Young People in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: From Policy to Action May 21-24, 2007 YOUTH IN ECA YOUTH CONFERENCE SPECIAL Rome Today 1.5 billion ced over the last 15 years. This experience has blems. It is also a chance for people from people worldwi- been particularly traumatic for the older widely diverse cultures and backgrounds, de – 1.3 billion of generation. Yet, there is hope. embracing all countries from Eastern them in develo- Young people, naturally less entrenched and Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, to ping and transi- more open to new ideas, are often the best learn from each others’ ideas and experiences. tion countries – placed to deal with the psychological aspect More specifically, the conference aims to are aged 12-24, of transition. They are willing to learn when develop two key areas of youth policy identi- the most ever. given the lead by responsible policies and fied by the World Bank’s World Addressing institutions, and with the right means at their Development Report: ‘transition to work’ and issues important disposal. On both fronts public institutions ‘transition to citizenship’, both of which are to youth will like the World Bank and the European especially problematic for young people in affect these countries well into the future, Union, but also donor governments, NGOs ECA. both in terms of economic development, and the private sector, all have important Finding a job is extremely difficult for youn- growth and social development. Human parts to play, providing financial support, gsters who lack relevant skills and experience; capital outcomes of today’s young people will technical assistance, advice and political businesses require workers to be operational also affect their children. Therefore, missed incentives. immediately and rarely have the financial or opportunities can be extremely costly to The World Bank has worked with these human resources to train young people. remedy. middle to low-income countries from the ‘Transition to work’ therefore concerns not Despite often having helped to trigger social earliest phases of transition to the present to only education policies but also employment and political change in the so called “transi- improve the living standards of their people, and labor policies with a particular focus on tion” countries in Eastern Europe and promote economic growth, and ensure that rural areas and minority groups. It also covers Central Asia,* young people for the most future generations benefit from sound envi- welfare and social policies since joblessness part have subsequently been excluded from ronmental practices and social development. can lead to poverty and marginalization that decision-making and the political priorities Indeed practically every aspect of the World can in turn lead to violence, intolerance and of the new order. It is distressing to note that Bank’s research and operations in ECA – crime. despite the economic recovery in the region, from Admin-istrative and Civil Service ‘Transition to citizenship’ is about holding completing secondary school is still far from Reform to dealing with HIV/AIDS, con- public officials accountable for their actions, the norm in many parts of the region, and too cerns young people. seeking justice for oneself and others, and many young people are out of school and out The 2007 Rome Conference on Youth in encouraging tolerance amongst people of dif- of work. The region faces the very real risk ECA: From Policy to Action – a joint initia- ferent ethnic or religious backgrounds. If that this could act as a brake on growth lea- tive of the World Bank and the Cooperation public policies and institutions fail to give ding to increasing poverty at home, illegal and Development Office of Italy’s Ministry young people a stake in their countries’ futu- migration or, worse still, local conflict. of Foreign Affairs, – is an important oppor- res, their disenfranchisement could ultimate- Further, from today’s perspective it is almost tunity to improve dialogue between young ly lead to more of the kind of inter-ethnic unfathomable to imagine for outsiders the people and policy makers in ECA and to conflict and other social ruptures, such as upheaval that people in the region experien- discover joint solutions to common pro- growth of organised crime, that have charac- terised the region in the past 15 years. Finally, I would like to highlight how this conference shows what a difference it can make when all stakeholders work together in THE the area of public policy. Together with the REGION two main sponsors (the Italian Ministry of “RISKS EXPO- Foreign Affairs and the World Bank), the SING THE International Labor Organization, The YOUNG TO European Commission, the European Youth POVERTY, ILLE- Forum, telecommunications company Nokia GAL MIGRATION and software maker Microsoft, have contri- OR buted to its realization. Nokia, for example, in CONFLICT... financing the 2007 Innovation Grants YET, THERE IS Competition “Connecting Youth to Work HOPE. and Citizenship Opportunities” that helps Shigeo” Katsu young people