Programme Manager, Poverty Reduction NHDR Youth 2008 Experience UNDP Turkey Berna BAYAZIT BARAN Programme Manager, Poverty Reduction Istanbul 17 November 2011 /undpturkiye /undpturkiye

Outline Rationale for the theme Preparation process Main findings Dissemination Follow-up and Policy impacts Experiences and Challenges Recommendations

Why Select ‘Youth’ as the theme of NHDR? UNDP Turkey working on youth issues for some time. Civic/community participation, income generation, political representation, etc. Statistics on youth unemployment 12.5 million young people (15-24 age group), constituting 17% of the population Inclusion related challenges although difficult to assess due to lack of information

Preparation process 1,5 years (took longer than initially planned!) A project document Participation! (modality?) (should youth actually write the report?) Engaging youth groups and NGO’s to the extent possible Contributors (UNDP, British Council, Coca Cola, UN RC Office) Structure: Drafting team (4-5 young researchers) Technical Advisory Board Research Company Senior Advisor

Preparation process Process: 1- Researchers conducted desk review and presented to the team 2- A research association contracted for quantitative research (3,300 young men&women) 3- Young researchers were contracted for qualitative surveys 4- Outline prepared after the desk research/initial qualitative assessments 5- An interactive web site and an e-mail group established to collect inputs and receive feedback (through British Council) 6- Selection of best practices of youth initiatives

Preparation process 3322 young men and women from 12 representative provinces surveyed through a questionnaire (Profiling and challenges, dreams, etc.) 24 focus groups with young men and women, 4 focus groups with adults. Focus groups conducted by young people who received trainings on focus group techniques Results of qualitative and quantitative surveys analyzed by academicians Experts/UN Agencies writing special contributions under relevant chapters (e.g. Labour life, child labour, gender equality, etc.)

Main findings 1- Turkey needs a youth policy and youth supporting instiutions 2- Approximately 5 million young people are ‘idle’ (young women, physically handicapped, juvenile delinquents, young people on the streets,..) 2- Quality of education needs to be improved along with quantity 3- A special focus on young people’s health needed 4- An effective Youth Employment Strategy needed 5- People’s participation in decision processes across the country.

Dissemination Dissemination modalities designed according to the target groups Media planning by UNDP Communication Office Press launch, knowledge fair and consequent interviews Press launch with UN RR and Minister responsible for planning Knowledge fair organized by the Youth NGO, to share and discuss the findings with participation of over 100 NGOs, best practice awards A number of media interviews and coverage

Follow-up and policy impacts Intense media coverage with the message of 5 million ‘idle’ young individual Pursuant to the knowledge fair, youth NGOs voluntarily formed a network to do advocacy and follow-up (Genc-Link). A press statement calling the government for action (first time youth groups joined on a subject) The government immediately started the discussions to prepare a youth policy. (State reform, Ministry) Law prepared in consultation with youth NGOs A National Youth Employment Action Plan prepared and adopted The report continuously referenced in government reports, political party documents, etc. building the basis for youth policies (HD AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE in 2009 for impacting National Policy Debate)

Experiences and Challenges Initial plan: Have the volunteer young people draft the report did not work! Capacities and other commitments The whole process had to be re-launched, with loads of information not well-organized Participation of youth groups increased the ownership of the report Multiple channels of advocacy Selecting best practices increased visibility and engagement Very strong support from HDR Office An easily readable report, best to be drafted by a journalist

Recommendations Good to frame the outline after initial literature review and initial consultations with youth, and then to fill it in through consultations Strong messages are key in ensuring interest and media coverage Structured, systematic work is key, start drafting the report from the onset Expert views are important, language and easy reading!! A Senior Advisor’s engagement experience in HDRs crucial Engage Youth groups and if possible media representatives experienced in youth in Technical Advisory Board

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