Yuwaah's 2023 annual report showcases its impactful initiatives, highlighting a year of innovation and sustainable development. Through collaborative efforts, Yuwaah continues to empower youth, fostering positive change globally.

1. YuWaah
GENERATION UNLIMITED IN INDIA AT UNICEF
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
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2. CONTENTS
THE YEAR IN REVIEW
HOW DID YUWAAH SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE OBTAIN
ASPIRATIONAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES?
ƒ EMPLOYMENT AND JOB SUPPORT
ƒ APPRENTICESHIP
ƒ ENTREPRENEURSHIP
ƒ THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
HOW DID YUWAAH HELP YOUNG PEOPLE OBTAIN RELEVANT
SKILLS AND CAREER GUIDANCE?
ƒ CAREER GUIDANCE
ƒ 21ST CENTURY SKILLS
ƒ THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
HOW DID YUWAAH PARTNER WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
FOR SOCIAL IMPACT?
ƒ INNOVATION-LED PARTICIPATION
ƒ CLIMATE ACTION AND LEADERSHIP
ƒ YOUTH CENTRALITY
ƒ THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
CROSS-CUTTING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS
PARTNERING FOR IMPACT
ƒ PARTNERSHIPS
ƒ LEVERAGING RESOURCES
ƒ MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION
ANNEXURE 1- REVISED THEORY OF CHANGE
ANNEXURE 2- PARTNERSHIP SUPPORT
1 - 3
4 - 6
7 - 9
10 - 12
13
14 - 17
19
18
Page Nos.

3. The Year in Review
‘There is something truly invigorating about
young people that has enabled us to grow
from strength to strength. Perhaps their
passion, resilience, energy, and ambition?
Or the immense conviction they hold in
their hearts, minds, and actions that they
can and are changing the world.’
In 4 years of YuWaah at UNICEF, the partnership has impacted about
74 million young people across the country by connecting them
to one or more opportunities pertaining to jobs/apprenticeship,
entrepreneurship, 21st century skills, career guidance and social impact.
This was made possible by engaging over 140 partners, facilitating
a multiplier effect across the ecosystem, and by addressing missing
inter-linkages and white spaces. Moreover, 2023 was the most
transformative year for us (yet) in every way. We were able to play
a role in impacting about 25 million young people across India, taking
us closer to our goal of impacting 300 million young people by 2030.
5.7 million
young people benefited
from job support
programmes and over
13.8 million
Young People participating
in Social Impact Initiatives.
3.8 million
Young People receiving
Career Guidance.
1.7 million
Young People being
connected with 21st Century
skilling opportunities.
75,500
young people received jobs.
SPACE
FOR
PICTURES
1

