The document outlines VSO's strategy for 2022-2028, focusing on empowering marginalized communities through collective action and accountability. It discusses the establishment of youth networks to amplify voices and engage young people in development efforts across various countries. Key initiatives include the active grant aimed at reducing poverty and promoting equitable governance, alongside highlighting specific youth-led actions, particularly in climate change.

1. www.vsointernational.org
VSO Strategy 2022-28
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VSO Global Webinar
19 July 2022

2. Agenda
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Welcome by Philip Goodwin, CEO of VSO
VSO Quiz: lets test your knowledge: Donne Cameron, Executive Director of Programmes
The ACTIVE Grant: Shaleen Rakesh, Head of Engagement and Partnerships
VSO Youth Networks: Anne Kahuria, Global Youth Engagement Officer
My experience as a VSO Volunteer and Youth Champion: Hosea Tumwine from Uganda
Q&A
Close and a thank you: Philip Goodwin

3. www.vsointernational.org
Introduction
Philip Goodwin
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VSO Quiz
Donne Cameron

5. www.vsointernational.org
Introduction to the ACTIVE Grant
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Shaleen Rakesh

6. ACTIVE Grant – The headlines
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3-year accountable grant
• FCDO Management: centrally managed by Open Societies & Human Rights Dept, but in close
collaboration with local High Commissions/Embassies
• Building on Volunteering for Development (VfD) grant results
• Purpose: To enable vulnerable and marginalised people to take ownership of their own
development by exercising the power of collective voice, claiming their rights to better services,
and holding people in power and service providers to account on issues important to them
• Alignment to VSO Strategy: Promoting active citizenship and influencing system’s
accountability
• Grant expectations - contributing to UK Govt’s IDS; leveraging VSO’s programme portfolio
and demonstrating VfD’s effectiveness as a development solution

7. ACTIVE Grant – Demonstrating impact
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VSO target: Inclusive, open, resilient, gender equitable communities enjoying their rights to
wellbeing through equitable services & policies and accountable governance
Indicator 1: Reduced poverty, inequality, and vulnerability amongst communities in programme
countries (Sustainable Development Goal 1)
Indicator 2: Improved policies and governance mechanisms that demonstrate accountability for
the above change processes in programme countries and communities

8. www.vsointernational.org
VSO Youth Networks
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Anne Kahuria

9. VSO Youth Networks
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o As part of the implementation of the youth engagement strategy, VSO has been establishing
and strengthening youth networks across countries
o VSO defines youth networks as formal or informal youth spaces/ platforms aimed at unifying
and amplifying youth voice and actions
o They are part of the broader volunteer networks and create a platform for youth to continue
engaging as active citizens
Examples of Youth Networks
 National Youth Engagement Networks in Nepal, Bangladesh, Nigeria , Cambodia, Tanzania,
Uganda
 Youth for Sustainable Development in Kenya
 Youth Engagement Action Team in Zimbabwe

10. VSO Youth Networks Engagement Strategy
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• Identification and nomination of youth champions. Youth champions are proactive youth
network members who are recruited as national volunteers
• Clustering of the youth champions based on areas of interest/experience and VSO’s priority
areas for programming & engagement
• Youth champions act as a linchpin between VSO and the youth networks
Global
Youth
Engagemen
t Team
Youth
Engagement
Focal
Person in-
country
team
Youth Networks
Youth
Champions
Country
practice
area lead

11. VSO Youth-Led Actions
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• As part of strengthening youth voice and
actions, we recognize the need to
inspire and amplify youth voice through
youth led actions
• Last year, 4 youth champions were
nominated from each country
• They were clustered based on their
areas of interest - climate change being
one of the areas
• Youth led-Climate change actions were
implemented in 10 countries in Asia
Pacific and Africa
As part of the safe food production programme in Bangladesh, youth
champions demonstrated to farmers how to make organic fertilizers

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My volunteering experience
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Hosea Tumwine
Youth volunteer and Youth champion, Uganda
Hosea pictured participating in Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM) in June 2022

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Uganda, western region: A townhall meeting is led by Hosea in which community members discuss
whether the government is addressing urgent climate matters

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Isaac Rwotungeyo pictured is a VSO trainer. He is training youths and women in Bwaise slum in
Kampala on Briquette making.

15. Questions?
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16. Thank you
for your time
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