USAID Supports IYF Initiatives in the Africa, the Balkans, Latin America, and the Middle East

Recognizing that no one sector of society has the resources or expertise to effectively address the challenges facing today’s young people, IYF places a premium on forging dynamic partnerships with the civil society, government, and private sectors.

An example of these multi-sectoral initiatives is IYF's work with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Examples include the following activities:

• In 2002, USAID provided US$3 million to support IYF's work in partnership with the Balkan Children and Youth Foundation to provide grants and technical assistance to youth-serving nongovernmental organizations in the Balkan region. Support is being directed at programs that focus on five priority issue areas: nonformal education, youth employment, technology, democratic and civic participation, and health awareness and prevention.

• USAID has also invested US$3 million to support employment training among youth throughout Latin America and the Caribbean through entra 21, an initiative launched by IYF and the Multilateral Investment Fund of the Inter-American Development Bank.

• More than US$11in funding from USAID/Asia Near East Bureau is supporting the “Education and Employment Alliance” to improving education quality and employment opportunities for disenfranchised youth in Asia and the Middle East. The initiative -- with members including IYF, USAID Country Missions, global and local corporations, and ANE/USAID – will build public-private partnerships in Egypt, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

• The Education and Livelihood Skills Alliance (ELSA) was launched in 2004 through a US$4.2 million grant from USAID/Philippines in an effort to improve education quality and enhance the life and employability skills of Filipino youth. IYF, in cooperation with Filipino NGOs, foundations, and private corporations, will assist the Department of Education in the Philippines and the government of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

• In February 2004, USAID, IYF, Nokia and Lions Clubs International Foundation launched the Alliance for African Youth Employability to help young people in Africa develop skills and strengthen attitudes and behaviors so they can find and keep jobs. Both USAID and Nokia have collectively committed over US$1.8 million to the initiative. Over five years, the Alliance will promote employability and employment for more than 35,000 disadvantaged young people ages 14 to 29 living in rapidly urbanizing areas of South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique and Rwanda.

Read more about Multi-Sector partnerships.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this website is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views and positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government.