As part of the joint efforts with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MOYS) and other partners in supporting the implementation of the National Youth Policy (2012-2021), and in the framework of the NETMED Youth project, UNESCO conducted a mapping activity in partnership with Notre Dame University (NDU)- CARE Center: more than 30 students who will be trained to collect information on youth-targeting activities implemented by ministries and municipalities on the local and national level . This activity comes as a pre-requisite to the National Youth Policy action plan drafting process, which should start later in 2016.

On 18 November 2015, during an induction meeting held at UNESCO premises in Beirut, 21 participants representing 7 ministries (Youth and Sports, Environment, Interior, Labour, Social Affairs, Information, and Industry), municipality unions, municipalities and local councils as well as civil society organizations, were introduced to the aim and the procedure of the mapping activity.

Dr Seiko Sugita from UNESCO welcomed the participants and explained the objective of the meeting. Dr. Bassel Akar from NDU talked about the outputs and strategy of the mapping activity, and Mr George Awad presented UNESCO Plan for Youth Outreach. Follow-up meetings will be organized between the students and the participants who expressed their commitment and their willingness to facilitate this mapping activity.

The Net-Med Youth Project is a pioneering initiative implemented by UNESCO and funded by the EU. It aims to create an enabling environment for young women and men to develop their competencies, exercise their rights and meaningfully engage as active citizens, particularly in decision-making relating to political, social, economic, educational and cultural policy and planning processes. Through the different components of this programme, UNESCO is eventually aiming to improve the access and effective participation of youth in developing and implementing national strategies and policies affecting young women and men.