Emerging Economies, Emerging Leaderships; Arab Women and Youth as Drivers of Change

Introduction A great majority of youth in developing countries including Arab countries, where all the communities are young communities, the age groups from 15 to 24 years old, constitute a large percentage of their own populations and of the world population.

Youth Development - between the theory and the application : Most of the governments and non governmental institutions when developing and creating young leaders through training programs and community activities pay no attention to strengthening youth economically or their decision making capacity which results in them becoming independent of and isolated from the community. This leads to poor economic situation in the country and the state's inability to meet their responsibilities. Development experts confirm the need to involve youth as the biggest group in the development process

Start from the concept of development

Development process Comprehensive development Sustainable development Integrated development

The development process must be integrated, comprehensive and sustainable

Comprehensive development PoliticalCulturalSocialEconomic

There needs to be a cultural order caring for the individual and establishing the basis for effective thinking, the rooting of loyalty and identity, as well as a stable social system clear of behavioral ailments, that acts with an economic system. This means an effective political system that is flexible and in action with the economic, social and cultural systems, as without these we cannot reach comprehensive development and youth will remain on the margins, which may produce unexpected results

Comprehensive Development: to achieve comprehensive development we need to reform the cultural, social, economic, political systems

Integrated development Organizations Communities Members Government organizations

Sustainable Development Looking for better Viable investment Viable continuance Human role

To ensure active participation of youth in the development process there are necessary requirements.

We have to ensure that the target majority of the development process, as well as tools for development, must be present in all stages of the process because the political systems are not flexible enough for a place for young people through pluralism, justice, transparency and democracy. If they are not involved in this system ( because they are the majority) the developmental process will not succeed at any level

To ensure active participation of youth in the development process theses are the needs Feeling of safety Opportunities for creative expression Service of others Risk الشعور بالمكانةskills Competitionloyalty

We need to give youth the confidence and suitable freedom to be able to innovate and express themselves as well as the opportunity to take risks and gain experiences that promote self- confidence, also with the sense of security, stability and loyalty. Most important of these elements is loyalty, as it promotes cultural education and a sense of responsibility.

High unemployment among youth is a sign of peril … What have the Palestinian governments done to prepare for the future? Where is sustainability and where are the rights of the next generations?

These questions raised by the Palestinian youth during the preparation for youth employment plan - drafted by Sharek Youth Forum Shaerk Palestinian youth forum is a very broad based organisation representing Palestinian youth in civil society

The role of government in developing youth: In 2010, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the official body that should take care of youth in Palestine began to prepare a Cross-Sector National Youth Strategy. Here I will review the most important points in the plan that address youth development

Sector Vision: “An empowered and participative youth that have diverse and equivalent opportunities for balanced growth within the framework of a democratic and pluralistic society.”

Four Priorities and Strategic Objectives First Objective: Enhancement, expansion, and development of the participation of youth in all areas of life.. Second Objective: Development and enhancement of the values of citizenship, belonging, and civil rights of the youth. Third Objective: Empowerment of the Youth Economically, Socially, and Politically. Fourth Objective: Improvement of the quality of programs and services provided to the adolescents and youth and to facilitate its delivery to and access by them

Ministry's Share of the Government Budget (in millions of NIS) YearMinistry's ShareGovernment BudgetPercentage ,0448,345,3040.3% ,4958,832,6390.3% ,37310,525,7030.3% ,9201,156,0360.5%

Role of the private sector: The International Labour Organization invited private sector pioneers in Palestine as well as experts to discuss the role of the private sector in supporting the youth and limiting unemployment. PADICO General Manager Samir Hleileh, one of the largest investment companies in Palestine, answered as follows:

Role of the privet sector: The government should offer us facilities and investments to allow us to employ un experienced youth in order to afford them practical experience. Companies have agreed to spend monies dedicated to social responsibility related to youth development. There are private sector fears, especially among financiers such as banks, from lending to youth due to lack of necessary guarantees, therefore the government should offer guarantees. The private sector does not like hiring graduates who lack experience and therefore the state should draw plans in cooperation with the private sector to hire new graduates in order to afford them the necessary experience that allows them to compete in the marketplace.

Recommendations: To unite youth efforts of individuals and organizations and draw up a united strategy for all to work under. - To implement laws and legislation relating to youth in general and in particular work initiatives. - To allocate part of the state budget to youth. - To offer guarantees to the private sector to allow it to support youth. - To support housing projects for youth. - To develop youth initiatives in IT because they are pioneers in this field.

Recommendations: - To offer opportunities for youth in government and in particular jobs. - Supporting media directed at youth. - To promote youth participation in the political system. - To organize youth popular movements that deal with reality and take part in regional developments in order to reach decision making positions and to influence regulations and the monitoring of implementation.

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