4. This impact has been made
possible through young leaders
such as Muskan from Chakla in
rural Bihar, who at just 15 years
old, has become a symbol of hope
and change in her community.
Her family's primary livelihood
was agriculture, supplemented
by her father's small shop in the
village. Despite their modest
means, Muskaan's parents
emphasised the importance of
education and hard work. As
Muskaan developed financial
literacy skills through the Passport
2 Earning (P2E) platform, she
realised that her newfound
knowledge was not just for her
benefit; it had the potential to
uplift her entire community.
She began sharing her financial
literacy insights with her friends
at the coaching centre and other
village community members,
sparking confidence and
curiosity in them as well.
Just like hers, there are stories of
1.5 million more young people
who accessed certifications
through P2E.
There are many Muskans
who have inspired YuWaah
to continue co-creating
youth-centric solutions and
take collective action with
our Public-Private-Youth
Partners (PPYP). We have
set the foundation through a
‘One UN approach’ to take our
programmes to the last mile,
thereby supporting the holistic
development of young people
across underserved communities.
It is through the strength and
dedication of our partners,
YuWaah has not only achieved
some incredible milestones, but
also set some new goals for the
years to come.
We forayed into Youth to Climate Action through Meri LiFE and COP28
ƒ Our digital green volunteering platform – Meri LiFE was launched during the run-up to World Environment Day i.e.
5th June, with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), with the active participation of
79 ministries, 36 State Governments and Union Territories, UN agencies and CSO partners, joining hands to
protect and preserve our environment. The app has now been successfully adopted by the Ministry to continue
mobilising institutions as well as citizens. The portal helped us report an impressive 25 million pro-planet actions,
out of which 10 million were youth-led!
ƒ YuWaah and UNICEF India provided technical and financial support in partnership with Bring Back Green
Foundation and Indian Youth Climate Network to 130+ young climate leaders who convened for the UNFCCC
federated Local Conference of Youth.
ƒ Inspired by the concept of Mission LiFE, the Green Rising India Consortium for India was launched at COP28
together with members consisting of partners including Capgemini India, CIFF, ReNew, Rohini Nilekani
Philanthropies, SAP, and The Rockefeller Foundation to equip 50 million children and young people to become
climate-conscious, adaptable, and resilient by 2030.
We launched YouthHub – a one-stop solution to connect young Indians
to Jobs, Skilling, and Volunteering Opportunities
ƒ Aligned with the National Youth Policy of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MoYAS), YouthHub was
launched in October and unveiled ambitious plans to reach 1 million users by 2024 and co-create a model to
transform lives of rural young women by leveraging- an investment of $17.4 million and $2.4 million pro bono
support- from partners such as Capgemini, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and PwC.
Muskan
Chakla, Bihar
2023 WAS A YEAR OF MANY FIRSTS...
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5. 2023 WAS ALSO A YEAR OF EXPONENTIAL GROWTH IN OUR
YOUTH-CENTRIC PROGRAMMES AND ADVOCACY
About 1.5 million Young People in India Skilled with Passport 2 Earning (P2E) in Just One Year!
ƒ P2E, our phygital e-learning solution, registered over 1.5 million learners, with 65% of them being
adolescent girls and young women. Our partners, Accenture, Microsoft, Capgemini India, Randstad India,
Micron, Unilever, and Dubai Cares played an instrumental role in reaching this incredible milestone
together. In 2024, we aim to scale up the platform to reach 3 million learners, especially from vulnerable
communities.
~233,000 Young People Developed Design Thinking Skills Across 4 States in India through UPSHIFT
ƒ With the generous support of Capgemini and National and State Governments, our youth innovation
programme, ‘UPSHIFT’ powered by Unisolve led to the generation of 50,000 youth-led ideas. Now
embedded in the Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) Marathon by the Ministry of Education and Atal Innovation
Mission, we aim to scale it up to 1 million people across India in 2024 to identify and support hyperlocal
youth-led solutions.
Ministry of Education, Government of India Invested $25 million in Career Guidance and Counselling
ƒ On joint recommendation of YuWaah and UNICEF Education team with support of PwC and BCG,
Government of India has allocated $25 million per year (under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan) for Career
Guidance and Counselling for the first-time allowing state governments to hire ~7000 career counsellors
across the country. This scheme is expected to support around 30 million students aged 14-18 in
Government Schools.
Insights from 130,000+ young people gathered on Entrepreneurship, Apprenticeship and Female Labor
Force Participation to support system strengthening and policy recommendations
ƒ A working group established by YuWaah, including UNDP India, International Labor Organization, Cyient,
and several key partners, assessed current gaps and challenges in the apprenticeship ecosystem and
presented recommendations in a report titled ‘Making Apprenticeship Aspirational: Learnings and Way
Forward’, launched by Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
along with partners from private sector, UNICEF and YuWaah.
ƒ Through U-Report surveys, young people shared their understanding of entrepreneurship ecosystem and
willingness to become entrepreneurs, facilitating insights for YuWaah and our partners to inform and
strengthen programming. The survey on young people’s perspectives regarding female labour force
participation helped us capture supply side challenges to strengthen participation of women in the
workforce in partnership with the Ministry of Labor and Employment’s taskforce.
LASTLY, 2023 WAS A YEAR WE CREATED IMMENSE IMPACT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
Celebrated the spirit of Public-Private-Youth Partnerships on International Youth Day
ƒ #ImPactWithYouth Conclave brought together Hon’ble Minister Shri Anurag Singh Thakur, Union Minister
of Youth Affairs and Sports and Information and Broadcasting, The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports,
UNICEF India, UN agencies and private partners such as Amazon to champion the cause of youth centrality.
In an interactive panel discussion, UNICEF Regional Director, Sanjay Wijesekara, UN Resident Coordinator,
Shombi Sharp, and young people across South Asia explored avenues to foster inter-regional engagement.
Engaged Diverse Networks of Young People in YuWaah’s Programming and Decision-Making
ƒ The YuWaah secretariat had the privilege of co-creating with diverse and representative cohorts of 100+
youth advisors from across our Young People’s Action Team (YPAT) and Youth Ke Bol. Our UN India
YuWaah Advocates, who are grassroots champions within their communities across India, represented
youth voices in media, panels, podcasts, and events. We are further supporting them to create and lead
their own youth-led social impact initiatives at the grassroot level in 2024.
ƒ UNFPA and UNDP were also critical in identifying YuWaah’s Call for Solutions, which is a joint initiative with
Dasra to identify and support scalable solutions. Both agencies participated in the selection process along
with a panel of young people.
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6. EMPLOYMENT AND JOB SUPPORT
Career/Employment awareness sessions: Realising that youth may not be aware of the various job sectors in the
market except for the few traditional job roles against the 3,600+ career options available on the National Career
Service portal by MoLE, YuWaah and MoLE jointly launched employment awareness sessions. With the objective
of enhancing young people’s understanding of the job market and providing them with the latest information
regarding various in-demand jobs, 30+ live sessions were conducted. These sessions saw participation of over
100,000 youth who also interacted with the experts through live chat box. Asmaan Foundation was the
implementation partner whereas MoLE conducted the mobilisation of young people.
In addition to information about various career roles and other soft skills, with the advent of newer technology,
AI-tools have become increasingly common among young people. YuWaah, through its partners, IGNOU and
Alohomora Foundation also launched a new series to support youth in making them job ready by using AI tools
effectively. These focus on creating a resume, preparing for interviews, and introducing them to other AI tools.
Through the Training of Trainer model, the programme has the potential to be scaled to 2 million young people by
next year, through the Ministry of Labor and Employment as well as college connect network.
Systems Strengthening on the National Career Service (NCS) portal: YuWaah continued to do the system
strengthening work with MoLE on the NCS portal to ensure that young people can navigate the portal smoothly. This
was accomplished through instructional videos made by Wadhwani Foundation, enabling value added services like
employment awareness and job support programmes for NCS users, and promoting job fairs.
4 million new job seekers were onboarded NCS this year.
How Did YuWaah
Support Young People
Obtain Aspirational
Economic Opportunities?
Funds of $152,000 were utilised and $90,000 were
leveraged from government and partner ecosystem
to enable economic opportunities for providing
employment support services to more than
5.7 million young people and providing job offers
to over 75,500 young people, of which 41% are
females. This outcome was enabled through the
following flagship programmes and initiatives:
4
I joined the Step Up program to learn more about working
well under pressure and managing different team members.
I was also able to learn vital skills, such as resume-building
and identifying fake jobs. I am now more confident and look
forward to putting my learnings to good use.
KAJAL, 21 YEARS OLD, NEW DELHI
“
“
Job Support Programme: YuWaah launched an end-to-end handholding programme, Step Up - Bano Job Ready
in 2022 after understanding the challenges young people face while applying for jobs. In 2023, the programme
focused on scale up to ensure maximum number of young people could take advantage of the programme.
Through a dual mode of implementation, this programme is being conducted directly with jobseekers and in a
training-of-trainer (ToT) mode with trainers. The ToT is conducted with existing skilling trainers in the ecosystem so
that the modules of the Step Up programme can be added as a top-up course for job seekers. More than 200
trainers from the network of Ministry of Labour and Employment, Common Service Centres, and CSO partners like
Pratham and Lighthouse have been trained. In these sessions, young people have applied to 4000+ relevant jobs
matching their skills and interest. The Ministry of Labour and Employment (MoLE) has also given an in-principal
agreement to make the Step Up Bano Job Ready programme a KPI for their 300 young professionals. This would
ensure that 300,000+ jobseekers across the country have access to enhanced knowledge about the job
market and application process.

