Entry Points for Youth Integration into the Program Cycle: Country/Regional Strategic Planning
Options for engaging young local actors in the CDCS and RDCS process:
Decision Point: Missions should consider conducting a youth assessment and integrating youth into their CDCS. CDCS, RDCS, and Country Plans must be grounded in evidence and analysis. Missions may consider conducting a youth assessment to inform their priorities and identify barriers and risks that disproportionately affect young people’s ability to enter into and benefit from DRG activities. A youth assessment should identify macro, sectoral, and cross-sectoral level societal youth inequalities or obstacles and link them to the achievement of the goals, development objectives, IRs and Sub-IRs. Youth should be incorporated into all sections of the CDCS and RDCS, as opposed to being discussed as a “cross-cutting issue” described in a single paragraph or section.
Decision Point: Youth Stakeholders should be engaged in consultations. In addition to directly engaging youth, Missions should consider engaging other actors who affect the role of youth in DRG through consultations and meetings.
Additional resources for the CDCS Phase:
● USAID's Agency Youth Policy sets the foundation for why and how USAID prioritizes youth.
● USAID Democracy, Human Rights and Governance Strategy is aimed at DRG specific and relevant programming for all ages.
● USAID Gender Equality and Female Empowerment Policy ensures equity and inclusion of women and girls.
● USAID's LGBT Vision for Action promotes and supports the inclusion of LGBT individuals throughout USAID programs.
● Suggested Approaches for Integrating Inclusive Development Across the Program Cycle and in Mission Operations provides a framework and guidance for USAID teams to incorporate inclusive development principles at all stages of the Program Cycle.
Explore the toolkit:
What is Positive Youth Development?
What is Inclusive Development?
Models for Integrating Youth
Cross-cutting Considerations
- Civic Participation
- Youth Organizations
- Youth Leadership
- Example Program Types and Theories of Change
Entry Points for Youth Integration into the Program Cycle
Country/Regional Strategic Planning
Project Design and Implementation
Activity Design and Implementation
Monitoring and Evaluation
Guide to Youth in Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance Programs
1. Civil Society
2. Human Rights Protection and Promotion
3. Rule of Law and the Justice Sector
4. Legislative Strengthening
5. Local Governance and Devolution
6. Political Party Development
7. Electoral Processes
8. Anti-Corruption and Accountability
9. Reconciliation, Peacebuilding, and Transitional Justice
10. Media, Information, and Communication Technologies (ICTs)