Youth impact in global development: Reframing Equality & Inclusion

I first gained exposure to international development organisations as a high school student when I worked for the South-South and Triangular cooperation unit as an intern of a multilateral agency stationed in New York, USA.

As fate would have it, years later but in a different capacity, I would work for the same entity on issues concerning Governance—this time, stationed in Monrovia, Liberia. 

The years in between these saw me gain vast and rich experience in development work, from working for a regional body stationed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to simulating a United Nations delegation in Geneva, Switzerland.

These exposures allowed me to meet other young brilliant people. Leaders in their own right determined to create change in their communities. They were, furthermore, determined to make a change in the world. United by a common belief that the key to a prosperous future is in youth empowerment and youth leadership.

Global Commitments

The last decade witnessed a rise in global commitments and affirmations that sought to ensure that the development needs of all are addressed.      

As a young development practitioner, my work has often led me to encounter commitments such as  #LeaveNoOneBehind to #ReachTheFurthestBehindFirst. Governments and other stakeholders have symbolically used these commitments as a reminder to act on their obligations towards reducing inequalities amongst individuals. 

These commitments are grounded in international frameworks such as the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to regional instruments such as the African Union Agenda 2063. They have been used as a blueprint to guide States in securing equal rights, equal representation and equal participation.    

Against this backdrop, this piece seeks to pose the question; has development as guided by these frameworks at a practical level been equal for all? I aim to examine this by analysing the state of youth participation in public and political life, with a particular bearing on youth empowerment in the work of international organisations.

My trip down memory lane: my journey and lessons learned

I fondly look back on my short but very insightful and rigorous years in the development space. These last years of navigating the space have been filled with numerous lessons and experiences. To sum it up briefly, as a young professional, I have learned and lived the reality of many young persons looking to gain an inroad into international (and) multilateral development organisations.     

As I have learned along the way, entry into these organisations is not for personal gain for many young people. This is contrary to what many may think, given the prestigious status often assumed one benefits by working for such institutions. 

However, many young persons working in the development space envision their entry into these organisations as a platform through which they can contribute and fight for various development causes. Causes that they are passionate about and are held dear to them. This, while of course and rightly so looking to earn a living out of their life callings and professions.     

In my short but very insightful exposure to a few of these organisations, I have learned many lessons, and they are as follows.     

Firstly, the spaces within these organisations are indeed few for young professionals. However, as a young person looking to contribute to development through these institutions, one must be resilient and must strive to continually work to secure an entry.

Even when you have secured entry in, you must remember that you are in a system where you are marginally represented. As such, you must continually show your worthiness and prove your suitability for the task.

Young people must put in twice the effort. In their work and personal presentation, young persons must be bold and confident. They must unapologetically earn and own their space. At other times, they must create that space! Young people must be willing to sacrifice their comfort. They must be versatile to the new and challenging situations they will encounter along the way. 

While reading this, many would remark, well, this is indeed a process of life that is not peculiar to many. This is the process you must encounter as a young professional venturing into development work. Or generally the steps you must go through as a young person in any professional space.     

Many have been through the same process after all? Why would anyone be against this? Why should today’s young people be an exception?

Along my journey, I often asked these questions and even agreed with some of the sentiments. 

Indeed, I am grateful for the skills learned and the life lessons taught in my professional journey. However, a deeper personal analysis on the issue reveals that, while on paper, many of these entities seek to equally and fully realise the plight of young people at an institutional level, in practice, this is not the case.

The burning questions around youth underrepresentation 

The following questions bring the situation to light:

• Why are the spaces so few, yet there are so many qualified young persons out there who are keen to meaningfully contribute to developing their nations and the globe as a whole?
• Why must young people sacrifice their vast professional experience and ultimately take up positions that they are seemingly overqualified for just to ensure that they have a leg within these institutions?
• Why is it that a particular demographic of youth is represented in such organisations? While, at the same time, there is an evident need for the representation of another segment of the demographic?
• We often hear global leaders affirm that young people are the leaders of today and tomorrow. If this is true, why is it a hurdle to have young persons represented at these tables? 
  

There is a lack of will at a multilateral and institutional level to ensure the participation of the youth as equal development partners in the work of international organisations. 

While commendably, international organisations are making efforts to have the youth present, these efforts remain marginal.

As such, it is time to re-examine these strategies. 

Youth immersion programs are not enough

While volunteer programmes, graduate schemes, fellowships, internships, short immersions, and junior professional programmes allow young people exposure to these institutions’ work often for one to two years, this is not enough.