7. APPRENTICESHIP
Apprenticeship working group: YuWaah convened a unique ‘Apprenticeship working group’ of 16 key
representatives including young people to understand the existing challenges in the apprenticeship ecosystem and
recommend a way forward in 2022. The working group put together a policy recommendation document which was
jointly released early this year. The policy document shares recommendations for increasing awareness, reviewing
stipends at regular intervals, introducing degree-embedded apprenticeship programme among others.
Apprenticeship Mela: YuWaah also launched a U-report flow to increase awareness of the Pradhan Mantri National
Apprenticeship Mela. The flow gives young people information about the monthly apprenticeship fairs and has been
accessed by ~45,000 young people.
National Apprenticeship month: In partnership with UNDP, MSDE,
NSDC and YuWaah a joint campaign plan has been created to
enhance awareness about apprenticeship as well as launch a National
Apprenticeship month to do large scale promotion and awareness
about apprenticeship among young people as well as establishments.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Entrepreneurship flows: To streamline and strengthen YuWaah’s work on entrepreneurship, YuWaah has onboarded
PwC as a partner for a period of one year for co-creating strategy, problem-solving and driving implementation at
scale for youth entrepreneurship at a larger ecosystem level. YuWaah has also created bite-sized content on U-Report,
with partners like DeAsra and Development alternatives to provide young people with access to free resources and
tools to support them in their entrepreneurial journey. So far, the flow has been accessed by 40,000 young people.
Mentorship for Entrepreneurs: YuWaah aims to support Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in
extending mentorship support to aspiring entrepreneurs through capacity building of mentors.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform: YuWaah is also supporting NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform
to get more partners to support young women on the platform as well as bring youth centrality on the platform
through user testing with YuWaah’s young people network. YuWaah also plans to support the Ministry in
strengthening their existing mentorship platform, Udhyam Disha.
Employment and Entrepreneurship- National Conference: YuWaah co-hosted a National Conference on
‘Employment and Entrepreneurship’ in February in partnership with Transforming Rural India Foundation (TRIF),
Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN), and “Work4Progress” led by Development Alternatives, supported
by Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), and Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC).
Approximately 50 organisations came together to collectively deliberate and brainstorm large scale solutions for
youth entrepreneurship, with a focus on green, rural, and women entrepreneurship. Recommendations from the
youth entrepreneurship segment led by YuWaah included the emphasis to build skills required to run a business,
provision of adequate access to markets, making entrepreneurship aspirational, and the need for collaboration.
Call for Solutions: YuWaah identified three organisations, through the Call for Solutions initiative with innovative and
scalable solutions under youth entrepreneurship. These solutions will receive partnership, outreach and knowledge
support from YuWaah The following solutions were chosen:
•Salaam Bombay Foundation: SBF supports young people in the 16-20-year age group, already in self-employment
with financial and mentorship support. They majorly support entrepreneurs in their 1-n stage where they build their
capacities and provide them with a grant of INR 40,000 to scale. This is done through their annual ‘Dolphin Tanki’
initiative which is a take on Shark Tank. In the past they have supported 100 entrepreneurs and with YuWaah and
Dasra’s support will support 100 more entrepreneurs in Bombay.
•Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust: BYST primarily assists disadvantaged Indian youth in developing business ideas into
viable enterprises under the guidance of a mentor. With their partnership with 9 banks across India, they serve as
channels to facilitate access to finance for aspiring and early-stage youth entrepreneurs.
•LetsEndorse: Their Udyamita 2.0 model is a systematic, data-driven, tech-enabled and human-assisted maturation
model of identifying, nurturing, and enabling any aspirant from lower and mid-economic segment to become an
empowered micro-entrepreneur in 100 days.
5

8. THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
National Survey: To understand young people’s perception about entrepreneurship, YuWaah launched a national
survey where 6,700 young people participated. The insights from the survey have brought out strong
recommendations on the gaps in entrepreneurship. The results have been compiled into a report which has been
shared with all the stakeholders for ready reference to enhance their strategies.
Women's Labour Force Participation Rate (WLFPR): In collaboration with MoLE, UNICEF is playing an integral role
in addressing the pivotal issue of Women's Labour Force Participation Rate (WLFPR). As a technical and knowledge
partner in the task force established by the Ministry, UNICEF's contributions have been diverse and impactful.
ƒ Central to our involvement is the comprehensive Youth Perception Survey report, providing critical insights into
the barriers and opportunities for young women entering the workforce.
ƒ YuWaah has also designed a nationwide communication campaign strategy to raise awareness and advocate for
increased WLFPR, engaging communities and stakeholders across the country. This will be driven in partnership
with CIFF and other Task Force members.
ƒ Furthermore, we are also developing an agenda for a national conference in collaboration with MoLE dedicated
to exploring avenues for augmenting women's labour force participation in collaboration with various private
partners.
ƒ To address the evolving landscape of work, we are also conducting extensive research on remote job
opportunities across diverse sectors and an Employer Perception Survey to understand the status and conditions
of women in the workforce and challenges faced by employers.
ƒ Through a dedicated consultant for WLFPR, UNICEF is also providing various other secretarial services to the task
force.
YuWaah has identified three organisations with innovative approaches to enhance women’s participation in the
labour force. They have been provided with mentorship, outreach, and networking support. The solutions are as
follows:
ƒ MagicBus Foundation- For youth aged 18 to 25, from underserved households, Magic Bus helps build transferable
life and employability skills and support their transition to the sustainable workforce with secured employment in
customer-centric job roles in the service sector.
ƒ Pratham Foundation- They train and place young individuals in eight major vocations, including automotive,
beauty, construction, electrical, hospitality, healthcare, plumbing, and welding. As one of the largest
non-governmental organisations in India, Pratham focuses on practical, cost-effective, and scalable solutions to
address educational gaps.
ƒ Chambal Media- Chambal Media is India's rural media network, focusing on bringing women from marginalised
communities into the digital world. Our goal is to empower young girls from rural areas to access and benefit
from the digital world by providing access to digital education and online job opportunities.
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9. CAREER GUIDANCE
MoE Career Guidance Guidelines: On the joint recommendation of YuWaah and UNICEF Education team, the
Government of India, led by Sh. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary (School Education and Literacy), has allocated $25 million
per year under its flagship Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan for Career Guidance and Counselling, which will allow State
Governments to hire 8,000 career counsellors across the country. This flagship system's strengthening work will
result in approximately 30 million students in the age group of 14-18 years in the Government schools being
supported by this scheme. Notably, this is the first ever allocation of funds for career guidance and counselling
(CG&C) by the Government and is likely to become a permanent feature of the annual budgets of the
Government of India, thereby leading to an investment of $250-500 million over next 10 years.
ƒ Multistakeholder Engagement and Consultations: YuWaah and UNICEF Education team organised a
multistakeholder consultation and brainstorming discussion in December 2022 with Ministry of Education and
Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, which was supported by PwC as a Knowledge Partner, and
brought together diverse government stakeholders such as NCVET, DGT, NSDC, AICTE, CBSE, NCERT,
departments of education from state governments, young people, senior officials and educators from over 20
private sector partners, civil society organisations, United Nations agencies, foundations, and training providers.
The highlight of the consultation was the insightful dialogue between policymakers and young people (LinkedIn),
where students shared their own experiences and feedback on career guidance and vocational education.
ƒ Leveraged Resources for Evidence Generation: Onboarded and joined forces with Boston Consulting Group,
which extended pro bono support to conduct a global and country specific study on best practices and
recommendations. These recommendations helped formulate our inputs for MoE.
ƒ Policy Support: Co-designed the model and helped draft the scheme document, with UNICEF Education team's
Career Guidance training programme and other resource materials being recommended in the scheme
document as a formal acknowledgment of the work as well.
ƒ Consultation and discussion with all state departments of education for input and consolidation.
Career Guidance Portals: Career Guidance portals, launched under UNICEF’s career guidance programme in
partnership with state governments and technical partner (Aasman Foundation) in 2019, is a comprehensive initiative
aimed at bridging the knowledge gap among adolescents (students in classes 9-12) in India and enable them to
make informed decisions about their future. The programme was initially launched in three states in 2019 and the
implementation was expanded to 17 states across the country. The career guidance portal intends to notify the
students about the available career pathways, institutions catering to their interests, entrance exams and
scholarships, providing students information on educational opportunities and career possibilities. Another objective
of the portal is to introduce non-traditional career options. The portal has information on 500+ careers, 21,000+
How Did YuWaah Help
Young People Obtain
Relevant Skills and
Career Guidance?
In 2023, over 1.7 million young people were
connected to 21st-century skilling opportunities,
of which about 1.5 million completed at least
10 hours of courses on the P2E platform. P2E leveraged
funds of $870,000 from Government and CSO partners like
CBSE, AIM, MoYAS, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, UP, Haryana,
CSC, B-ABLE, LLF, NCCDC, AEF, SIIF, and direct Investment
of $1.7 million from Microsoft, Capgemini, Accenture, Dubai
Cares, HUL, Unilever, Micron, to equip learners with 21st C.
skills, of which 58% are females. Moreover, more than
3.8 million young people availed career guidance through
YuWaah initiatives and has leveraged an additional
$25 million for the next 10 years with the Government.
7

10. colleges, 1150+ entrance exams and 1200+ scholarships and has reached over 6.7 million students. As part of the
programme, 163,000 teachers have been trained to provide guidance to the students on careers.
I got to know of the Portal from my teacher and learnt for the first
time of the many entrance exams and career options available to
me. The in-person career counselling session also helped me
understand the skills I need to improve, such as communication.
JYOTI DABI, 17 YEARS OLD, RAJASTHAN
“ “
I never attended formal computer classes, yet through P2E, I
empowered my friends, family, and community, evolving into a
better citizen. I was also able to utilize my digital and financial
skills to support local shops and my own family on using digital
payment platforms.
MARY, 19 YEARS OLD, MEGHALAYA
“
“
Call for Solutions: YuWaah, in collaboration with Dasra 10 to 19, has identified
three organisations through the Call for Solutions initiative offering novel solutions
to enable career guidance. YuWaah and Dasra 10 to 19 shall provide network,
advocacy, youth-centred programming, design thinking support as well as
financial support in some cases.
ƒ Antarang Foundation: Diagnostic tool and integrated curriculum to bridge the
gap between education to employability.
ƒ Alohomora Education Foundation: Action-oriented process, emphasising
inherent abilities and equipping students with skills for independent
decision-making.
ƒ Quest Alliance: An app-based game that builds decision making skills through
career choice simulations.
21ST CENTURY SKILLS
Passport to Earning (P2E): P2E is an E-Learning solution curating high quality content relevant to user group's
implicit and explicit skilling needs, identified in collaboration with key stakeholders. It enables young people to
become financially independent by providing them with the right skills and connecting them with relevant
opportunities. The initiative is addressing the two biggest issues for young people – Skilling and Employment,
through a guided and integrated approach by providing them with a few selected pathways to build their skills
and connect them with relevant opportunities. Since Oct’22, P2E has reached two types of user sections –
Academic Learners and Job Seekers, through multiple govt and non-govt partnerships.
P2E has onboarded 2.8 million young people from 30 states of the country, with 1.3 million+ young people
completing at least one 10-hour skilling course on P2E, of which, 58% are females.
8

