youth.report2011

=Contributions to CEESP’s Component Programme and draft Mandate for 2013-2016 =

Prepared by the members of the CEESP Youth Leadership Team,

Md. Biozid Jessorey, Catie Burlando, Khuraijam Jibankumar Singh, and Olivia Sylverster

**Introduction** The draft IUCN Programme for 2013-2016 lacks a focus on the role of youth and intergenerational partnerships in moving forward IUCN’s vision. Such a focus should be highlighted in CEESP’s Component Programme since youth engagement and collaboration across generations is about "fostering fair, equitable, just and efficient decision-making" and empowerment of stakeholder groups.

CEESP Youth Network can actively contribute to CEESP’s mandate and program, by seeking ways for __youth to be better included in the structures and activities of CEESP__, and by __developing one specific programme related activity the team will be prepared to initiate and lead as a direct contribution to the Core Programme Area 2__: Sharing nature's benefits fairly and equitably.

 In this report, we (1) outline the vision and goals developed by the CEESP Youth Leadership Team; (2) describe some of the issues we would like to see moved forward in order to foster greater youth engagement and intergenerational partnerships; (3) the level of support that we may be able to devote; and (4) briefly describe some of the accomplishments that the Youth Network has achieved between June and October 2011.

We are working to further develop a specific CPA2 related activity by November 21.

**(1) Goals of the CEESP Youth Network**
 * Our vision is an intergenerational community of leaders who learn and work together within and through IUCN, for a just, sustainable and peaceful world.
 * Our mission is to __foster intergenerational partnerships__ between established and emerging leaders through the IUCN that will contribute to the ongoing work of the CEESP and the IUCN.
 * Our goal for 2011-2013 is to work within our network to __increase proactive and meaningful participation in the structures, policies and activities of CEESP__, and __collaborate with other youth networks to increase intergenerational discussion of and participation in IUCN activities__.

**(2)** **Issues and specific activities the CEESP Youth Network would like to see progressed**


 * //Strengthen CEESP Youth Network: //**
 * 1) Develop a dedicated CEESP Youth members list-serv that cuts across CEESP Themes.
 * 2) Develop Regional Teams that can be mobilized at the country or regional levels, with a focus on young members who are active in community conservation and sustainability issues at the local level.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Increase youth membership within CEESP by 10% per year.
 * 4) <span style="color: #262626; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Develop a logo that represents ‘youth engagement and intergenerational partnerships’ across Commissions, and a specific logo for CEESP Youth Network.

//**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Foster intergenerational partnerships: **//
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;"> Encourage the interaction with senior colleagues within CEESP’s programme as a way to facilitate sharing of knowledge, experience, and develop intergenerational networks. For example, a “Buddy Experiment” was carried out through CEC in 2008 by matching youth members with members of IUCN committees. A similar effort could be carried out to involve youth to learn from commission activities, interact with mentors, and work as an organized youth team.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Encourage the participation of youth members in specific task force activities and/or discussions that will occur within CEESP’s Programme (e.g., with regards to CEESP’s area of focus in CPA2).

//**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Representation: **//
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Work towards a youth representative in each of CEESP’s Themes.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Work towards a youth representative at the level of the secretariat focal point (as in CEC) that can represent the Commission internationally, and that can help IUCN/CEESP reach out to youth.

//**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Youth fund: **//
 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Provide funding resources for youth to participate in policy development and decision-making processes within IUCN, across Commissions and as part of IUCN networks at key international events. For example, funding was a barrier to participation in some of the Regional Conservation Forums, but should be provided to participate at major events such as the World Conservation Congress, to co-organize and participate in international youth gatherings, and to move forward CEESP Youth Network activities.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">**(3)** **Level of support the CEESP Youth Network might be able to provide to the work of CEESP** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">The CEESP Youth Network is recent but has a number of young members who are already active within their thematic areas, who have close ties to community conservation issues and sustainable development alternatives, and who are committed to the work of CEESP. A focus on broadening the membership—also through the development of a dedicated list-serv—should also link us to other CEESP members.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Participation in CEESP’s Steering Committee will provide an important venue for ensuring that the CEESP Youth Network can understand CEESP’s programme and contribute to the CEESP’s mandate in a more specific and focused way.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">The Youth Leadership Team represents a small group of committed and dedicated members who are working to participate at the World Conservation Congress, facilitate the participation of youth at the WCCs, and strengthen the Youth Network beyond 2012. They are also looking at ways in which they can become more involved in CEESP’s programme area and mandate, strengthen collaboration, and foster opportunities for intergenerational partnerships and mutual learning.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">**(4) Accomplishments of the CEESP Youth Network between June and October 2011**. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">A facebook page for Young CEESP Members and Friendwas first created in July 2011 and has 115 members as of October 15, 2011. Md. Biozid Jessorey, Catie Burlando, and Mahina-a-rangi Baker, co-administer the page.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Catie Burlando and CEC Steering Committee member Dominic Stucker published the first CEESP Youth Network newsletter “‘We're in this together:' promoting youth engagement and intergenerational partnership within and through CEESP” in August, 2011.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">A wikispace was created with other IUCN Commissions Young Professionals Groups. This page includes a presentation of Vision, Mission and Goal; News Briefs, and a Youth Leadership Team page.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">The Youth Leadership Team comprises 10 active members, and has convened twice since August 2011.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">In September 2011, the IUCN Council appointed CEESP youth member, Catie Burlando, to the CEESP Steering Committee as Youth Engagement and Intergenerational Partnership Advisor.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Member of the CEESP Youth Leadership Team, Catie Burlando, participated in the development of a cross-Commission online survey to collect input on the draft IUCN Program for 2013-2016. Thirty-seven respondents from CEESP (out of a total of 257) participated.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">Members from the CEESP Youth Leadership Team, Md. Biozid Jessorey, Catie Burlando and Daniela Barguil Gallardo, are currently participating in the development of a cross-Commission proposal for the World Conservation Congress in 2012 (also submitted as a draft as proposal ID# 292).
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">The CEESP Youth Leadership Team has partnered with the [|Environment and Biodiversity of India] conference to be held in India, December 2011. As a knowledge partner, the CEESP YLT will promote the activities of the Team and encourage dedicated young people to participate in the CEESP YLT regional events and activities. Two members of the Youth Leadership team, Khuraijam Jibankumar Singh and Shalini Misra, will participate and help to coordinate activities during the conference.
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14px;">The CEESP Youth Leadership Team has also endorsed a youth focused knowledge café proposal submitted to the World Conservation Congress, in 2012, and encouraging other youth groups to present proposals.


 * Please send your suggestions to catie@culturallandscapes.ca**.