The Youth Forum in the Arab Region 2019

Tunis, Tunisia, 20-22 August, 2019

CALL FOR YOUTH PARTICPATION 

Deadline: 09 June 2019 (17:00 pm GMT+2/ Cairo Time) *

UNFPA and its partners in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of Youth and Sports are convening the second edition of the Youth Forum in the Arab Region in Tunisia from 20 to 22 August, 2019.  The theme of this edition is ‘Knowledge at the service of youth in the Arab States.'

We are pleased to invite youth in the Arab region to apply to attend the forum as participants by filling out this online application before Sunday 09 June, 2019 (17:00 pm GMT+2/ Cairo Time).

* Applications sent after deadline will not be considered

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE SECOND EDITION OF THE REGIONAL YOUTH FORUM

1.    Assess progress on commitments and priority areas of actions defined by the Regional Youth Forum 2018 in the Arab region;

2.    Discuss and develop the 2019-2020 'flagship regional products' related to the theme of the 2019 forum;

3.    Discuss and validate the envisaged innovative 'Regional Youth Platform' as an integral part of the Forum’s modus operandi.

TOPICS OF THE 2019 FORUM**

1.    Creating an enabling environment and strengthening the capacity of youth to produce, access, disseminate and utilize reliable knowledge;

2.    The role of youth in ensuring evidence-based youth-related policies and strategies;

3.    Designing youth-friendly programmes and services; 

4.    Exploring innovative investments to accelerate youth contribution to achieving the SDGs.

**Between March and April, the UNFPA Arab States Regional Office, launched an online survey and conducted offline consultations to gather recommendations from youth for the forum topics corresponding to the overarching theme ‘Knowledge at the Service of Youth in Arab States’. 133 responses and three offline consultations in Syria, Jordan and Palestine were conducted and their results were regrouped into these 4 topics to be discussed during the 2019 forum.

FORMAT OF THE 2019 FORUM

The Forum is based on interactive dialogue and exchange of experience and expertise with emphasis on innovative and implementable solutions to address youth needs. The Forum combines open sessions, targeted workshops and breakout circles for discussions and ideation, shark-tank presentations and pitches by youth, high-level ministerial and partners dialogue and pledging as well as socio-cultural events and field visits. 

PARTICIPANTS

Participants are mainly youth representatives, influencers and partners, including youth civil society organizations\networks, academic and research institutions, private sector, religious leaders, media, UN and other development partners and donors. Ministers and policy makers are also expected to take part in the Forum.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1.    Age 18-29 years;

2.    Usual residence is in the Arab region***. Youth residing outside Arab states can apply, but priority of funding will be given to those residing in the region; 

3.    Currently part of a programme\project\initiative, NGO or network targeting youth in the region in general and those particularly working on the 2019 Forum’s theme;

4.    Fluent in Arabic or English or French;

5.    Committed to attend the entire forum sessions; as well as, some of its envisaged subsequent activities;

6.    Able to demonstrate how s/he will benefit their peers and community during and after the forum.

***Covering a total of 20 countries in the Arab region:  Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

SELECTION PROCESS

1.    Launch call for application circulated on UNFPA website and social media platforms. The application will be open from Thursday 23 May until 09 June 2019 at 16:59 pm Cairo Time (GMT+2);

2    UNFPA Arab States Regional Office will choose the final list of participants (two young men and two young women per country on the average);

3.    Selected candidates will receive invitation letters and information on logistics related to their participation.

PLEASE NOTE that the expected arrival day to Tunisia is 19 August 2019 and departure day is 23 August 2019.  While the organizers will provide possible support, participants are responsible to secure their entry visa to Tunisia.

A FRENCH VERSION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT AS WELL AS THE APPLICATION FORM IS AVAILABLE HERE