Youth Leadership Programme

The Youth Leadership Programme (YLP) has built one of the most dynamic networks of young people in the Arab region, employing tools of innovation for sustainable development impact. The youth in the Arab states face many challenges related to their economic, political and social integration in to their societies. Over 60 % of the population in the Arab states is under the age of 30, and one third are between 24 and 29 years of age. These youth present a great, untapped potential for driving development and change in the region.

YLP’s mission is to invest in young women and men across the region to unleash their potential to become social innovators, leaders, thinkers and a powerful force for change in their communities, countries and the region at large. YLP equips youth with tools to develop their own unique and innovative solutions to address real-life challenges and further the 2030 Agenda and its 17 goals. More importantly, YLP encourages participants to be entrepreneuring changemakers, capable of developing their ideas from plans to practice.

YLP provides training and capacity-building for youth through workshops, innovation camps, hackathons and other activities. Human-centered innovation and Design Thinking methodology provide valuable tools for social innovation and tackling the complex development challenges in the region.

“Since its launch in 2015, YLP has run five successful cycles, and as the end of 2019, has worked with over 20,000 youth participants”. YLP participants have launched and established successful small businesses, won municipality elections, received recognition and awards for their innovative solutions, and presented their ideas at renowned universities and global platforms like the ECOSOC Youth Forum, Stanford University, Hult International Business School, and the European Parliament.

The YLP activities are organised at the national level in Arab states through/by UNDP country offices and youth-serving organisations. Additionally, there are two regional events per year, gathering together youth, partners and other stakeholders: the launch of the new edition of YLP in spring, and the Regional Forum in autumn, where the selected youth and national partners showcase their hard work and learn about the key themes of YLP that year.

“YLP is in every way a catalyst not only for our participants and partners but also for UNDP.  YLP has already made its mark on the region, drawing in top talent and empowering them to change their communities and their futures.  We know that when taken to new heights, this programme has the potential to transform the way youth can contribute to peace and stability in their communities and around the globe.”

Mourad Wahba, Regional Director, UNDP, RBAS.

Youth Leadership Programme (YLP6)

In 2019, YLP6 is launched in Djibouti for the first time.

Building on the lessons learned and momentum generated during YLP1-5, UNDP in partnership with Center of technology and Innovation for development CTID and Good Planet Africa, two youth-serving organizations in Djibouti, host national activities designed to support and empower a diverse set of young women and men change-makers, as they design, implement and scale innovative, impactful and sustainable development solutions.

Considering the importance of supporting young people’s role in the realization of SDG 16 and in their role in curbing Climate Change and addressing their social innovation through an environmentally friendly lens, YLP6 places dedicated emphasis on political and civic participation and engagement and Climate Action. It also dives into the interlinkages between the two areas, highlighting the importance to address challenges from a multi-lens. 

The finalists of YLP Djibouti, the Center for Technology and Innovation for Development (CTID) and the association Good Planet Africa participate in the regional forum of YLP program which, in the exceptional circumstances of this year, is organized virtually.

This four-day event, from 24-27 November 2020, brings together 200 participants, including representatives of youth organizations from the region, youth focal points from UNDP country offices, selected young people who have participated in YLP6 activities, and YLP alumni. With inspiring speakers, technical experts from the region and young leaders, we will explore innovative ways of approaching social entrepreneurship and explore the three main areas of focus of YLP6: climate action, civic and political participation, and pandemics.

Our four YLP finalists will have the opportunity to showcase the work they have done to develop their innovative solutions, as well as meet electronically with young social innovators from other countries, experts and social entrepreneurs from the Arab region. All participants will expand their regional network of young people and youth-serving organizations to further exchange knowledge, best practices, resources and skills. In addition, participants will gain new knowledge in areas related to climate action, emotional intelligence and prospective studies. The virtual regional forum will bring together national YLP participants and UNDP Youth Futures participants, taking each on a journey into the future.