I have been a beneficiary of similar programmes at a regional and international level. I can firmly attest to the level of professional transformation these exposures equipped me with. They allowed me to learn and network with other talented and skilled professionals, both junior and senior. While importantly providing me with a platform to contribute to development.

Additionally, these short immersions have given me a springboard to compete for space at the table proactively. I often see myself at a better advantage given the time I have spent as an “insider” learning the ropes of these organisations.  

However, this is not enough.      

One would ask, are these programmes tailored with the intention of meaningfully and sustainably engaging young persons in tailoring solutions to the world’s developmental challenges?  Or are they simply a check box ticked to meet organisations’ short-term development interventions as concerns the youth.

The answers to this may vary, and (or) we may not know. However, this piece is but a reflection of a few of the concerns of young people in the space. 

We may come off as an entitled lot; some would remark. Stop searching for instant gratification and trust the process. You will eventually end up where you ought to be. Indeed, all these sentiments are true. However, we must not be blind to the structures in place (or their lack thereof) that serve as constraints in equally, fully and meaningfully engaging young persons as equal partners in development work.

3 ways to accelerate youth empowerment in global development

1. Put some financial skin in the game

Firstly, in their annual contributions to these organisations, States should apportion an amount of funds towards the empowerment and representation of their young nationals at an institutional level in these organisations.

The UN JPO programme has seen various States (Donor Countries) sponsor technical positions for their nationals and sometimes developing countries (as a form of development aid) into technical positions at the UN.

If indeed young people are today’s leaders and tomorrow, surely this should be every nation’s commitment.

The UN budget, for example, caters to peacekeeping issues, supporting UN reforms, UN structure and agencies, etc. For instance, within the thematic area of UN structure and agencies, a certain amount of member states’ contributions can be used to ensure youth from across the globe are supported by their states to contribute to development through the work of the UN. This method can then be replicated across other similar organisations of international and regional stature.

Some regional organisations have taken up the cue; however, they need to invest a lot more.

2. Decentralise youth entry points

Domesticate the work and interventions of international organisations at regional and local levels. Having a “field” presence would be beneficial in involving young persons in the work of these organisations. While a field presence would entail having physical structures in various localities, it would also mean effectively replicating interventions and programmes across all regions.  These interventions will give young people a feeling of what it means to target beneficiaries, programme resources and monitor interventions at local levels. These experiences add up to provide the substance for a policy engagement.     

For example, African youth should not have to seek positions at global headquarters such as New York to feel what it means to work as technicians on policy issues for a multilateral agency. The same work or the extent of these policy engagements should be replicated across the regions and linked to programme positions. 

Having decentralised entry points will provide career progression pathways.

While it may be easier to get a feel of this type of work in global headquarters, where the nature of the work demands a focus on “paper” with a combination of high-level engagements, versatile organisations should provide a feel of this for this all within the organisations. This would benefit all and not just young professionals.  

A closer collaboration should be made with governments through a top-down approach to ensure that the work being done at an international level is being effectively replicated at a local level. This would be done by working closely through the relevant Government ministries, NGOs and community organisations. Such interventions might already exist; however, when all governments fund young professionals, they would then be keen to deploy them on completion of exposure within their domestic settings.

3. Prioritise education and capacity building

Lastly and importantly, empower and educate young persons about the work of these organisations.

Empower them in a way that is relevant to their realities.

How can we #HarnessTheDemographicDividend if those that constitute the most significant demographic share do not know how to contribute as development partners effectively. Education and empowerment are essential.

There is an overreliance on international experts and consultants hired for work that local youth can already do or perfectly learn to do. 

These international consultants may be fundamental for project implementation in contexts with a lack of local expertise. However, the projects’ dependency on international’s amplifies the lack of exposure for young local talent.

We must invest in capacity building through seeking opportunities to mentor, coach and educate young local talent. This is by giving them space and time to grow as resourceful young professionals.

Conclusion

Let us walk the talk.

Let us truly #LeaveNoOneBehind. The voices and the presence of the youth are meaningful in charting ways to many of the global development challenges that face the world today. Change does not happen instantly. However, let us progressively work towards equally and inclusively engaging the youth as partners in development work.

Let us endeavour to provide young professionals with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in global development efforts. The youth ought to be equal agents in contributing to the advancement and furtherance of international organisation’s mandates, especially regarding the #SustainableDevelopmentGoals. 

We all stand to benefit from enhancing youth participation in the work of international organisations. 

They are the leaders of today and tomorrow. 

Let us realise our commitments to them. Let us empower them. Let us invest in them.