Working withYouth in the MENA Region - An Introductory Guide to NGO Programming in Support of the Inclusion of Youth

Youth constitute a strong political power in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) as elsewhere, which we have witnessed throughout the Arab Spring revolts and revolutions. In keeping with tradition, however, young people have only had minimal access to politics, democracy and developmental processes, which has been aggravated by the fact that the civil society does not play an active policy and strategically oriented role in the MENA. Citizenship has not been rolled out, the involvement of the civil society in political processes is limited, and youth are not consul ted due to traditional hierarchical structures. Obviously, this political marginalization restricts their opportunities for developing political interest, knowledge and experience. It remains to be seen whether the front line role youth have taken in the revolts and revolutions in the course of the Arab Spring will allow young people to become an integrated and active part in the ongoing consolidation and power division which will shape the future reform processes in the MENA region. The report is structured in two separate, but interlinked, sections: Section A focuses on the context, partner organizations, target groups and coordination, while Section B provides a methodological framework and principles that can be useful and inform the design of projects. This introductory guide is intended to set the basic recommendations for NGO programming supporting the involvement of youth in the MENA region; both in terms of outlining the overall contextual-based recommendations regarding youth in the MENA as well as providing key methodological entry points. In this regard, it should be noted that the emphasis is on providing an overall perspective as opposed to going into detail with the different aspects and areas the guide touches upon.