Crisis Prevention and Recovery

Engaging Palestinian Youth in Civil Society

The United Nations Development Programme/Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) launched a youth initiative, ‘Sharek Youth Forum’ in 1996. By 2004, the Sharek Youth Forum had established itself as a youth development mechanism and an independent organization, although UNDP/PAPP still plays an advisory role.

The Sharek Youth Forum tackles development issues from the perspective of young people in the occupied Palestinian territory. It serves to identify and address the key needs and priorities of Palestinian youth through peer-to-peer relations. Its unique understanding of the special situation of youth in the occupied Palestinian territory enables the Forum to develop youth-friendly strategies for human development—encouraging young people to gather, develop their ideas, display their creativity and implement projects for community development.

The Sharek Youth Forum is managed solely by young people, although they receive advice from professionals on topics such as administration, finance and management. The Forum also works closely with Palestinian municipal councils, ministries, and educational institutions, and UNDP and other local and international non-governmental organizations. Most of Sharek Youth Forum's centres operate within a special agreement with a municipality or university. These relationships are a win-win for all parties involved: the Forum often saves the operating costs of running a youth centre while the municipality receives project management and support from the Forum, which implements and supervises youth activities within the municipality.

With a main coordination office in Ramallah, Sharek Youth Forum has established more than 20 youth centres along the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Photo source: UN Photo/Milton Grant