11. FunDoo: Fundoo is a chat-based learning solution that enables young people with 21st century skilling and
career exploration opportunities through real world 'tasks'. The content on FunDoo is gamified and challenges
learners to do progressively complex tasks while providing guidance and nudges. FunDoo is designed such that
any learner with access to WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, or Telegram, irrespective of ownership of
their personal device can use it and can continue to use it despite learning disruptions. Most of the learning on
FunDoo is 'learning by doing'.
FunDoo is currently being scaled globally; it is active in 13 countries, 8 in pipeline as of Nov 2023.
The platform has engaged 200,000 plus young people in 2023 and 880,000 plus young people
since its inception in 2020 in India.
There are so many skills available on FunDoo that have been very
helpful to me. One of these skills taught me to be more confident
in myself, especially when it came to public speaking. I was able to
go on stage and speak in front of many people,
which I had been unable to do before.
GAYATRI, 20 YEARS OLD, HIMACHAL PRADESH
“
“
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
State Skill Index: The objective of this initiative is to build the first State Skills Index in India by analysing demand
and supply of skills at the state-level in India and documenting local and global best practices. Expected to be
completed over the next 6 months (October 2023 - March 2024), this will entail a comprehensive landscape
study/desk review of skill indices that will be used to design the framework. This will entail developing a model to
build, measure and pilot as state skill index, including a framework to measure skill development status of states
to feed into an index. Recommendations and learnings will be compiled in the final report and will document
data collection strategy to input into the state skill index report for all states and UTs of India.
Incorporating Vocational Education in School Education: Based on the National Education Policy (NEP 2020),
the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) has been developed under the guidance of
the National Steering Committee on 23rd August 2023, serving as a reference point and guiding roadmap for
syllabus and textbook developers for school education. As a follow-up NCF-SE, a National Syllabus and Teaching
Learning-Learning Material Committee (NSTC) was constituted in July 2023, within which Curricular Area Group
were assigned with the task to develop subject-wise syllabi and teacher-learning materials, including textbooks.
YuWaah UNICEF is a part for the Curricular Area Group on Vocational Education. As part of this, YuWaah is
contributing to the integration of vocational education across subject areas and stages and implement it as a
subject for classes 6-12 across India.
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12. INNOVATION-LED PARTICIPATION
UPSHIFT POWERED BY UNISOLVE: UPSHIFT is a catalyst, transforming youth into solution-driven innovators for their
communities. Tailored to diverse settings and primed for scalability, it offers a robust blend of human-centred design,
mentorship, and seed funding. Participants emerge as dynamic leaders, armed with unparalleled problem-solving,
creativity, and collaborative prowess. The initiative enhances digital literacy immediately through access to tools and
guided learning helping students to. Over time, it cultivates a generation of digital leaders, inspires community-based
digital solutions, and draws investments to bolster regional digital infrastructure. 350,000 + young people were skilled
with UPSHIFT, where 70,000 youth solutions were ideated and 50,000 were proposed for the current year, furthermore
600 solutions were developed.
CLIMATE ACTION AND LEADERSHIP
Meri LiFE: YuWaah and UNICEF have supported MoEFCC to develop Meri LiFE –
a digital innovation platform for young people to hone their green skills,
climate sensitivity and leadership towards combating climate change.
The platform has been built in conjunction with Mission LiFE – announced by
the Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi at the 2021 UN Climate Change
Conference (UNFCCC COP 26), as a movement focused on bringing individual
behaviours to the forefront of the global climate change narrative. The Meri LiFE
web portal and mobile application engages all stakeholders – especially young
people in undertaking low touch-high touch actions, focused on climate
sensitisation and green skilling across themes pertaining to energy conservation,
reduction of single-use plastic, adopting sustainable food systems and more.
How did YuWaah partner
with young people
for social impact?
More than 13.8 million young people participated in
social impact initiatives in 2023, where an investment
of $160,000 with support of PwC and Capgemini,
and Funds leveraged $17,700 from Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change led to
25 million pro planet actions on the Meri LiFE
platform, of which 10 million are youth-led actions.
In the youth-led innovation space, an investment
of $2 million over 3 years from Capgemini, SAP,
Hydro and Funds leveraged: $135,000 from national
and state government led to 300,000+ students
trained and 50,000+ youth-led ideas generated,
25,000+ school teachers trained by the UPSHIFT
programme. This programme further got scaled
in four states and adopted in three countries.
Also, the launch of the YouthHub platform having
an investment of $17.4 million from CIFF and PwC
and $2.7 million worth of pro bono tech support from
Capgemini is expected to have 1 million users by 2024.
School Innovation Challenges allow student innovators to pitch
their innovative ideas and help in the development of our
knowledge. They allotted us a mentor, who helped us in building
our solution, explained how to start a business and the strategies
to develop or start up a business.
GAI CHANDANA, NYALAKONDA SWETHA REDDY,
VELPULA LAHARIKA, 17 YEARS OLD, TELANGANA
“
“
10

