Supporting the participation and development of young people in civil society and political processes is, and will be increasingly more central to sustainable development and effective democracies. In many fragile states young people represent the majority of the population. Young people are also often most impacted by development issues, and when effectively supported can contribute to local solutions to these inequalities.

UN World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) states that full and effective participation of youth in society and decision making is a priority area for action to address global poverty. There are currently limited opportunities for participation of young people in development and civil society at the national and regional levels. The opportunities that do exist predominantly focus on elites and those who already have access to decision making or are likely to engage, primarily urban young males. An enabling environment must be created to provide youth at the community and national level with opportunities to engage and be heard as active contributors.

We are now seeing the largest generation in history entering the transition from childhood to adulthood. According to the UN, up to 48 percent of the world’s population is under the age of 25 and 86 percent of 10 to 24 year olds live in the South.