High fertility rates in the previous decades have meant an extended and large ‘youth bulge’ in the region, with approximately 55% of the region's population below the age of 24.  This has resulted in the highest and most persistent labor market pressures anywhere in the world.  The MENA region has also witnessed a fast expansion in educational attainment, and in the recent past a reduction in gender disparity in educational attainment.  However, education and skills training has generally lacked quality and relevance and has remained mismatched with the needs of the economy and society.  These conditions have hampered accessibility of youth, in several MENA countries, to employment opportunities. The Conference will highlight the complex multi-sectoral issues that interface the themes of youth, education and skills, and employment in the region.

Tackling issues related to youth is not simply the responsibility of national governments.  The brunt of the fallout of unemployed and frustrated youth is felt by local governments.  Mayors and municipal authorities in the region have already shown interest in addressing children and youth issues and many have initiated programs in their cities.  Furthermore, as the trend towards decentralization accelerates in the region, more services will be handed over to local governments and municipalities.  Indeed, international experiences have shown that when resources are available close to the source of a problem, sustainable solutions are easier to achieve.  This Conference, therefore, will also focus on how mayors and municipal authorities, in collaboration with national governments and civil society can effectively address key youth issues in their cities and towns.  This is particularly relevant in a region that is expected to be 70% urban by 2020.

This international conference will be the fourth in a series of conferences co-organized by AUDI and the World Bank, with various regional and international partners, to address children and youth issues in urban areas of the MENA region.  The first conference, entitled "Children and the City", was organized in Amman in December 2002.  It concluded with a seminal declaration, and a regional program - the Child Protection Initiative - that seeks to provide MENA mayors technical support and financial resources to tackle children and youth issues in their cities.

 

The second conference, entitled "Children and the Mediterranean" was organized in Genoa in January 2004, with the Italian Gaslini Foundation and the City of Genoa taking the lead in its organization.  That conference concluded with a number of important new initiatives, key among which is the MedChild Institute which nurtures innovations and research on children's health and wellbeing in a broadly defined Mediterranean region that includes most of MENA.

 

The third conference, entitled "Urban Children and Youth in the MENA Region: Addressing Priorities in Education", was organized in Dubai in May 2005.  The conference concluded with a forward-looking declaration and a new Dubai Award that encourages innovations in education and urban planning.

 

The present conference, therefore, builds on the momentum generated in the MENA region by the three previous conferences, and is intended to deepen and broaden the achievements that resulted from them. By focusing on youth, it is intended that this Conference will highlight the seminal issues, priorities and potentials of this key population group, and will help further enlist and strengthen local governments as partners in addressing these issues.

The main objectives of the Conference are to (i) highlight the magnitude and complexities of the issues facing youth (12-24 years) in the MENA region related to enhancing their economic prospects; (ii) assess the needs and priorities of  youth in urban areas and the characteristics of urban environments suitable for them, and the roles of urban authorities in tackling youth issues and (iii) identify and discuss international experiences and effective policy and program options that MENA municipal authorities and national governments could consider in addressing youth issues.  The Conference will also provide a forum for networking and highlighting activities and accomplishments of key stakeholders and partners dealing with youth issues from within and outside the MENA region.

·        Current Status of youth in the MENA region; health, educational and socio-economic status; demographic profile and effects of youth bulge, cultural and behavioral issues affecting successful economic participation.

·        Geographic youth transitions: international and intra migrations of youth (including rural-urban migration).

·        Youth in Urban Settings: urban needs of young people and the roles of municipal authorities in satisfying them, integration of youth in urban areas, youth-friendly urban environments: characteristics and planning guidelines, participation of youth in urban planning, development, governance and collective action, dimensions of young people in new urbanisms, impacts of urban problems on youth.

·        Transition from school to work: transition through formal education, attachment to the labor force, vocational training for youth, skills training and development, urban dimensions of transition.

·        Youth employment: youth as a productive labor force and driver of future growth, active labor market initiatives for youth, re-training and skill development opportunities.

·        At-risk youth: addressing social and other disadvantages including those specific to urban youth, fostering citizenship and community participation.

·        Operationalizing youth policies and programs:  Highlights of progress achieved in addressing children and youth issues in the MENA region and internationally, including the Child Protection Initiative, MedChild and other partner initiatives, programs and funding mechanisms, with emphasis on the roles of municipal authorities and national governments in tackling youth issues.

The Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI); the National School for Architecture, Rabat Municipality, Morocco; & the World Bank in collaboration with MedChild Institute and Child Protection Initiative are jointly organizing this international conference.    

The primary audience for the Conference will be mayors and/ or their staff from large and secondary cities in the MENA region, national government officials and policy makers; and individuals from selected NGOs, international and regional organizations, universities and research centers, and private sector groups.  The Conference will include a balanced number of presentations by scholars and practitioners (including mayors from outside the region).  Youth representatives will also participate in the Conference sessions. 

Three key types of papers and presentations will be featured in the themes outlined above: (i) academic papers – analytical pieces on specific topics adhering to high standards (could be included in the Conference Proceedings); (ii) policy/ program presentations – presentations on effects of specific policy and program interventions; and (iii) poster presentations – presentations of specific projects of NGOs, etc.  Preference will be given to MENA focused papers and presentations, or papers from other regions that are relevant to MENA.   

English Program

French Program

English, Arabic and French. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Participants are kindly requested to contact the following hotels directly to arrange for accommodation:

HILTON HOTE (5 stars LUXE)

Address        :        Souissi B.P. 450-Rabat-Maroc

Tel               :        (212) 03.7.67.56.56

Fax              :        (212) 03.7.67.14.92

Site We         :        htt://www.hilton.com

E-mail          :        rabathilton@mtds.com

GOLDEN TULIP FARAH HOTEL ( 5 stars)

Address        :        26, Place Sidi Makhlouf Rabat - Maroc

Tel               :        (212) 03.7.23.74.00

Fax              :        (212) 03.7.72.21.55

E-mail          :        reserve-farahrabat@menara.ma

CHELLAH HELNAN HOTEL (4 stars)

Address        :        2, Rue d'Ifni  Rabat - Maroc

Tel               :        (212) 03.7.66.83.00

Fax              :        (212) 03.7.70.63.54

Registration Form

Three key types of papers and presentations will be featured in the themes outlined above: (i) academic papers – analytical pieces on specific topics adhering to high standards (could be included in the Conference Proceedings); (ii) policy/ program presentations – presentations on effects of specific policy and program interventions; and (iii) poster presentations – presentations of specific projects of NGOs, etc.  Preference will be given to MENA focused papers and presentations, or papers from other regions that are relevant to MENA.

Arab Urban Development Institute, P.O. Box 6892, Riyadh 11452, Saudi Arabia

Tel:  (+966-1) 4816585 -or- (966-1) 480 2697 Ext: 123

Fax (+966 1) 480 8712 / 4802666

E-mail: info@menacpi.org         Web site www.menacpi.org , www.araburban.org

The Arab Urban Development Institute (AUDI); the National School for Architecture, Rabat Municipality, Morocco; & the World Bank in collaboration with MedChild Institute and Child Protection Initiative are jointly organizing this international conference.