by introducing an innovative concept, approach or technology, has shown what the private sector can achieve. I sincere- ly hope that we all continue to work together to turn policy into action for the benefit of young people. Shigeo Katsu Vice President Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Region The World Bank * Transition countries moved from a centrally planned to market-oriented economic systems. The World to the post-war Balkan area, taking on a lead Development role in supporting its economic redevelop- Report 2007, ment, bolstering and consolidating demo- eloquently titled cratic institutions, as well as in pacifying and “Development redressing ethnic conflicts. Such weighty and the Next commitment on behalf of the Bank has met Generation”, Cooperation Office support; on our part, in highlights the fact, we have contributed our financial sup- World Bank’s port – however limited – towards securing move towards programmes benefiting younger generations greater focus on and their future prospects. youth and on the I would like to place special emphasis on the fundamental World Bank’s Macedonia project, which is part that they have to play as active partici- among those best promoted and funded by pants in changing the development of their Italy’s Development Cooperation home countries. The Bank’s strategy is clear Directorate General. Macedonia’s complex and concise: “today’s young shall be the wor- ethnic and religious issues carry a burden of kers, entrepreneurs, parents, active citizens significant political implications; in a sense and leaders of tomorrow”. Investing in the the country is a paradigm of the Balkan youth of developing countries means inve- region in general. The Macedonia project sting in human capital – a fundamental has, among other things, set the benchmark resource –, increasing young persons’ oppor- for similar initiatives in Moldova, which is tunities with regards to access to education, currently having to tackle significant emi- training, qualified occupation, thus contri- gration levels among younger generations buting to society’s development at large in a (especially women), towards Italy and other practical and sustainable way. Western European countries where they are The 29th World Bank Report indicates that usually employed as domestic helpers, nan- young persons aged 12 to 24 currently stand nies or nurses. This migratory phenomenon at 1.3 billion, the highest figure on record. has significant social repercussions internal- Out of that total, 85% live in underdevelo- ly, owing to the break-up of family units ped countries and have minimal chances of since many migrants leave their young chil- obtaining qualified and sustainable employ- dren behind; the programme, however, also ment. tackles the issue of human trafficking and Italy’s Cooperation Office fully subscribes to the enslavement of minors into forced pro- this idea of development, and its Guidelines stitution and begging. on youth and younger persons’ issues testify The Conference provides an opportunity to to that. Our strategies have grown towards discuss the results achieved to date, with a encompassing best practices and creating view to launching future initiatives based on further opportunities aimed at younger strategies that truly account for the new sce- generations. These efforts have been put narios and challenges of the future. into practice in many fields, thanks to the It is a fact that, over the years, the Balkan help of local populations, governments, civil and East-European outlook has changed: a society and UN Agencies. number of countries that have partaken in That point warrants a special emphasis on our development cooperation efforts have my part: countering poverty and creating now joined the European Union, others, baseline conditions that favour fundamental instead, are close to membership. Others human rights, requires concerted action on a still, with ambitions for membership, are range of issues: foremost by strengthening also seeking to meet the accession criteria. governance (which in many countries where We, the Cooperation Office, can contribute we operate is often very weak), and by co- to the latter process by providing the sup- opting and promoting civil organisations on port needed to emancipate countries from the ground (in other words the kind of gra- poverty and to achieve full institutional ssroots associations and volunteer organisa- transition away from the political sidelines, tions which are capable of engendering par- by tackling core issues such as sustainable ticipation within broad sectors of the popu- development, equal social, economic, civil lation and society). and political rights, recognition of all ethnic The Italian Cooperation Office is involved and religious groupings, and equal opportu- in programs placing a special emphasis on nities concerning gender and age. human rights, pacification and consolida- To achieve this it is essential that all availa- tion of democratic governance establi- ble resources are invested for the young, by shments. The Cooperation Office underta- the young.