Youth Participation in Decision Making and Service Delivery (PNG0008)

Status quo or problem addressed by the commitment Young people between the ages of 12 to 30 constitute 36% percent of PNG’s Population3. The National Youth Development Authority Act 2014 defines youth in PNG as citizens between 12 to 38 years. This means that the Youth in PNG possibly make up half of the national population. Commonly referred to as the ‘youth bulge’, this demographic imperative will result in the largest ever cohort of young people transitioning into adulthood. The concern of an increasing young population comes with greater challenges in social and economic development, especially when 46.7% of the school age population are not in school4 and 43.4% of people in PNG have never attended school5 which results in the 32.4% Illiteracy rate6. Furthermore, this is reflected in the high rate of unemployment and young people’s involvement in crime by 80%.7 Interestingly, the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) released report in 2018 revealing that out of 27,500 Grade 12 students who graduate each year only 8, 515 continue to tertiary education. All the indicators point inexorably to the fact that young people will be exposed to greater inequalities than any other social group. Also, more importantly, it is discovered that young people are not involved in decision making processes where there is no legally mandated person representing youth at the Provincial Executive Council, District Development Authority Boards and Local Level Government Assembly. This is to say that young people have never been involved in processes of decision making that concerns them, program designing and planning, implementation and evaluation of initiatives. Empowering youth means young people have to be part of all these processes where they identify their own challenges, have a voice at decision making tables and propose solutions to their own issues. It is essential that the Government at all levels consider young people as one of their most treasured assets to ensure future prosperity and growth in their communities. The lack of having structures of leadership, systems of accountability and infrastructural development for youth makes it impossible to discuss a future development framework without considering young people’s needs, aspirations and challenges. Special efforts must be made to ensure that the voices of marginalized young people – those with disabilities, girls and young women, key affected populations, migrant youth and indigenous youth – should be heard to ensure that they are not left behind. It is vital to recognize youth as partners in development and mainstream their concerns in all aspects of development. The youth councils pave the way to provide a safe space where intergenerational shared leadership and learning is facilitated; and at the same time, programs and opportunities are created to respond to the needs of youth through leadership. This will encourage youth to realize their full potential while creating the change they want to see in society.

Main objective To provide opportunities for young people to have a voice in decision making processes, having a positive attitude within their communities and are actively engaged in the informal sector economy, becoming entrepreneurs; resulting in reduced poverty and improved quality of life. In accordance with the PNG Constitution, National Goals & Directive Principles Point # 2: “Equality & Participation”.

Brief description of commitment This program aims to establish and sustain Youth Councils that are regarded as the vehicle of service delivery for youth with a structured official youth voice at all levels of decision making, governance and active citizenry participation towards nation building.The envisaged process of the program will facilitate partnerships at the Provincial and District Administration levels to accommodate for the establishment of District Youth Development Councils and further mobilizes a coalition of key partners that comprises of donor funding agencies, government agencies and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that focus on youth development. The projections of this program can be realistically achieved through the existing memorandum agreements signed with NYDA Partners and Stakeholders8 with affirmed direction of implementation through the NYDA Partnership Strategy.9

OPG challenge addressed by the commitment Lack of youth participation in development planning and service delivery is an issue in PNG’s development process. Youths bring in activation and innovation that triggers development with less resources. The absence of youth participation in development planning and service delivery has weaken the progress of service delivery. More youths engage in criminal activities rather than engaging themselves in service delivery. The commitment will elevate the participation of youths in the Government process which will then reduce crime rate and build investor and public confidence.

Relevance Briefly describe the way in which this commitment is relevant to further advancing OGP values of access to information, public accountability, civic participation, and technology and innovation for openness and accountability.

Directed by the NYDA Act 2014 in line with the National Youth Policy 2020-2030, the outputs and activities will support the meaningful engagement and capacity building of youth, centred on the creation and strengthening of Youth Councils. This pilot activity10 is to leverage the reach of the National Youth Development Authority and will focus on two provinces and includes support for the provincial youth council and all the district and local youth councils within the two provinces.

Ambition Briefly describe the intended results of the commitment and how it will either make government more open or improve government through more openness. Services are delivered through proper planning and coordination by implementing agencies. It is progressive for youths to be included in the policy formulation process as they bring creativity and innovative to extend openness in the government. Thus, youths can be given more opportunities in the government processes which will encourage greater output and more specialisation in the area of government where accountability, transparency, information sharing and service delivery is encourage.

Milestones Activity Description Start Date: End Date:

Phase 1: Preparations and ground work for Youth Council establishment

1.1. Establishment of formal communication to authorities (Das, PAs and MPs) The Project team establishes formal communication to authorities and circulate the Concept Note to Authorities and visit Provincial Administration and District Administration Offices as well as political leaders. April, 2022 June 2022

1.2. Consultations and Scoping Consultations with Youth representatives and Youth Workers, Community Development Officers, CSO, Women and Churches. Youth needs analysis baseline survey is conducted in the provinces. End of June, 2022 July, 2022

1.3 Youth Mobilization Steering committees are established on the ground. The steering committee is headed by the Community Development Officer at the Province and comprised of youth workers, youth leaders LLG Managers and zone representatives. Funding assistance for logistics is granted to carry out community awareness in all wards and LLGs for a month for youth knowledge sensitization on Youth Decision Making. End of June, 2022 July, 2022

Phase 2: Set -up of Local, District and Provincial Youth Development Councils

2.1 Youth Council Formation Youth executives are nominated, elected by youth constituents and sworn in by magistrate to serve. Beginning of May 2022 End of June 2022

2.2 Induction of Executives Trustees Workshops for office bearers Beginning of June 2022 End of July 2022

2.3 Youth Leadership Capacity Building 5-year Youth Development plans, annual work plans and budgets are drafted for both provinces and are endorsed by the Provincial Youth General Assemblies October 2022 November 2023

2.4 Youth Skills Training Thematic Programs and skills training delivered to youth population based on the Needs and Analysis survey through the Youth Councils November 2022 May 2023

Phase 3: M&E and Succession Planning

3.1 Review and Evaluate Pilot Project M&E workshops and compilation of findings February 2023 April 2023

3.2 Compilation and Publishing of the report The Pilot Project Report is compiled and published End of April 2023 May, 2024

3.3 Development and Launch of Toolkit A toolkit is formulated and launched to be used to set up the rest of the 19 provinces in the country End of April 2023 May 2023

3.4 Partnership and Stakeholder Dialogue for replication of project in other 19 Provinces OGP and Youth Stakeholders strategize to set up the next 19 provinces and endorse partnership commitments. May 2023 July 2023

Action Plan Review

1. Youth Participation in Decision-Making and Service Delivery

● Verifiable: Yes

● Does it have an open government lens? Yes

● Potential for results: Modest

For reference in Papua New Guinea’s 2022-2024 National Action Plan, see Cluster 1, Commitment 1.