The Youth Gender Innovation Agora
Date:
The UN Women Palestine Office established the Youth Gender Innovation Agora in 2020 as a consultative forum and platform for regular dialogue with youth. The forum is constituted from eminent civil society professionals, young activists, and advocacy and social media influencers to support youth representatives to develop innovative gender equality solutions and engage with a broader range of stakeholders. The Youth Gender Innovation Agora members provide expertise on youth and gender issues, design innovative solutions and campaigns, encourage the mobilization of young people and facilitate the dissemination of information to networks and organizations around the region.
Role of the Youth Gender Innovation Agora:
The Forum has an advisory and advocacy role to:
- Provide a space for young people to share information and experiences related to gender equality.
- Promote youth priorities and voices in program development, advocacy messages, and policy work.
- Provide strategic perspectives on advocacy issues and UN Women’s thematic priorities;
- Assist in strengthening UN Women’s engagement with civil society, including formal and informal youth groups and initiatives at all;
- Design new ideas for advocacy campaigns and recommendations for innovative methodologies to promote gender equality in the region with special focus on:
- Women, Peace and Security, Humanitarian Action.
- Women’s economic and political empowerment.
- Engagement of men and boys in promoting gender equality.
- Ending violence against women and girls.
- Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, Innovation, and ICTs for Gender Equality.
- Mobilize young people and governments to make pledges in support of gender equality and hold them accountable for their commitments.
Membership of the Group:
The Youth Gender Innovation Agora members, young women and men, are committed to the core values of the United Nations and to the mission of UN Women. The members are recognized young leaders with a proven track record in their respective fields, preferably with strong credentials as gender, development, and / or human rights advocates. The membership is largely comprised of individuals representing constituents (e.g. networks, organizations) who have been nominated by their constituents or through nominations from UN Women COs. The members are also drawn from non-governmental organizations, women’s and youth organization networks/coalitions, grassroots/community-based organizations, academia, and others working on gender equality, women's rights and women’s empowerment.
Benefits of Youth Gender Innovation Agora:
Members of the Youth Gender Innovation Agora benefit from the following:
- Mentorship sessions from UN Women staff to build their capacity.
- Participation in the development of country programmes and initiatives.
- Official nomination to attend high-level meetings with decision-makers.
- The opportunity to engage and be part of an extraordinary group of young leaders from all over Palestine to exchange knowledge and best practices and collaborate in the development of large-scale initiatives.
- Priority in attending UN Women country office activities and opportunities to first test new tools and practices.
Selection process for Youth Gender Innovation Agora representatives:
The incoming Youth Gender Innovation Agora will be comprised of up to 30 youth volunteers between the ages of 18-30 with demonstrated expertise and experience of working on and advocating for young people, including youth-led organizations, private sector, youth movements, media and academia. Such individuals should have demonstrated leadership and activism and should be able to consult with and reach out to a larger constituency. The candidate must fulfill the following criteria:
- Be residing in Palestine.
- Aged between 18 and 30.
- Candidates should be leaders or members of youth-led or youth-servicing organizations or remarkable informal youth initiatives and have access to wide youth networks.
- A record of accomplishment in areas related to gender equality and women’s empowerment;
- Candidates should have access to, and be reasonably proficient in, communication technologies.
- Women with disabilities and refugees are strongly advised to apply.
- The ability to adhere to membership and attend meetings and activities of the Forum for a period of two years.
Application:
“Candidate application” Form: https://forms.gle/SHqbk1wHm1f6oHcb9
Deadline for receiving nominations and applications:
6 January 2023
Deadline for West Bank and Jerusalem applicants only is extended until 15 January 2023