What is Innovations Lab Kosovo? This deck explores the two youth empowerment, social enterprise oriented pillars of the Lab.

1. YOUTH EMPOWERMENT, PARTICIPATION, AND PROFESSIONAL READINESS IN KOSOVO*
Joshua Harvey
Lead, UNICEF Innovations Lab Kosovo
*Kosovo is mentioned here and thereafter in the context of UNSC Resolution 1244

2. INTRODUCTION
KOSOVO CONTEXT
PRINCIPLES
YOUTH AS PARTNERS
THE PROGRAMME
LAB STRUCTURE

3. KOSOVO CONTEXT
POVERTY
35% of Kosovo’s population lives in poverty; 12% in extreme poverty.
POST-CONFLICT SETTING
Ethnic tension and social exclusion are pervasive; status issue presents barriers to economic, educational opportunity.
YOUTH BULGE
50% of Kosovo’s population is under 28 years; 28% is under 15 years.
UNEMPLOYMENT
35% of Kosovo youth (15-24 years) are not employed, in education, or in training (NEET). Unemployment amongst Kosovo youth (15-24 years) exceeds
55%. Employment in low value-add, tertiary sectors; poor education outcomes.
DISENFRANCHISEMENT
55% of surveyed youth feel they have “little” or “no” opportunity to influence decision-making around issues of significance to young people. Less than
15% (10-24) participate in youth activities.

4. PRINCIPLES
UNICEF Innovation Principles
1. Design with the user
2. Understand the existing ecosystem
3. Design for scale
4. Build for sustainability
5. Be data driven
6. Use open standards, open data, open source, open
innovation
7. Reuse and improve
8. Do no harm
9. Be collaborative
Kosovo Lab Principles
1. Hand over the marker
2. Making matters
3. Grit is great
4. Expertise is fluid
5. Build for the hardest to reach
6. Define the problem so well that the solution
becomes obvious
7. Leave the blue baggage at home
8. Be honest
9. Change comes from everywhere

5. YOUTH AS PARTNERS
Article 6: the inherent right to life.  Article 7: the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know
and be cared for by his or her parents.  Article 13: the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print  Article 14: respect the right of the child to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion.  Article 28: the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis
of equal opportunity  Article 32: the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation.
Convention on the Rights of the Child

6. YOUTH AS PARTNERS
Article 6: the inherent right to life.  Article 7: the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know
and be cared for by his or her parents.  Article 13: the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print  Article 14: respect the right of the child to freedom of
thought, conscience and religion.  Article 28: the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively and on the basis
of equal opportunity  Article 32: the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation.
Convention on the Rights of the Child

7. THE LAB PROGRAMME
DESIGN
CENTRE
In-house technology and design
consultancy
BY YOUTH
FOR YOUTH
Readiness through experiential
learning--youth-led social
ventures
YOUTH ADVOCACY
PLATFORM
Participation through youth-led
public and policy advocacy

8. LAB STRUCTURE
 Logistics Officer (IP)
 Finance Officer (IP)
DESIGN
CENTRE
 Designer Centre Officer
 Senior Developer
 Senior Developer
 Junior Developer
 Junior Developer
BY YOUTH
FOR YOUTH
 BYFY Coordinator (IP)
 Youth-led Project Officer (IP)
YOUTH ADVOCACY PLATFORM
 YAP Coordinator
 YCAP Officer (IP)
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
 Social Media Mobilization Officer
 Visual Communications Consultant
MARKETING AND
COMMUNICATIONS
LAB LEAD

9. BY YOUTH FOR YOUTH
OBJECTIVES
THE MODEL
IN PRACTICE

10. OBJECTIVES
BY YOUTH
FOR YOUTH
INCREASED PROFESSIONAL READINESS
INCREASED GRIT AND RESILIENCE
COMMUNITY ORIENTATION AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL GROWTH
Problem Solving
Management of Organizational Processes
Communication
Professional Conduct/Relationship Management

11. THE MODEL
BY YOUTH
FOR YOUTH
Project review and
selectionCamp
Budget finalization
and contracting
Phase 2
Camp
Mentorship and
monitoring
Implementation
Reporting and
evaluation
Phase 3
Implementation
Outreach and
Mobilization
Design Thinking
Workshops
Idea submission,
review, and selection
Phase 1
Mobilization

12. IN PRACTICE
BY YOUTH
FOR YOUTH
LOKALIZO

13. YOUTH ADVOCACY PLATFORM
OBJECTIVES
THE MODEL
IN PRACTICE

14. OBJECTIVES
YOUTH ADVOCACY
PLATFORM
INCREASED CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES
INCREASED INCLUSION IN POLICY FORMULATION
IMPROVED FLUENCY IN RIGHTS AND ENTITLEMENTS
INCREASED REALIZATION OF RIGHT TO CONVENE, DEBATE, EXPRESS DISSENT, AND
MAINTAIN MEMBERSHIP AND LEADERSHIP IN YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
COMMUNITY ORIENTATION AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE

15. THE MODEL
YOUTH ADVOCACY
PLATFORM
Advocacy plan
development
Policy advocacy
Training
Connecting with
duty-bearers
Phase 2
Policy Advocacy
Campaign
implementation
Campaign
development
Reporting and
evaluation
Phase 3
Campaign
Community Needs
Assessment Training
CNA Implementation Data Analysis
Phase 1
Needs
Assessment

16. IN PRACTICE
YOUTH ADVOCACY
PLATFORM
FERIZAJ

17. RESULTS
RESULTS TO DATE
CAPTURING IMPACT

18. RESULTS TO DATE
BYFY
123 youth led projects
460 youth leaders
10,000+ claimants reached
YAP
5 YCAP campaigns
89 youth leaders
1,313 claimants reached
Overall
Revised internship/apprenticeship programme with University of Prishtina
Access to youth rights and violations reporting via OIK
6,625 claimants reached

19. CHALLENGES & LESSONS LEARNED
CHALLENGES
LESSONS LEARNED

20. CHALLENGES
CAPTURING IMPACT
INTEGRATION OR “SO YOU WANT INNOVATION BUT YOU DON’T WANT TO CHANGE?”
IT'S A PARTY AND EVERYONE’S HERE BUT INSTITUTIONS
WHERE DOES CHANGE COME FROM (Hint: It’s not the top.)

21. LESSONS LEARNED
MEET YOUNG PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE
BE FLEXIBLE IN EVERYTHING BUT YOUR GOALS
AUTHENTIC EMPOWERMENT MEANS LETTING YOUTH DRIVE
HAVING (OR BECOMING) THE RIGHT PEOPLE IS VITAL
THE LONG CON
CHANGED APPROACHES NEED BREATHING ROOM

22. Thanks!