1. Back to the Office Report is a form ofreportingforUNDP CO staffmembers FieldSite Visits andInternational Travels. This format is developedIn
accordance with theRegular FieldSite-Visit Policy, signedby RR andeffectivesince 01.02.2008. It couldbe submittedin eitherelectronic or hard
copy.
UNDP CO - Kyrgyzstan
Back tothe Office Report
Date: 11 November2014
I. GENERAL Information:
a) Missiondate(s) 27 October-31 October2014
b) Missionmember(s) EmilioRaffaeleValli,UN VolunteersProgramOfficer
c) Missionto Baku (Aizerbaijan),1stGlobal ForumonYouth Policies
d) Purpose of the Mission The objective of the missionwastopromote youthvolunteeringandcontribute
knowledge regardingyouthvolunteeringinyouthpoliciesamongstakeholders
and youthpolicyexperts.UNV’scontributionto the Forumwasmulti-faceted:1)
representUNV inthe FirstGlobal YouthPolicyForum;and 2) fulfil the role of
Rapporteurin the thematicsession"ExploringYouthPolicyAchievementsand
ChallengesinVolunteerism
e) Names,titlesof
individualsmetduring
the mission
Kawtar Zerouali,Regional YouthProgramme Manager,UNV-Egypt
Mr. AndyRabens,Special AdviserforGlobal YouthIssues,Officeof the Under
SecretaryforPublicDiplomacyandPublicAffairsof the UnitedStatesof America
Mr. ViníciusTsugue,PresidentatAIESEC
Ms. Petra Stipanic,YouthTraineratthe WorldAssociationof Girl GuidesandGirl
Scouts
FSVITR distributionlist
II. DESCRIPTION OF MISSIONACHIEVEMENTS/TASKSCOMPLETED:
The three-dayForum(28,29,30 October) involvedextensivediscussionsonthe statusof youthpolicies
around the world, good practices, ingredients necessary for a comprehensive youth policy, youth
policymilestones,andrecommendationsforthe future.The discussionswere centredonwhy a youth
policy is important today, and how far the global youth policy agenda has come 20 years after the
World Programme of Action for Youth was adopted.
I was the Rapporteur in one of the seven thematic sessions, and Kawtar Zerouali, Regional Youth
Programme Manager, UNV-Egypt played the pivotal role of the Moderator. The session was titled
"Exploring Youth Policy Achievements and Challenges in Volunteerism".
The overall objectiveof the thematic session was to provide an overview of the main achievements
and challengesinregardstoyouthvolunteeringpolicy, and finalize concrete recommendations from
the participantsonhowto respondto the challengesandhow totake the recommendationsforward.
The panel included:
 Mr. AndyRabens,Special AdviserforGlobal YouthIssues,Officeof the UnderSecretaryforPublic
DiplomacyandPublicAffairsof the UnitedStatesof America
 Mr. ViníciusTsugue,PresidentatAIESEC
 Ms. Petra Stipanic,YouthTraineratthe WorldAssociationof Girl GuidesandGirl Scouts

2. Concluding,the participantsarguedthatacross-sectorial transversal approachtoyouthpolicyshould
complementthe traditional approach,asthe youthdimensionshouldbe explicitinsectorial policiesof
relevance toyouth’spresentconditions,includingeducation,defence,healthcare,employment,etc.
On the otherhand,participantsalsorecognizedthe needforcapacitydevelopmentof national government
institutionsinthe developmentof youthcross-sectorial policies. Participantsnotedaswell thatinthe case of
the majorityof countries,the resourcestoimplementthe designedpoliciesare insufficienttoachieve their
statedgoals. Theyalsosingledoutthe role thatvolunteerismcouldplayinthe implementationof such
policies,forthe potential scope of resourcesthatvolunteeringcouldmobilize.
A discussiontookplace onthe differentlevelsof participationandhow participationshouldbe measured. In
Mexico,an index of youthparticipationindecision-makinghasbeendevelopedbyyouthorganizations,
and, althoughcontroversial,ithasbeenimplemented tomeasure youthparticipationindecision-making
processesfora numberof years. In Vietnam, the understandingof political participationemphasizesthe
levelsof diversityandinclusioninthe youthcivicmovement. However,none of these visionsof participation
envisage the devolvementof responsibilities,rightsandobligationstothe youngergeneration.
Otherapproachesadvocate forlegislative measures,suchasthe loweringthe age limitforvotingandbeing
votedintorepresentativeinstitutions asadimensionof progressof youthparticipationindecision-making,
providedthatthe youthelectedremainindependentadvocatesof the prioritiesforwhichhe/shewaselected,
and accountable tohis/herconstituencyratherthanto her/hisparty’sleadership.
In thiscontext,volunteerismandthe independence of youthorganizationsgohandinhand,as youth
organizationsare active thankstothe voluntaryworkof theirmembers.
Main Recommendations/Conclusions:
 A multidimensional youthpolicyis neededtoreduce barrierstoyouthinclusionandfacilitate youth’s
contributionstotheirsocieties.The approachtoyouthdevelopmentshouldmovefrompiecemeal
initiativestoanintegratedsetof policiesandinvestments,maximizingthe use of financial resources.
To ensure equity,thiscanbestbe achievedthroughnational youthpoliciesandanyrelatedreforms
that cut across sectorsbut that have a commonfocuson youthinclusion —education,employment,
and regional development—toaddressthe needsof youngpeoplewithgreaterefficiency.These
policiesshouldbe reformulatedwiththe participationof youthstakeholders—especiallyyouth
representative bodies—aspartnersindecisionmaking.Moreover,policyimplementationneedstobe
supportedbyperformance-basedmanagementof institutions,strengthenedbymechanismsforclose
interagencycoordinationthatbringtogethergovernmentsandyouthorganizations,andinformedby
systematicdatacollectionandparticipatorymonitoringandevaluationsystems.These three
dimensionsof youthinclusionpolicy,whichinvolve participation,economicopportunitiesandyouth-
friendlyservices,requireaspecificsetof measuresatthe national andespeciallyatthe local level,as
indicatedbelow.
 National YouthParticipationIndex tobe developedinapartnershipdialoguebetweennational
governmentsandcivil societyorganizationstomeasure the quality/level of youthparticipationin
policy decision-making.
 To facilitate reachingacommonunderstandingof volunteerismandasharedappreciationof its
values,itisimportanttoput equal emphasisonthe benefitsof volunteeringtothe volunteer,in
volunteerismadvocacycampaigns,andtoreinforce mechanisms forrecognitionof volunteering
efforts.
 Youth participationincivil society,andparticularlythroughvolunteering,couldbe supportedasan
avenue topromote greatersocial inclusion,especiallyatthe local levelandamongdisadvantaged
youth,whoare currentlythe leastcivicallyengaged.Volunteeringshouldincludethe lesseducated;
includingyoungwomen;andyouthinmarginalizedregionsandinperi-urbanareas.
 A focuson brandingandrole modelsisa successful approachtopromote volunteerismamongyouth
and shouldbe expanded.

3. III. BRIEF RECOMMENDATIONOF NEXT STEPS/FOLLOW-UPACTIONSANDRECOMENDING STAFF/UNITTO
FOLLOW-UP(TOBE ADDRESSED TO SSU,THEN TO RELEVANT UNIT OR RR/SMT):
Rationale/ Action Responsible staff member/Unit
IV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION(ifany, staffmember is welcome to submitit alongwith thisreport or using
additional pages)
Submittedby: EmilioValli,UNVolunteersPO _______________