13. Meri LiFE engaged 78+ Ministries and departments across India, reporting
participation from 25.2 million citizens, through 1.5 million events conducted in all
36 states and union territories. The Meri LiFE app has been downloaded over 100,000 times.
Through Meri LiFE, I have become a LiFE champion! After we
clean river banks, we share the photos on the app and access
many opportunities, such as skill development and many
exciting recognitions. We also get to take other actions, such
as reducing e-waste and saving water.
MOHAMMAD SIRAJ, 26 YEARS OLD, WEST BENGAL
“
“
Local Conference of Youth India, 2023: YuWaah supported 130 young people from across the country for their
active participation in the UNFCCC’s Children and Youth Constituency (YOUNGO) accredited Local Conference of
Youth India 2023, held in September. As a co-convener, YuWaah provided technical and financial support to the
youth-led Bring Back Green Foundation and amplified the India youth statement emerging out of the three day
conference. The key outcomes of the policy discussions from LCOY India 2023 are submitted and were
incorporated into the outcome policy document for the Global Conference of Youth (COY18), which was held
before COP28 in UAE, where the Global Youth Statement, developed through the policy consultation process,
was submitted to the COP28 Presidency’s Youth Climate Champion and the UN Secretary General.
India Young Climate Leaders (2023-24): In the lead up-to COP28 and expanding on YuWaah’s commitment and
support to the Local Conference of Youth India 2023, UNICEF and YuWaah backed the participation of the four
Young Climate Leaders 2023 selected from the LCOY India Cohort to attend COP28 in the UAE, with support from
the MoEFCC. These four leaders were selected for their exceptional on-ground efforts on climate change and
environmental sustainability and were equipped in alignment with Mission LiFE and assisted the official MoEFCC
delegation in various public engagements at the India Pavilion and other related opportunities. These young
leaders showcased their environmentally friendly initiatives and solutions, broadening their understanding of
global climate change and environmental sustainability.
COP28 Engagement: Green Rising and Green Rising India Alliance was launched by the Hon’ble Minister of
Environment and Climate Change on the Youth Day, followed by YuWaah/UNICEF led event- Youth actions on
Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) at the India Pavilion at COP28 in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment
Forests and Climate Change as a flagship event on the Youth Day. The National Youth Statement, born out of
LCOY India 2023, made its inaugural presentation to the Hon’ble Minister of Environment and Climate Change.
The statement and presentation aimed to convey insights and showcase the commitments of young individuals
to Mission LiFE.
Through Meri LiFE, I have become a LiFE champion! After we
clean river banks, we share the photos on the app and access
exciting recognitions. We also get to take other actions, such
11

14. YOUTH CENTRALITY
Youth Ke Bol: Youth Ke Bol is a pan-Indian and representative youth-led coalition facilitated by Dasra, Pravah,
Restless Development, The YP Foundation, YuWaah UNICEF and Yuvaa. It aims to engage one million young Indians
to amplify their voices on their needs especially around factors impacting their quality of life. The coalition is being
supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
YuWaah is the strategic and policy engagement partner of the Youth Ke Bol Coalition which aims to capacitate youth
leaders on policy advocacy and strengthen young people’s ecosystem to ensure smoother transition from learning to
earning by regular dialogues with key stakeholders and policymakers. To facilitate this, a cohort of 45 young people
from 15 states was onboarded in June 2023. The cohort has a representation of 27 females, 14 males and
4 non-binary young people. These young people have participated across various platforms and interacted with
key-decision makers for ensuring youth-inclusive policies.
UN India Youth Advocates: To inspire and gather the support for and
of India’s 350+ million young people towards the Sustainable
Development Goals, UN in India and YuWaah at UNICEF had come
together to appoint UN India YuWaah Advocates on International
Youth Day 2022, along with UNDP, UNEP, UNV, UNHCR and UNFPA
with the ethos of ‘nothing about us, without us’.
This year these young people have undergone training in human
rights, gender equality, environment and climate action, SDGs, digital
advocacy, LiFE, leadership development and peer to peer learning
with experts from various UN agencies, along with representing youth
voices in media, panels, podcasts and events and further co-creating
campaigns. We are further supporting them to create and lead their
own youth-led social impact initiatives at the grassroots level in 2024.
Young People’s Action Team: A new cohort of 50 young people of YuWaah’s Young People’s Action Team has been
onboarded after carefully screening 2,200 applications. These young people constitute representation from 16 states,
and have 26 females, 21 males and 3 non-binary young people. The cohort was officially launched on 1st November 2023
YuWaah day by Kevin Frey, CEO of Generation Unlimited and Cynthia Mc Caffrey, Country Representative, UNICEF.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
National Curriculum Framework: At a G20 co-branded event hosted by MoHFW, YuWaah drafted recommendations
for National Curriculum Framework which were later submitted to MoE.
Rashtriya Kishore Swastya Karyakram: YuWaah drafted recommendations for Rashtriya Kishore Swastya Karyakram
from four consultations led by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
QoL-LAB: In September 2023, Youth Ke Bol in collaboration with UNFPA organised a multi-stakeholder round table
discussion on young people’s quality of life, shared their feedback on draft of National Menstrual Health Policy. The
consultation was the first of its kind conversation involving 40 stakeholders (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
(MoHFW), private sectors, multilaterals, donor agencies, civil society organisations, and youth leaders) from diverse
sectors, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), gender, education, and livelihoods. The purpose
was to explore the relevance, intersections, and significance of integrating SRHR and gender within programming.
The discussion highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and identified ways to adopt an integrated
approach, contributing to the enhancement of young people's quality of life. The dialogue served as a valuable
platform for amplifying youth voices and shedding light on their challenges. It strategically positioned their demands
for a sustainable and equitable future, emphasising the need for collaboration and concerted efforts across various
sectors. This event played a pivotal role in fostering understanding, cooperation, and collective action, ultimately
contributing to the advancement of the well-being of young people.
12

15. YouthHub is a digital aggregator platform with the goal of creating a digital ecosystem—an aggregated
marketplace—for young people seeking youth-centric digital solutions. This platform has been designed as a
Digital Public Good to catalyse the aspirations of 300 million youth by providing an inclusive and accessible digital
ecosystem. By embracing technology and innovation, YouthHub seamlessly integrates various platforms, tools, and
resources into a cohesive space. Its primary aim is to offer employment and other economic opportunities, as well
as opportunities for upskilling, learning, and volunteering, all within a single-window platform.
With the launch of the app done on 3rd October'23, YouthHub has undergone functional, usability, performance,
and security testing in several phases. Initially, functional and usability testing engaged 500 power users, pinpointing
issues, and gathering insights. In the second round, 3000 young individuals participated in testing via UNICEF's
U-Report channel. Most recently, the app underwent comprehensive security testing utilising SonarQube and CAST,
addressing any vulnerabilities discovered, with the Capgemini Cybersecurity team overseeing the security screening
process.
Cross-cutting
Digital Solutions
YuWaah has supported the
development of tech-based solutions
to widen the reach and impact, while
delivering solutions seamlessly and
effectively across priority areas and a
wide spectrum of young people. In
2023, YouthHub was launched as
YuWaah’s first digital aggregator
platform. Other digital solutions like
Passport 2 Earning are currently
being scaled to host additional
cross-cutting capabilities.
13

