Call for applications to the Urban Youth Fund. The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund has been created to support youth in their efforts to improve the quality of life for themselves and those around them.

The second call for applications to the UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund was launched on February 15, 2010.

 
We are kindly asking you to help us promote the Fund amongst your network to ensure that it is advertised widely and many young people have an opportunity to apply.

UN-HABITAT recognizes that young people everywhere have aspirations, and that they are key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation. The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund has been created to support youth in their efforts to improve the quality of life for themselves and those around them.

 
The Youth Fund will this year provide one million dollars to projects led by young people aged 15-32 years who are piloting innovative approaches to employment, good governance, shelter and secure tenure.

Small development initiatives are eligible for grants of up to $5,000, while larger projects may be able to secure up to $25,000.

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2010. Details are available in English, French and Spanish at www.unhabitat. org/youthfund.

Please find attached a brochure about the fund and a press release about the second call for applications.

 
Your support and effort towards disseminating information about the Fund will be highly appreciated.

If you have any questions regarding the Fund, please feel free to contact me.

With best regards,
Eirik Sorlie
 
 
Eirik Brun Sorlie
Project Officer, The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund, Partners and Youth Branch, Monitoring and Research Division
UN-HABITAT, Box 30030, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
Tel: +254 20 762 5530, E-mail: eirik.sorlie@ unhabitat. org
www.unhabitat. org/youthfund


The UN-HABITAT Urban Youth Fund
UN-HABITAT is working with young people in cities and towns for a better urban future


THE FUND

The Fund supports urban youth in developing countries. It aims to advance the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and the Habitat Agenda by providing small grants of between USD 5,000 and USD 25,000 to youth-led projects piloting innovative approaches to employment, good governance, shelter and secure tenure.

By undertaking research on best practises in youth-led development the fund also aims to create a greater awareness of the urgency to mainstream youth in development policies and strategies. To qualify for a grant, applicant organizations must be led by young people aged 15-32 and be based in cities or towns in developing countries.

Support will be targeted to the young people who need assistance the most, particularly disadvantaged youth in urban slums. Projects promoting gender equality or involving partnerships with the government, the private sector or civil society are particularly welcome.

YOUTH-LED DEVELOPMENT

Youth-led Development involves young people actively creating a better future for themselves and their communities. These initiatives are projects designed and implemented by young people aged 15-32 years. The projects often take place at the grassroots level and are largely carried out by youth volunteers. Initiatives address a broad range of community needs such as employment, access to affordable housing and secure land tenure, safer cities and participation in decision-making.

Youth-led development gives young people valuable skills such as project management and teamwork, thus boosting their ability to acquire jobs and participate actively in society.

UN-HABITAT AND YOUTH

Globally, 85 percent of the world’s young people live in developing countries. An increasing number of these young people are growing up in cities. In many cities on the African continent, for instance, more than 70 per cent of inhabitants are under the age of 30. Young people, and especially young girls and women, are the most vulnerable to social problems caused by unemployment and poverty.

With more than 200 million youth living in poverty globally, there is a clear need to meaningfully engage and support youth. UN-HABITAT recognises the role of young people in alleviating poverty and regards young people as a major force for a better world. The HABITAT Agenda commits governments and UN-HABITAT to work in partnership with youth and empower them to participate in decision-making in order to improve urban livelihoods and develop sustainable human settlements.

The UN-HABITAT Youth Fund was established at the request of member states at the UN-HABITAT Governing Council in April 2007 and officially launched at the 3rd World Urban Youth Forum in November 2008. The fund is currently supporting youth-led projects in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin-America.”

“Through this fund, we are recognizing the urgent need to bolster youthled initiatives, and are at the forefront of a growing movement to place youth at the center of sustainable development strategies” – Mrs. Anna K. Tibaijuka, Executive Director UN-HABITAT.

UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME
Monitoring and Research Division, Partners and Youth Branch
P.O. Box 30030, GPO 00100, Nairobi, KENYA; Telephone: +254 20 762 3900; Fax: +254 20 762 4588
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.unhabitat.org/youthfund

Is your organization led by youth aged 15-32 years?
Is your organisation working on innovative and sustainable projects that will improve your community and the lives of young people?
If YES, your organisation could be eligible to receive a grant!