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Youth engagement

LESSON

Lesson Learned: Citizenship is my Right

One of the project’s objectives was to combat the exodus from rural areas and the lack of employment opportunities for young village people. This problem remains. Concerted action with other actors from civil society politics could raise awareness among actors at the State level to address this problem.
Project Partner
Mouvement Social
Project Description
This project aimed to promote democratic participation in local government decision-making by creating Municipal Youth Councils. Designed to encourage young people to gain self-confidence and trust one another the project focused on civic education for local leaders; the creation of Municipal Youth Councils in the targeted villages; and the development of group and individual employment and social projects addressing the social and economic needs of the villages. There project was coherent and relevant. The skills and knowledge from the training were applied to concrete activities that fostered changes in the young people’s behaviour and their effective participation in decision-making.
Evaluation Date
January 2012
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador

The training content and methodology was designed in close collaboration with the beneficiaries. This approach resulted in the training being relevant and effective.
Project Partner
IFES
Project Description
The objective of the project was to reinforce local governance by helping to strengthen democratic practices among the indigenous and Afro-descendant populations of Ecuador. The project’s key components comprised of training for young leaders from the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in leadership techniques and political influence; activities to raise the awareness and visibility of the target audience; institutional strengthening of the partner organisations and the creation of opportunities for political dialogue. Ecuador introduced a new constitution in 2008, which focused on improving the living conditions of vulnerable and marginalized communities and groups, fighting poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development. The decision to focus the project on young leaders, including a fair representation of young women, who had not previously had the chance to learn about and practice their civic responsibility, also proved to be relevant to the political context of renewal in the country.
Evaluation Date
October 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador

Following the project many young leaders and managers of grassroots organisations who were trained are now participating actively in local and provincial government bodies. These participants have disseminated the training and awareness-raising material to other members of the indigenous and African-descendant movements.
Project Partner
IFES
Project Description
The objective of the project was to reinforce local governance by helping to strengthen democratic practices among the indigenous and Afro-descendant populations of Ecuador. The project’s key components comprised of training for young leaders from the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in leadership techniques and political influence; activities to raise the awareness and visibility of the target audience; institutional strengthening of the partner organisations and the creation of opportunities for political dialogue. Ecuador introduced a new constitution in 2008, which focused on improving the living conditions of vulnerable and marginalized communities and groups, fighting poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development. The decision to focus the project on young leaders, including a fair representation of young women, who had not previously had the chance to learn about and practice their civic responsibility, also proved to be relevant to the political context of renewal in the country.
Evaluation Date
October 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador

The project helped to strengthen the democratisation process among indigenous and Afro-descendant groups in Ecuador. This was in keeping with the partner organisations’ strategic options and institutional path, and was not limited to this specific intervention. The project’s support has proven very significant for the grantee’s partners in terms of the implementation of their strategies and the strengthening of the capacities of their managers.
Project Partner
IFES
Project Description
The objective of the project was to reinforce local governance by helping to strengthen democratic practices among the indigenous and Afro-descendant populations of Ecuador. The project’s key components comprised of training for young leaders from the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in leadership techniques and political influence; activities to raise the awareness and visibility of the target audience; institutional strengthening of the partner organisations and the creation of opportunities for political dialogue. Ecuador introduced a new constitution in 2008, which focused on improving the living conditions of vulnerable and marginalized communities and groups, fighting poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development. The decision to focus the project on young leaders, including a fair representation of young women, who had not previously had the chance to learn about and practice their civic responsibility, also proved to be relevant to the political context of renewal in the country.
Evaluation Date
October 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador

The target groups reported positive benefits from the project in terms of professional development and have succeeded in integrating the tools and approaches used in the project to make their political actions more effective.
Project Partner
IFES
Project Description
The objective of the project was to reinforce local governance by helping to strengthen democratic practices among the indigenous and Afro-descendant populations of Ecuador. The project’s key components comprised of training for young leaders from the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in leadership techniques and political influence; activities to raise the awareness and visibility of the target audience; institutional strengthening of the partner organisations and the creation of opportunities for political dialogue. Ecuador introduced a new constitution in 2008, which focused on improving the living conditions of vulnerable and marginalized communities and groups, fighting poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development. The decision to focus the project on young leaders, including a fair representation of young women, who had not previously had the chance to learn about and practice their civic responsibility, also proved to be relevant to the political context of renewal in the country.
Evaluation Date
October 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador

If a project is managed remotely and implemented by an organisation that is not present in the country, there should be a capacity assessment to ensure that there is sufficient support provided to local partners both in terms of day to day monitoring and evaluation but also in terms of long term institution building.
Project Partner
IFES
Project Description
The objective of the project was to reinforce local governance by helping to strengthen democratic practices among the indigenous and Afro-descendant populations of Ecuador. The project’s key components comprised of training for young leaders from the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in leadership techniques and political influence; activities to raise the awareness and visibility of the target audience; institutional strengthening of the partner organisations and the creation of opportunities for political dialogue. Ecuador introduced a new constitution in 2008, which focused on improving the living conditions of vulnerable and marginalized communities and groups, fighting poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development. The decision to focus the project on young leaders, including a fair representation of young women, who had not previously had the chance to learn about and practice their civic responsibility, also proved to be relevant to the political context of renewal in the country.
Evaluation Date
October 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador

To ensure the continuity and consolidation of skills gained from the training, the project’s School for Leadership and Political Influence should be institutionalised by formalising the agreements that were made temporarily with local universities.
Project Partner
IFES
Project Description
The objective of the project was to reinforce local governance by helping to strengthen democratic practices among the indigenous and Afro-descendant populations of Ecuador. The project’s key components comprised of training for young leaders from the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in leadership techniques and political influence; activities to raise the awareness and visibility of the target audience; institutional strengthening of the partner organisations and the creation of opportunities for political dialogue. Ecuador introduced a new constitution in 2008, which focused on improving the living conditions of vulnerable and marginalized communities and groups, fighting poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development. The decision to focus the project on young leaders, including a fair representation of young women, who had not previously had the chance to learn about and practice their civic responsibility, also proved to be relevant to the political context of renewal in the country.
Evaluation Date
October 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Promoting political participation of marginalized populations in Ecuador

Although the project succeeded in achieving male-female parity during the training, the participation of women and young women in political life in Ecuador should be further strengthened. This is a key requirement for the indigenous movement, which has shown a willingness to develop specific training programmes for women on local participation, the practice of civic responsibility, and access to socio-economic and political rights.
Project Partner
IFES
Project Description
The objective of the project was to reinforce local governance by helping to strengthen democratic practices among the indigenous and Afro-descendant populations of Ecuador. The project’s key components comprised of training for young leaders from the indigenous and Afro-descendant communities in leadership techniques and political influence; activities to raise the awareness and visibility of the target audience; institutional strengthening of the partner organisations and the creation of opportunities for political dialogue. Ecuador introduced a new constitution in 2008, which focused on improving the living conditions of vulnerable and marginalized communities and groups, fighting poverty and the promotion of sustainable human development. The decision to focus the project on young leaders, including a fair representation of young women, who had not previously had the chance to learn about and practice their civic responsibility, also proved to be relevant to the political context of renewal in the country.
Evaluation Date
October 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Student Civic Action: Engaging and Empowering Emerging Leaders in Universities in Jordan

The project incorporated sustainability into its design as it taught the students how to do things for themselves, and then gave them the opportunity to put those skills to use. The links it developed between some of the youth and the CSOs was strong with some of the youth still working with the same CSOs.
Project Partner
World Learning
Project Description
The project sought to strengthen university students and youth Civil Society Organization (CSO) leaders for active and democratic citizenship and community development. It aimed to do this by: improving their capacity and raising their awareness of participation in democratic processes and community development; increasing emerging leader (EL) representation in existing political and civil society institutions; and developing and strengthening existing networks to build alliances of youth-led and youth-directed CSOs for more effective programming and sustained participation. The project also intended to increase the awareness of CSO and local leaders on the value of youth involvement. The project reached youth across Jordan and from very different socio-economic conditions and the activities reflected the needs and interests of its participants and their locality. Addressing both the supply and demand side of the youth issue seemed to be effective. Participating youth seemed empowered by their training and the use of sub-grants to CSOs opened the door for youth participation.
Evaluation Date
March 2011
Country
LESSON

Lesson Learned: Student Civic Action: Engaging and Empowering Emerging Leaders in Universities in Jordan

The sub-grant component was an effective incentive and increased the project’ s reach and impact, and the percentage of funds allocated for this could be increased in future projects. Equal importance should be provided to small CSOs and CBOs as sub-grantees, as this small amount of funding can make a significant difference in the marginalized areas where they work.
Project Partner
World Learning
Project Description
The project sought to strengthen university students and youth Civil Society Organization (CSO) leaders for active and democratic citizenship and community development. It aimed to do this by: improving their capacity and raising their awareness of participation in democratic processes and community development; increasing emerging leader (EL) representation in existing political and civil society institutions; and developing and strengthening existing networks to build alliances of youth-led and youth-directed CSOs for more effective programming and sustained participation. The project also intended to increase the awareness of CSO and local leaders on the value of youth involvement. The project reached youth across Jordan and from very different socio-economic conditions and the activities reflected the needs and interests of its participants and their locality. Addressing both the supply and demand side of the youth issue seemed to be effective. Participating youth seemed empowered by their training and the use of sub-grants to CSOs opened the door for youth participation.
Evaluation Date
March 2011
Country