WORLD CONFERENCE ON YOUTH IN SRI LANKA

Description

The World Conference on Youth 2014, “Mainstreaming Youth in the Post 2015 Development Agenda” will take place from 6 to 10 May, 2014 in The Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Conference has a unique aim of producing a joint outcome document by states and youth, called “Colombo Action Plan”. The World Conference of Youth (WCY) 2014 is expected to bring together 1500 participants, half of them young people, and 150 of them will come from marginalised backgrounds, making the conference one of the most well represented youth events at the global level.

Tasks of the Facilitators:

The WCY 2014 will be based on 7 thematic areas and 7 cross-cutting issues that will be discussed during three days in smaller groups. Pairs of facilitators (an international facilitator together with a Sri Lankan facilitator) will take responsibility for one of the themes or cross-cutting issues and will facilitate three sessions focusing on their area, one on each day. Each session will be attended by approximately 50 youth delegates and government representatives. Facilitators will have to strive to get everyone in the group involved in the working process and work in a result-oriented manner. They will need to summarise the results of the session in a concise way to be able to support the conference outcome document that will be adopted by youth delegates and governments. There will be 42 facilitators at the conference.

Tasks of the Youth Delegates:

   - To represent their constituencies during the WCY 2014 and actively take part in the conference programme;
   - To prepare for the WCY 2014 together with their constituencies through the organisation of consultations and other pre-conference
     programmes;
   - To actively follow-up the WCY 2014.

There will be 350 International Youth Delegates, from the following categories:

   - Youth from international youth-led organisations (78 people) – to represent international networks/organisations and regional youth
     platforms active at the international level;
   - Youth from marginalised youth (150 people) – to make sure that young people’s voices who are often ignored are given space;
   - Youth leaders/experts (60 people) – to ensure that youth activists, trade unions, faith and political parties, academic and development
     negotiations are involved.


Eligibility

Profile of the Youth Facilitators:

   - Have experience in participatory working methods both with young people and with adults;
   - Have experience as a facilitator in the youth sector;
   - Be able to facilitate group discussions under time pressure with the aim to reach a common conclusion;
   - Have experience in leading groups comprised of participants with different levels of knowledge and experience;
   - Have intercultural sensitivity and experience in working with international groups;
   - Be a good team player;
   - Have a good knowledge of youth participation and the post-2015 development process;
   - Have the competence to summarise and to present discussion outcomes;
   - Speak English fluently. The knowledge of other UN languages is an advantage;
   - Be available for the whole length of the conference, including the preparatory day on Tuesday 6 May.

Profile of International Youth Delegates:

   - Representing a regional youth platform or a global youth-led organisation OR
   - Representing a group of young people that is usually marginalized in society (see annexe A for example) OR
   - Representing special interest groups (see annex A for examples in the application form);
   - Well versed in current national/international youth policies and/or development debates;
   - Between 18 and 30;
   - Willing to prepare the WCY together with other young people through involving in/conducting consultations;
   - Willing to following-up through dissemination of outcomes and taking part in implementing the outcome document;
   - Able to work in English;
   - Supported by an organisation/ community that can endorse you as a delegate (whenever possible).


Costs

For the selected facilitators and youth delegates the travel costs to Sri Lanka and board, lodging and local travel costs during the days of the conference will be borne by the organizers.


Deadline: 21 February 2014

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