Youth Mapping Exercise Secretariat of the Pacific Community In collaboration with Commonwealth Youth Programme South Pacific, UNICEF Pacific and UNFPA

Youth Mapping Exercise Objectives: Map the magnitude of youth challenges Map the magnitude of youth challenges identifying all stakeholders supporting youth activities in the region (national, regional and international) and the respective roles they play; identifying all stakeholders supporting youth activities in the region (national, regional and international) and the respective roles they play; identifying the youth priorities that are best addressed nationally and those where regional coordination / intervention might add value to national initiatives; identifying the youth priorities that are best addressed nationally and those where regional coordination / intervention might add value to national initiatives; quantifying and mapping the total resources flowing into youth programmes in the region by sources of funds and allocation by priorities; and quantifying and mapping the total resources flowing into youth programmes in the region by sources of funds and allocation by priorities; and identifying gaps in resource allocations / availability that would need to be addressed to ensure a more comprehensive approach to addressing youth challenges in the Pacific islands region. identifying gaps in resource allocations / availability that would need to be addressed to ensure a more comprehensive approach to addressing youth challenges in the Pacific islands region.

YME - Methodology Self-administered Questionnaires Self-administered Questionnaires SPC Programmes SPC Programmes UN Agencies UN Agencies Government Youth Departments Government Youth Departments Civil Society Organizations Civil Society Organizations Literature Review Literature Review

Respondents SAS 17 PICTs (gov’t & NGOs/CSOs) 17 PICTs (gov’t & NGOs/CSOs) 47 programmes of SPC 47 programmes of SPC 13 IATY members 13 IATY members 4 Regional CSO 4 Regional CSO

Limitations No data received from Faith based organizations No data received from Faith based organizations Limited data received from gov’t youth offices Limited data received from gov’t youth offices Technology difficulties (internet access) – affects distribution and receiving of survey forms Technology difficulties (internet access) – affects distribution and receiving of survey forms Low and slow response Low and slow response

YME - Findings Youth challenges Youth challenges Stakeholders’ support and role in the youth sector Stakeholders’ support and role in the youth sector Linkages with regional youth strategies Linkages with regional youth strategies Gaps in resource allocation Gaps in resource allocation Gaps in programming and institutional capacity Gaps in programming and institutional capacity Recommendations Recommendations

YME – Youth Challenges Employment Employment Education Education Health Health Support for youth & youth initiatives Support for youth & youth initiatives Youth engagement, participation & representation Youth engagement, participation & representation Gender and young women Youth crime Rural to urban migration Youth & culture (loss of traditional culture)

Stakeholders’ Support… Regional and International stakeholders - Provide resources (funding) - Technical advice - Capacity building for implementing agencies (gov’t & CSOs) – programme management - Implement with/through local and international NGOs and CSOs

GAPS – Programmes vs Challenges ProgrammesChallenges Education  School curriculum (AH/Lifeskills)  Youth work, education and training  TVET (system)  Access to basic education  Truancy/low retention rate  lack of higher educational opportunities

GAPS – Programmes vs Challenges ProgrammesChallenges Employment  Enterprise & entrepreneurship  Small grant scheme  Young farmers  Promoting employment & sustainable livelihoods  Lack of job opportunities in formal and non-formal sectors  No job preparedness in schools  Youth do not have employable skills

GAPS – Programmes vs Challenges ProgrammesChallenges Health  Adolescent health (training, advocacy, youth health centers, media)  STI & HIV (Prevention)  Tobacco, alcohol  Mental health  AH – Teenage pregnancy, STI, HIV  Substance and alcohol abuse  Mental health (suicide)  Health services do not cater for health needs of young people

GAPS – Programmes vs Challenges ProgrammesChallenges Youth and Society  Prevention of child abuse  Mediation training  Peace building and conflict management management  Improving self-worth  lack of opportunity for youth to participate at community and national level  lack of support and parental guidance  Youth and crime  Gender and young women

YME - RECOMMENDATIONS ProgrammesChallenges Youth & identity (culture)  loss of cultural identity  loss of traditional cultures

Summary Youth Programmes vs. Issues Youth issue mostly addressed – Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (STI & HIV) Youth issue mostly addressed – Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (STI & HIV) Youth issue least addressed – Youth and Culture Youth issue least addressed – Youth and Culture Education and Employment programmes fall short of addressing issues raised by young people – programmes are focused on systems and not opportunity and access. Education and Employment programmes fall short of addressing issues raised by young people – programmes are focused on systems and not opportunity and access.

GAPS – Programming & Institutional Capacity ProgrammesChallenges Policy and programme  Development/review of youth policy and strategic plan  Trainings on quality programme management & good governance  Promoting community and government dialogue  Lack of national capacity to translate/implement youth policy and plans  Youth policies are not regularly updated to reflect current and emerging issues  inadequate programme coverage esp. in rural areas

GAPS – Programming & Institutional Capacity ProgrammesChallenges Research/Information - Adolescent Health (sexual) issues - HIV&AIDS - Mental health - Employment/income generation for vulnerable youth Data base 1. Youth (AHD) data base 2. Labor market information data base  Lack of effective monitoring at national level  Lack of national coordination,  Inadequate/unavailable/out- dated information on youth issues and best practice  Lack of evidence-base planning (policy, plan)  No central point at regional level to access information on youth issues and programmes

Summary – Programming and Institutional Capacity Lack of information sharing – programme impacts, best practices Lack of information sharing – programme impacts, best practices Lack of monitoring at national level Lack of monitoring at national level Capacity building programmes done on ad-hoc basis (lack of information on impact) Capacity building programmes done on ad-hoc basis (lack of information on impact) Limited capacity of national youth organisations’ (gov’t, NGO) develop, implement, coordinate, monitor and evaluate youth programmes at national level Limited capacity of national youth organisations’ (gov’t, NGO) develop, implement, coordinate, monitor and evaluate youth programmes at national level Limited communication, coordination within “youth sector” and with other sectors Limited communication, coordination within “youth sector” and with other sectors

Recommendations National level intervention: Institutional strengthening and capacity building Institutional strengthening and capacity building Establish/support youth consultative and advocacy groups Establish/support youth consultative and advocacy groups Improve coordination of national youth sector Improve coordination of national youth sector Youth participation Youth participation

Recommendations Provide advice and technical support Provide advice and technical support Mobilise funding support for capacity building and institutional strengthening Mobilise funding support for capacity building and institutional strengthening Mobilise resources and support youth initiatives Mobilise resources and support youth initiatives Monitor and provide information on youth development in the region (programme impacts, regional strategy Monitor and provide information on youth development in the region (programme impacts, regional strategy Regional database – youth development, trends and best practices in the region and globally Regional database – youth development, trends and best practices in the region and globally