YES Country Network in Iran June 2003 Egypt-Iran-Germany NGOs Collaboration Exchange Program

Basic data Youth as defined in Iran years Nearly 18 million (28% of population ) Next 20 years the youth population 23 million or 30% of Population 62% of population is urban 44% of internal immigration are youth literacy derive not linked with job creation intensifies migration

Marrige age in Iran rising -Age 15-19, 32 per thousands -Age 20-24, 170 per thousands -Age 29-35, 207 per thousands In last 37 years the number of youth headed families has increased 7.5 times

- %75 of youth ppulation in Iran have no income - Av youth income is between $80 -$120 per month

Within next three years youth entering job market will peak and will reach crisis proportions

Third Development Plan Employment Policy - Tax holidays for employment generation investments -Priority to deprived areas -Subsidies to private investors creating skills and vocational training centers -Preferential rates for public utilities used by productive investments

Process of forming YES Country Network in Iran Youth Employment Summit,Alexandria Egypt,2002 with participation of 1500 delegates from 120 countries The Yes campaign is working for two essential goals: 1-To build the capacity of young people to create sustainable livelihood 2-To establish an entrepreneurial culture where young people will work toward self employment

Youth employment summit themes - Education for work - Engaging the private sector - Entrepreneurship - Government policies that promote youth employment - Information and communication technology - Investing in youth employment - Rural development - Sustainable development through youth employment - Transition to work

Youth Networks in Iran Tehran Youth NGOs National Youth NGOS YES Country Network in Iran

Mission of Iran YES Country Network - Develop and improve the capacity and effectiveness of youth-serving organizations to affect youth development through employment, education and training; - Improve the staff and leadership capacity of youth serving organizations; and -Influence and inform the development of public policy through research, information, advocacy and coalition-building.

Before the Youth Employment Summit in Alexandria: - Forming YES Country Network including representatives of different stakeholders - Holding the FIRST CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT IN IRAN - Facilitate to participation of Iranian delegation to Alexandria Summit in different level After Alexandria Summit: - Follow up the Alexandria recommendations through lobbying and advocacy with main stakeholders - Strengthening the capacity building of Iranian Yes CountryNetwork - Establishing Scientific Committee and 7 steering groups - Translate and distribute the YES important documents - Plan to hold Regional meeting on YES follow up recommendations Tehran YES Network activities:

Recommendations of the FIRST CONSULTATIVE MEETING ON YOUTH AND EMPLOYMENT IN IRAN 1 - The government’s role as facilitator should be given priority. 2- A cohesive national employment strategy should be developed through a collaborative effort of government, private sector and civil society. 3- Innovative and pioneering work in development of new models of creation of employment opportunities through NGOs and community-based organizations should be supported. 4- Creation of a comprehensive databank on IT, including needs, capacities and the potential role of NGOs. 5- Building communication bridges among local and expatriate Iranian experts 6 - Highlighting the significance of IT and teaching of IT in secondary schools 7- Undertaking a critical assessment of government’s performance in promoting IT