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

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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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 group established to collect inputs and receive feedback (through British Council)
6- Selection of best practices of youth initiatives

6. 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.)

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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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