunity for young women to effectively participate in political parties.

 

Main Tasks of Consultancy

The consultant will work in conjunction with the Program Officer in charge of the Initiative and the Chief Executive Officer to finalise the design and inception plan for the study.

 

The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

 

1. Develop an inception report, detailing the methodology, survey instruments, work plan schedule and budget to carry out the assignment.
2. Develop a Sampling Design and Data Collection & Management tool that is standardized.
3. Co-ordinate collection of data, and its entry into a suitable platform for analysis
4. Analyse and interpret the findings
5. Develop and submit the baseline assessment report including the detailed methodology, specific findings, providing key recommendations for implementation

 

Expected Deliverables

 

The consultant(s) shall be required to submit:

 

1. Inception Report detailing the evaluation design, methodology, tools, work plan and budget;
2. Data collection tools;
3. Draft and final Baseline Assessment Reports; and
4. Copies of original and cleaned data sets including audio sets and transcribed material.

 

Time Frame

 

The estimated time period of execution is 30 working days from the date of award of the contract.

 

Baseline Team Composition And Qualifications

 

The baseline team will comprise of individuals/firms who should have the following skills and capabilities:

 

A. Lead Consultant

 

• Post-graduate qualifications in law, political science or any other social science field;
• Demonstrated Knowledge of the governance sector and political processes in Kenya;
• Experience in policy analysis;
• Experience in conducting baseline studies with multiple components;
• Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills; and
• Demonstrated high level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines.

 

B. Data Collectors/ Researchers

 

• A mixture of data collectors/ researchers with graduate qualifications in law, political science or any other social science field;
• Experience in conducting baselines with multiple components;
• Demonstrated Knowledge of the governance sector and political processes in Kenya; and
• Excellent data analysis and interpretation skills.

 

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

Interested and qualified candidates should submit a detailed proposal with the following components: understanding and interpretation of TOR, proposed methodology, activity schedule, relevant experience related to the assignment and the curriculum vitae of key personnel by close of business Tuesday 20^th December 2011 to: info@youthagenda.org; CC: judy.nguru@youthagenda.org

Kenyan Youth Strategy Meeting 2011 – Nairobi Declaration

13th and 14th October 2011

Preamble

We, the delegates to the Kenyan Youth Strategy Meeting for Rio +20 at the United Nations Complex at Gigiri, Nairobi:

Acknowledge the African indigenous knowledge of the sacred value of the environment to biodiversity wellbeing.

Commit to promote innovations that will develop a green economy and promote the eradication of poverty.

Take note of the past declarations towards environmental sustainability both at the African and Global level, there is an urgent need for structural and infrastructural interventions in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation.

Recognize the current global environmental challenges, particularly climate change, which impact our common future and wellbeing, we commit ourselves to support of the following mechanisms:

• Good governance and transformative leadership.

• Promote Education, information exchange, communication and awareness

• Achieve sustainable agricultural practices to reduce hunger, starvation and enhance food security.

• Advocate for the development and implementation of sustainable development policies towards a Green Economy.

• Invest in and promote eco-friendly entrepreneurship and job creation.

• Attain sustainable green cities and villages.

• Promote public engagement and participation through culture and volunteerism.

• Promote Youth Development and capacity building

• Good Governance and Transformative Leadership

We recognize the role of good governance and transformative sustainable development leadership that is

• Participatory

• accountable,

• transparent and

• implementable

at national and county levels. We reject governance that is weak on transitioning to a green economy and embrace that which promotes a green economy which engenders human well-being and social equity and respect for the natural environment, and the value of biodiversity and eco-systems, guided by, and accountable to, a new World Environment Organisation with universal membership by all UN Member States.  We also call for mechanisms in such new institutions that allow for youth participation in decision-making.

Youth delegations have to be engaged at all levels of governance in discussing benchmarks for the green economy. The Youth need to be involved in efforts towards policy formulation and development of institutional frameworks. Additionally, youth participation should be integrated at local, national and international assessments towards the development of an index for measuring the progress towards a green economy.

Promote Education, information exchange, communication and awareness

We recommend the adoption of green economy and sustainable development education material at all levels of education and public training initiatives by 2014. We intend to achieve this through the creation of various information sharing methods to various segments of the society.

We acknowledge that education underpins awareness; and awareness is critical to the spread of sustainable development principles through multiple levels in society.

Education serves as a hub for understanding the types of information to be considered when thinking about the green economy; how monitoring will be shaped in the context of the information identified as relevant; and the role of education on the environment to serve as a communication/public awareness tool on sustainable development.

Build an understanding toward the intersection of business, environment and society, in educating all people about the tenets critical to achieve sustainable development, especially the Youth.

Action: Build a national curriculum standard that promotes business in a green society. 2015

Action: Educate students in primary and secondary schools on the green economy by creating incentives that allow NGOs, student groups or CBOs to serve as ambassadors for education of the green economy. 2015

Action:  Build a monitoring service from the information-discovered. Discovery of information should be an integrated process involving key stakeholders with a special emphasis on Youth. Progress towards sustainable development goals should be identified as key thematic working groups, using poverty alleviation and institutional reform as output goals, and involvement of youth and CBOs as an inherent part of the process. 2018

Achieve sustainable agricultural practices to reduce hunger, starvation and enhance food security.

