IDBYOUTH

Promoting the active participation of youth in the development process

Inter-American Development Bank

Nearly 40 percent of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean is under the age of 30. The growth and development of this demographic sector has major implications for governments, economies, communi-ties and the environment. Never before has the future of the region depended so much on its youth.

In 1995, in recognition of its critical role in building stable democracies, sustainable economies and just societies, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) created IDB YOUTH, a youth development and outreach program. This program supports initiatives that focus on youth leadership and participation, community service and volunteerism, information technology, youth entrepreneurship and sports for development.

IDB YOUTH promotes the active involvement of young people, valuing them as “agents of change.” The program provides this population group with channels for direct dialogue with governments, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations, so that they can express their opinions, take a stand on issues and help reduce poverty and inequalities.

VISIONA region that values and seeks the involve-ment of youth, seeing them as essential agents of social and economic development.

MISSIONTo promote the active engagement of youth in the development process.

Youth Development and Outreach ProgramCORE GOALSThe four core goals of IDB YOUTH are as follows:

Youth NetworkCreated during the 1995 Youth Forum in Israel, this regional IDB YOUTH network is growing steadily, and currently comprises more than 10,000 organizations represent-ing youth leaders and social entrepreneurs striving to better their communities and countries. By facilitating communication between these young people both nation-ally and regionally, the IDB YOUTH network plays a role in the region’s policies and programs. IDB YOUTH supports the network through communication, technical and financial support and information sharing.

Outreach and CommunicationThe program raises awareness of the value of youth involvement in development, among the general public, governmental and nongovernmental agencies and the public and private sectors. The program defines communications tools and pro-motes model youth development programs through conferences, audiovisual mate-rials, publications, TV programs, press articles, e-newsletters, social networks and the IDB Web site.

Support for OperationsThe program streamlines youth development and involvement into the Bank’s opera-tions. To that end, IDB YOUTH works closely with other departments within the insti-tution and with representative offices in each country.

KEY AREASIDB YOUTH’s activities are structured around the following main areas:

• Equip and prepare young people for their own development and that of their communities• Work to make young people an integral part of the development process of countries• Incorporate youth development and participation into IDB operations• Collaborate with other organizations to foster youth development and involvement

Global Youth Service DayIDB YOUTH is a founding partner of Global Youth Service Day, held each April. This event celebrates the contributions young citizens make to their communities each and every day. www.gysd.org

Youth FundThis fund offers financial assistance to youth organizations that provide technology training and skills to help increase the employment opportunities and potential of young people. The fund was created in collaboration with Microsoft. In 2010, the fund is holding a second round for youth at risk. www.fondodejuventud.org

Best Practices in Youth Policies and ProgramsThe IDB, UNESCO, UNICEF, the International Labour Organization, the Panamerican Health Organization, the Organization of American States, the United Nations Popu-lation Fund, the Universidad de Colima (Mexico) and other regional partners joined forces in an unprecedented inter-institutional initiative aimed at identifying innova-tive and effective projects and policies with methodologies that can be reproduced in other contexts. To that end, regional projects were invited to participate in a se-lection process, during which they were thoroughly analyzed. The conclusions were announced at a conference, the content of which will be available in a publication. http://youthpractices.ucol.mx

Sports for DevelopmentThe IDB has teamed up with FIFA, Conmebol, Concacaf, Streetfootballworld, the Nike Foundation, Partners of the Americas, Microsoft, Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola to pro-mote sports as a way to teach skills that are useful in the employment market, such as teamwork, self-confidence, reading, writing and mathematics. When integrated with development programs, sports are an excellent way to reach thousands of young peo-ple and to improve their potential for employment. www.iadb.org/idbyouth

KEY INITIATIVES

Agents of Change/MTV Latin AmericaWith the support of the Finnish Fund and the Fund for Special Operations, the IDB and MTV Latin America established a partnership to showcase the positive impact that thousands of the region’s young people are having in their communities. In 2006, the program was launched by inviting young people from the region to share their stories of how they brought about change. Of the more than 7,000 entries received, over 600 stories were published on the IDB Web site. Among these, 25 were aired on MTV Latin America and on IDBtv partner stations.

This initiative has expanded since its initial launch and now includes television spe-cials, an award for celebrities, a virtual community and a handbook for young people on how to promote change. Beginning in 2010, Agents of Change will be the pro-social campaign of MTV Tr3s, the MTV Group’s channel for the Spanish-speaking community in the United States. IDB YOUTH is currently working with MTV to produce a television program, financed by the Korean Poverty Reduction Fund. The objectives of this new program are to raise awareness of the regional development process, promote the in-volvement of young people and highlight the importance of investing in youth in order to reduce poverty. www.mtvagentesdecambio.com

www.iadb.org/idbyouth

Inter-American Development Bank1300 New York Avenue N.W.

Washington D.C. 20577

For more information on IDB YOUTH, please contact: Fabián Koss, Youth Program Coordinator (fabiank@iadb.org)

or Isabel Álvarez, IDB YOUTH Network Coordinator (isabela@iadb.org),Development Communications Unit, Office of External Relations