16. Partnering for Impact
With the values of shared-value partnership and
collective impact at its heart, YuWaah leveraged
people, influence, and resources - both non-financial
and financial, with the help of partners amounting
to $47 million in 2023. This also manifested into
close and active collaboration with a wide range
of partners, through co-creation, convenings and
communications that reflect diverse perspectives
and insights of leaders and young people.
PARTNERSHIPS
YuWaah is consciously focusing on identifying partners who are diverse in their skills and competencies and are
aligned to the vision, principles, and committed to working at-scale, so that YuWaah’s support facilitates a
multiplier effect, while also addressing missing inter-linkages and white spaces or gaps. YuWaah has devised
various partnership models to help facilitate breakthroughs and maximisation of potential impact, based on
partners priorities and interests.
Partners continue to support YuWaah financial to develop programmes and platforms for young people.
Additionally, select partners join the high-level governance board of YuWaah to steer its strategy while coming
on board as founding partners to ensure sustainability of YuWaah secretariat. YuWaah has also been successfully
leveraging technical expertise by engaging leadership and employees in programme development. Additionally,
in 2023, YuWaah adopted a consortium-based approach to key verticals like climate and career guidance to
ensure partners can streamline strategy and efforts.
In 2023, we collaborated with a wide range of partners to bring our initiatives to scale, support our ecosystem
strengthening work, develop knowledge and evidence products, provide thought leadership in critical youth
centric areas, identify issues and challenges, help improve programming, and influence policies.
LEVERAGING RESOURCES
As a partnerships platform, YuWaah is supported by UN agencies, civil society organisations, private sector and
foundations. YuWaah initiatives are being supported by founding partners (YuWaah Governance Board) and
programmatic funders. Founding partners play an active role in influencing strategy and execution of YuWaah.
They craft shared value partnership with governments and private sectors to build a collaborative platform.
Founding partners contribute not only financially but also provide technical know-how and strategic expertise to
maximise impact and scale solutions. Our founding partners include Amazon, Children’s Investment Fund
Foundation (CIFF), Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Capgemini India, UNFPA, UNHCR and UNICEF. Through
financial and non-financial resources, the goal is to achieve impact at scale and solve for problems with and
for young people that are complex and require collaborative efforts.
ƒ $19.57 million were raised for the ecosystem
ƒ $27.73 million of non-financial resources were leveraged
14
25 new
partners engaged
15 multi-stakeholder
collaborations
16 initiatives/pilots
were scaled
10 public resources,
knowledge and technology
products developed
138 events
were conducted
6 government
systems supported

17. MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION
Across the #ImPactWithYouth series, news and media coverage, social media campaigns and multi-stakeholder
convenings, we formed pieces that resonate with the partners in our ecosystem, including young people.
We also brought forward stories of young people as volunteers, advocates, entrepreneurs, refugees,
changemakers and climate-action heroes to amplify the often-unheard voices, ensuring that their
experiences and achievements take centre stage.
CONVENINGS IN 2023
SPACE
FOR
PICTURE
Programmatic funders provide monetary support for specific YuWaah initiatives. These partners include
Randtsad, Hindustan Unilever Ltd., Micron. The common goal of partners is to develop and strengthen the
youth-centric ecosystem, scaling up and amplifying its reach and impact on young people, especially the most
vulnerable sections of the country. Additionally, YuWaah also partners with organisations which provide technical
and in-kind support to programmes. In 2023, partners such as MoE, Dasra, Boston Consulting Group, Dove
among others for enabling career guidance, skills development, volunteering, and economic opportunities.
YouthHub, Yuwaah’s digital aggregator platform for young people was launched with
UNICEF Global Executive Director - Catherine Russell, UNICEF India National Ambassador
- Ayushmann Khurrana, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government
of India - Smt. Meeta Rajivlochan, along with partners from United Nations, PwC,
Capgemini, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Generation Unlimited.
National Conference on Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship focused on
creating large scale place-based economic opportunities for youth in India. Co-hosted
by YuWaah, the conference was attended by over 50 stakeholders which included
senior government officials, international experts, thought leaders, practitioners,
funders and young people.
At the G20 Summit, YuWaah emphasised the crucial role of youth centrality in urban
spaces during the U20 and Y20 Youth Conclave held in Delhi. At the 3rd Education
Working Group Meeting, we highlighted the impact of digitisation on skilling and
learning along with a curated showcase of initiatives focusing on the future of
inclusion at the Future of Work exhibition in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha.
#ImPactWithYouth Conclave with Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India,
UNICEF, United Nations India, UN agencies, public, private & youth partners from India and
South Asia to commemorate International Youth Day with over 350 young people in
Chennai. The theme for the conclave was Green Skills and the #YouthforMissionLiFE
challenge was also unveiled by the Hon’ble Minister, Shri Anurag Thakur urging youth
to take pro-planet actions on the Meri LiFE app.
15

