1. You(th), the People: Integrating Youth into USAID/BiH Programming

2. Purpose and Objectives Survey the youth sector in BiHSurvey the youth sector in BiH Collect basic statistics and key demographic informationCollect basic statistics and key demographic information Identify priority issues/needsIdentify priority issues/needs Provide findings and recommendations for a stand-alone youth project and Mission’s strategy on youthProvide findings and recommendations for a stand-alone youth project and Mission’s strategy on youth

3. Why youth, why now?  Youth - resource for development  Educated and employed youth grow are critical to stability  Youth can mobilize leadership and civic society and drive the change  If we neglect youth, we can seriously undermine BiH’s development agenda

4. Major Youth Issues in BiH  Unemployment  Education  Social exclusion  Lack of true commitment by government to address youth issues  Inactive, disengaged youth and low level of youth mobility

5. General findings Funding for youth projects is done in an ad hoc fashion and lacks coordination Development gains will be lost if the youth sector continues to be largely neglected Issues within youth sector vary, as will attempts to address them

6. Major findings: Economic Growth Lack of employment opportunities Major gap between education sector and needs of companies Lack of collaboration between employment agencies and public/private companies

7. Major findings: Economic Growth Lack of entrepreneurial skills among youth Public sector jobs are the most popular by BiH youth Nepotism seen as the only mean to find a job; Labor mobility

8. Major findings : Democracy and Governance Lack of youth civic participation and activism Lack of motivation, apathy among youth Lack of local government responsiveness Lack of a two way dialogue between youth and local government Youth do not feel supported by the government They do not speak the same language

9. Opportunities: Economic Growth Improve Workforce Development Create a Workforce Development Task Force Increase exposure to entrepreneurship and support mechanisms Promote internship and job placement programs along with training and certification programs Improve youth’s access to career development resources

10. Opportunities: DG Increase Youth Civic Participation Promote regional, entity and/or national youth networks Promote better partnerships between youth and their local government Advance social cohesion and reconciliation efforts among youth

11. Next Steps 1. Create a Youth Working Group 2. Increase Programmatic Focus on Youth USAID/BiH Strategy on Youth Stand-alone youth project Integrate youth into all programming 3. Increase Collaboration with Partners