1. Global Refugee Youth Consultations

2. The Consultations
Consultations held in 23 countries between Oct 2015 – May 2016 (Europe, Asia, Africa, Middle East, Americas)
1,500 youth (15-24) participated
Global Consultation in Geneva, June 2016

3. Consultation Objectives
1. To create structured spaces for young refugees to have a voice and engage in participatory dialogue with other youth and relevant stakeholders at local, national, regional, and global levels.
2. To improve access for young refugees to local, national, regional, and global youth alliances and networks.
3. To foster and support participation, leadership, and empowerment opportunities for young refugees.
4. To consolidate and channel the learning from the consultations into the development of guidelines and policy recommendations on youth-inclusive programming to improve the humanitarian sector’s understanding of and work with, young refugees.

4. Implementation Tripartite structure Local Youth facilitators
Mix of refugee & host country youth
Participatory
Stakeholders’ meeting
Toolkit for smaller consultations

5. Approach – A journey of discovery
Guided by youth in the design phase and continually throughout
Built trust and understanding of key issues
Examined challenges in depth but always ended on a high
An honest and positive exchange of information and learning
Focused on solutions and positive change

6. Outcomes – Main Challenges
Difficulties obtaining legal recognition and personal documents
Difficulty in accessing quality learning, formal education and skills-building opportunities
Discrimination, racism, xenophobia, and “culture clash”
Few youth employment and livelihood opportunities
Gender inequality, discrimination, exploitation, and violence, including for LGBTI youth
Poor access to youth-sensitive healthcare, including psychosocial support
Lack of safety, security, and freedom of movement
Challenges for unaccompanied youth
Lack of opportunities to participate, be engaged or access decision makers
Lack of information about asylum, refugee rights, and available services (quote)

7. Outcomes: Core Actions for Refugee Youth

8. A Framework for Action
Empower refugee youth through meaningful engagement
Recognise, utilise, and develop refugee youth capacities and skills
Ensure refugee youth-focused protection
Support refugee youth physical and emotional wellbeing
Facilitate refugee youth networking and information sharing
Reinforce refugee youth as connectors and peace builders
Generate data and evidence on refugee youth to promote accountability to youth

9. Learning for participants?
The interconnected nature of the challenges ergo….
That refuge and host country youth face many similar challenges
That they can take action and achieve much together
That adults can listen and support without taking over

10. Learning for us?
Consistently achieving the four objectives of the project would be a real achievement.
The need for a light touch
The need for dedicated programmes
Reinforced the need to work with young people on their own terms
Complexities exist with other populations

11. reflections / more outcomes?
Helping to change the narrative around youth
Active Youth groups in 12 countries
Better understanding internally and externally
Expanded network of actors
Political will (donors and agencies)
Opportunities (youth and agencies)

12. Some Recommendations