18. Statement of Intent was signed between the Government of Telangana, UNICEF
and YuWaah for fostering an innovation ecosystem where every young person is a
problem solver with Y-Hub. This is India's first hub to promote problem-solving,
creativity design thinking and 21st century skills among young people.
The School Innovation Development Project (SIDP 2022-23) launched by Hon’ble
Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu, Shri MK Stalin. Through capacity-building of 4,356
teachers and skilling 1,11,811 students, SIDP has unleashed their innovative
potential and with the rigorous UPSHIFT courses, 22,340 ideas were generated.
Convening of partners from the Apprenticeship Working Group and officials from
the Ministry of Skills Development and Entrepreneurship for a special meeting
where MSDE, UNICEF and YuWaah signed a partnership to empower youth,
particularly from marginalised communities, with skills for future employment and
entrepreneurship opportunities. The partnership was signed by Shri Atul Kumar
Tiwari, Secretary, MSDE, and Cynthia McCaffrey UNICEF India Representative in
India in the presence of Mr. K. K. Dwivedi, Joint Secretary MSDE, Ms. Sonal Mishra,
Joint Secretary, and partners. A paper titled, ‘Making Apprenticeship Aspirational:
Learnings and Way Forward, was launched by the Apprenticeship Working Group,
led by Dr. B. V. R. Mohan Reddy.
YuWaah at COP28: YuWaah and partners supported four young climate leaders
from India to present the LCOY National Youth Statement to Shri Bhupender Yadav,
the Hon’ble Minister of MOEFCC, at the India Pavilion at COP28 in the UAE.
Additionally, the Green Rising India Consortium for India was launched at COP28
under the #MissionLiFE concept. The consortium, including partners like
Capgemini India, Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), ReNew, Rohini
Nilekani Philanthropies, SAP, and The Rockefeller Foundation, aims to empower 50
million children and young people to be climate-conscious, adaptable, and
resilient by 2030.
Marked 4 years of YuWaah and our collaboration with Public-Private-Youth partners
to impact 66.5 million young people. A diverse group of partners from the
government, private sector, CSOs, philanthropists, young people and UN agencies
joined in for #Together4YuWaah where the solutions partners showcased their
incredible initiatives impacting young people across India and youth performers
graced the event.
Marking the International Day of the Girl Child with over a million learners on
Passport to Earning of which 62% are adolescent girls and young women from
disadvantaged backgrounds, accessed learning and skilling opportunities at no cost
over digital and in-person models.
16

19. CHAMPIONING FOR YOUTH CENTRALITY AND YOUTH ACTION
Collaborating on interviews and joint op-eds with public, private and youth partners such as forming
recommendations for creating 'A Sustainable Model for Women’s Leadership' with representatives of UNFPA,
UN Women and UNICEF, and a UN India YuWaah Advocate and focusing on 'The Need for Tech Upskilling
in the Digital Era' with YuWaah Board's co-chair, Ashwin Yardi, and a YPAT member.
Spotlight Young People’s Stories: Working with the media to focus on showcasing the endeavors of young
people, highlighting their innovative contributions, stories of resilience and determination. These narratives
encompass their perspectives on initiating positive change in the world, starting with civic involvement,
climate action, and volunteerism within their communities that hold the power to inspire millions more.
Capturing Meaningful Conversations between Global Thought Leaders and Young Changemakers
#ImPactWithYouth series by YuWaah and UNICEF that brings together global thought leaders and young
changemakers to exchange ideas on how to create impact not just for, but WITH the youth. To amplify the voices
of youth and address critical global issues, special podcast episodes were released on significant UN observance
days. These episodes released alongside Volunteering Day, International Youth Day, International Day of Climate
Action, and Youth Skills Day, served as a platform for meaningful conversations. From the power of volunteering
in community development to the aspirations and challenges faced by the youth, each discussion with partners
was a testament to the importance of dialogue in fostering positive change.
17

20. Annexure 1-
Theory of Change
IMPACT STATEMENT: Enable every young person
in India, especially the most disadvantaged, to
realize their potential by making informed
choices and becoming active change makers
through skilling, guidance, social impact,
aspirational economic opportunities, and
mental & wellbeing support.
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES
# of young people equipped to embark on economic
pathways by accessing job support and opportunities
for work & apprenticeships
SKILLING FOR LIFE AND WORK
# of young people equipped to navigate their personal
and professional lives by accessing 21st century skills
ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION
# of young people equipped to drive successful enterprises
by accessing innovation & entrepreneurship opportunities
YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND ACTION
# of young people equipped to become active changemakers
by leading and participating in social impact opportunities
GUIDANCE AND MENTORSHIP
# of young people equipped to make informed choices
and pursue the same by accessing career guidance,
mentorship, and mental health and wellbeing support
MENTAL WELLBEING
# of young people equipped to lead a better quality of
life by accessing mental health and wellbeing support
OUTPUTS
POLICY AND SYSTEMS
STRENGTHENING
# of institutional delivery mechanisms
strengthened through capacity building
and multistakeholder collaborations
KNOWLEDGE AND EVIDENCE
# of data and evidence-based solutions co-created
and scaled for addressing issues for young people
LEVERAGING RESOURCES
$ Value of funds (financial and non-financial) secured
by the partnership to implement its strategic plan
and build capacities for the ecosystem
COMMUNICATIONS AND ADVOCACY
% increase in reach for communications and advocacy focused
on unlocking opportunities for young people in areas of
skilling, employment, innovation, engagement and guidance
18
Outcomes: By 2030, 300 million young people are enabled and empowered to make informed choices and lead
change-making in their communities through equitable and gender transformative guidance (including career
guidance and mental health guidance), mentorship, 21st century skills, aspirational economic opportunities and
social impact, through multistakeholder partnerships.
Output: Increased capacity of Government,
partners and youth groups through sustained
and scalable collaborative action and investments,
systems strengthening, evidence-based decision
making, and by building public will to enable and
empower young people.

21. Annexure 2-
Partnership Support
YuWaah initiatives are being supported by founding partners (YuWaah Governance Board) and programmatic funders.
Founding partners play an active role in influencing strategy and execution of YuWaah. They craft shared value
partnership with governments and private sectors to build a collaborative platform. Founding partners contribute not
only financially but also provide technical know-how and strategic expertise to maximise impact and scale solutions.
FOUNDING PARTNERS
CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
PRIVATE SECTOR
MULTILATERALS
MULTILATERALS
FOUNDATIONS
SOLUTION PARTNERS
19

22. UNICEF India Country Office
73 Lodi Estate, New Delhi, 110003, India