Whereas recognizing the interrelation between our national forest cover and agricultural productivity we recommend the following measures;

• Increasing our national forest cover to 10% from the current 2% by the year 2015 through creation of green parks, promoting agroforestry and sustainable agribusiness.

• Phasing out of hazardous chemical fertilizers in arable farming by the year 2015.

• Promoting the utilization of the green energy technologies to enhance affordable agricultural production.

Advocate for the development and implementation of sustainable development policies towards a Green Economy.

Develop sustainability measures and indicators against which government programmes can be measured and assessed.

Advocate for the legislation of policies on sustainable development that regulate the corporations’ adherence to green economy modules.

Ensure that approximately 25% of the annual government development budget goes towards program initiatives on sustainable development, with clear indication on targets towards green growth in community development and individual technological entrepreneurship.  15% of the 5% funding should be geared towards mobilizing and benchmarking activities to demarcate marginal change of youth involvement in the green economy.  35% of that “Sustainable Development funding” should be geared towards supporting renewable energy and zero-carbon activities that are both sustainable and demonstrably financially viable, in a local and youth-oriented level. 2013

Ensure the programmatic and structural archetype of an environmental body that can hold nations and member-states accountable for reporting and making transparent their pathways and transitions towards a green economy. 2015

Ensure that the youth are fully represented at the National Land Commission.

Invest in and promote eco-friendly entrepreneurship and job creation.

Establish independent institutional mechanisms for promoting green entrepreneurship and growth among youth.

Set up an independent fund to provide start-up financing for green enterprises by youth

Promote technological, business and social innovation through creating enabling policy environment and platforms

Invest in business models that promote community development

Promote alternative and innovative funding and investment in youth green enterprises such as crowd-funding

Sensitize youth at all levels on green entrepreneurship through different channels such as new media

Create enabling business and policy environment for green entrepreneurship, for example, tax waivers for youth green enterprises

Promote public engagement and participation through culture and volunteerism.

We recognize the aspect of culture and indigenous knowledge that embraced green economy through agroforestry, organic fertilizers for sustainable development.

For sustainable development towards green economy, we recommend the need for selfless/political willingness from all levels of governance, private sector and individuals in promoting the green economy.

We recommend that; at all levels of policy formulation and participation, there is need for public engagement and concurrence which will enhance easy implementation and sustainability.

We stand for investment, documentation, promotion and development of best practices in cultural beliefs and practices that further conservation and renewable energy founded on indigenous knowledge.

Promotion of community and youth-led exchanges is key in this regard for effective sharing and transfer of green growth skills through access and exchange of information.

We appreciate that volunteerism will act as a means of inculcating community ownership of sustainable development initiatives.

Harness public engagement and Youth volunteerism to benchmark progress on the role of corporations in sustainable development through Corporate Socially Responsible initiatives.

Attain sustainable green cities and villages

Develop an independent institution to assess business models for micro-enterprises to assess their suitability for tax benefits and other incentives. And to regulate and ensure that micro-enterprises do not compromise environmental sustainability.

Develop comprehensive waste management systems by:

• Placing increased emphasis on waste separation and recycling systems;

• Establishing dug-in decomposition landfills where decomposable materials are put to decompose; once decomposed the material can be used as organic manure.

Establish awards to recognize and celebrate the effort of cities and villages that take significant steps in transforming into green cities and villages.

Regulate transportation to reduce congestion by:

• Establishing dedicated lanes for public transport vehicles and

• Implement mass transport systems such as rail transport.

Promote Youth Development and capacity building

In order to facilitate and further build capacity in youth to fully engage in and drive development processes to address the above priority areas, we call upon our governments to:

Adopt a Youth Development Index as an indicator of the welfare of the youth in the countries; and as a measure of the youth development.

Review existing and develop new policies and legislation to:

Promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship through structures such as:

• Talent Academies

• Technology and Business incubation centres

Protect these innovations through structures and measures such as:

• Strong and easily accessible Intellectual Property protection

• Moderate and accommodative tax regimes

Promoting youth participation in international forums through

• Incorporating youth delegations as part of national delegations to international conferences

• Providing funding for youth to participate at international

• Incorporating youth in National policy formulation and implementation

Develop and strengthen national and local structures to provide support and training for youth organizations with emphasis in the areas of:

• Establishment of community and youth led organizations

• Leadership and organizational management

• Strategic Planning

• Project Management

Require that all government ministries establish youth offices and develop and implement youth engagement strategies to streamline youth participation in the work of the ministries.

Convene national and local youth forums to discuss matters relevant to youth development and make recommendations for action in support of youth development by state and non-state actors.

Improve youth access to information especially with regard to rural communities and informal urban settlements, through Establishment of community ICT Digital Villages

Conclusion

We, as young people, this is what we declare and recommend our government, individuals, businesses, development organizations and all stakeholders to undertake ahead of Rio+20 and beyond. Any action to be taken affects us and our future generation to a greater extent. We care about our planet and we will all work together in creating a more sustainable era. Green Economy is Achievable.