Young people between the ages of 15 and 25 constitute a fifth of the world’s population. While they are often involved in informal, politically relevant processes, such as activism or civic engagement, they are not formally represented in national political institutions such as parliaments and many of them do not participate in elections. This can impact on the quality of democratic governance.

Creating this guide involved an intensive desk review of reports and analysis from around the world. The perspectives of development practitioners and youth were solicited through email interviews and focus group discussions at a meeting in Cairo. The research resulted in the identification of 21 possible entry points for UNDP and other organizations involved in assisting youth political participation. Case studies appear in Part B of this guide, following an introductory section, and a review and analysis. The review starts with a discussion of legal frameworks, and then considers entry points for support in cooperation with different electoral stakeholders in the pre-electoral, electoral
and post-electoral periods.