The Strategic Transformation’s evolving engagement with youth is driving the ongoing creation of a network of young staff of UNESCO to prioritize and enhance the role of youth in decision-making processes and harnessing the potential of young staff members in the efforts to successfully be in line with the UN 2030 agenda.
For the Working Group on Strategic Partnerships, youth are one of the key constituencies to strengthen engagement with. As such, the Working Group has been dedicated to involving youth as partners, internally and externally, as stipulated in UNESCO’s Operational Strategy on Youth (2014-2021).
YOUTH INVOLVEMENT AND ITS ADDED VALUE
In November of 2018, young staff members met with the Deputy Director-General on how to contribute to the Strategic Transformation, and the meeting served as inspiration for increased engagement of youth and how they can contribute to the Strategic Transformation. Following discussions with the Transformation Support Unit, it was decided that young UNESCO staff be integrated in the Thematic Working Groups, as it was agreed that their involvement would be characterized by the added value and innovation they bring to all UNESCO processes, programmes and projects.
Additionally, a workshop on Meaningfully Engaging with Youth in UNESCO’s Strategic Transformation has been undertaken with senior management and with members of the Thematic Working Groups, with the purpose of enhancing and mainstreaming meaningful youth engagement practices across all UNESCO Strategic Transformation process.