53821 T I O N A L BA N NA K ER F T O IN R WORLD BANK T REC EN ON PM ST O RU L CT E VE ION AND D February 2004 No. 62 A regular series of notes highlighting recent lessons emerging from the operational and analytical program of the World Bank`s Latin America and Caribbean Region VOICES OF THE GIRLS: CROSSING THE BARRIERS BETWEEN YOUTH, GENDER AND POVERTY Sandra Cesilini, Lisandro Martin and Caroline Aberg Background The World Bank has implemented several initiatives across Latin America to address the exclusion of youth. The primary strategic goal of the World Bank's Civil Society For example, the World Bank Small Grants Program has Team for Latin America and the Caribbean is to promote been held in the Southern Cone countries since 1998 with inclusive governance. Governance is understood as '...the the aim of strengthening the civic sum of the many ways that individuals engagement of excluded groups. and institutions, public and private, For the past two years, the focus manage their common affairs... It is a has been on youth. In addition, the continuing process through which PROFAM program (Integral Devel- conflicting actions may be taken... It opment of the Family) has con- includes formal institutions and re- tained a number of subprojects gimes empowered to enforce compli- aimed at young women with an em- ance, as well as informal arrange- phasis on family planning and ments that people and institutions per- sexual education. ceive to be in their interest."1 The inclusion of a wide range of social The "New Voices", or Voces actors in the public debate and the Nuevas, program in Lima, Perú, has promotion of inclusive civic participa- been one of the most successful tion is vital to this strategy. Capacity initiatives in the Region. It started building, aimed at the most vulnerable two years ago as a direct response actors is an essential prerequisite. to a teenager who questioned why the World Bank did not have any projects involving Social exclusion of youth is a critical problem in the Southern youth. Youth between 18 and 25 years of age, already Cone countries of Latin America. In the case of Argentina, 15 active in their communities, were selected to form a youth percent of youth do not study, do not work and are not heads consultative group (Grupo Consultivo Juvenil) with the of households.2 The gender issue complicates this, raising aim being to bring young people's perspectives to the concerns which range from the lack of sexual education and attention of the World Bank. The socially-conscious and premature pregnancy to domestic violence and trafficking. In active members of the Grupo Consultivo Juvenil received Paraguay, 28.4 percent of all young women, compared to hands-on experience in development and at the same time only 5.7 percent of the young men, neither work nor study. acted as strategic allies contributing with opinions and The literacy rate of poor young men is 5 percent higher than recommendations to help the World Bank design and for young women. Further, only half as many women as men implement projects aimed at youth. The "New Voices" between the ages of 20 and 24, attend university.3 program is currently being replicated in five different 1 provinces in Perú (Cuzco, Cajamarca, Iquitos, Lima and Grant Program 2004. According to questionnaires completed Piura) as well as in Ecuador and Venezuela. by all participants before attending the event, only half of the female respondents were completing or had completed The "New Voices" initiative in the case of the Southern Cone secondary education. A few were enrolled in higher countries not only seeks to encapsulate the problem of the education.. It was further noted that the majority of the exclusion of youth, but also to help overcome the gender young women were unemployed, and only half were barrier, which remains considerable across the Region. actively looking for employment. Most of the employed only worked between 8 and 15 hours weekly. Half of the young Listening to Development Priorities from the women did not possess any medical insurance. Few of the Ground: The Objectives of the `Voices of the Girls' participants had heard about, let alone understood, the activities of the World Bank. The World Bank believes that promoting the inclusion of The initiative had two main goals: young women in society is a fundamental step towards democratic and inclusive governance. To this end, the World · to generate a space for dialogue related to youth and Bank, in partnership with Juventud Que Se Mueve ­a poverty, and ideas for addressing those issues. Paraguayan network of NGOs managed by young people- has developed the "Voices of · to promote the development of the Girls" initiative to further networks to improve the coop- educate and engage with eration among grassroots and in- young women on key policy ternational organizations, the issues. private sector and governmental institutions working with young The first event of the Southern women facing poverty. Cone `Voices of the Girls' initiative took place in the city Activities of the `Voices of of Jesus María, Córdoba, the Girls' Argentina, from 19-20 August 2004. The event brought together young women from Specific activities carried out Argentina, Chile, Paraguay under `Voices of the Girls' and Uruguay to discuss their included a number of ideas about how to address workshops. After each of the their pressing development participants had presented issues and future priorities. themselves, they were divided into groups. Each group made The event was carried out within the framework of the a presentation using artistic expression (see photo, above) National Congress of Common Civic Values, organized by reflecting the reality of being a young woman in Latin the Foundation iDEAS ­ an NGO that supports youth America and suggesting what can be done to improve programs in the province of Córdoba, Argentina and is prospects for the future. Finally, conclusions were drawn sponsored by the Argentinean Government. The event and discussed with senior representatives from the Bank, included the active participation of national and provincial including the Country Director, who heard directly from authorities, donor foundations (such as Avina), international the girls' suggestions on how the Bank could further agencies, and a range of non-governmental organizations improve their welfare. The participants expressed their working in development. Several activities supported by the concern that women often lack solidarity amongst World Bank were carried out simultaneously during the themselves, which they argued is a trigger that enhances Congress, including the 2004 Small Grants Program Award machismo. They explained that it is vital, in order to Ceremony and the launch of the Development Marketplace. improve the situation of females, to actively include men This provided an excellent environment for dialogue and in the programs. It is not possible to work with only one networking. side of the problem; change has to occur on both sides. Approximately 100 young women between the ages of 14 Two concrete outcomes of the event were, (i) a commitment and 29 attended the event. The participants were either to work towards participation in the next Congress of Values members or beneficiaries of the award-winning grants to and (ii) a new round of Voices of the Girls. Participants also civil society organizations under the Southern Cone Small agreed to continue virtual group discussions. 2 Lessons Learned in Peru and Brazil, suggests that the Southern Cone pilot initiative can be replicated elsewhere. Important lessons were learned that should be shared with other countries. The exclusion of young women throughout the Southern Cone means they have no say in debates and decisions on · In order to successfully promote more inclusive gover- issues which directly affect their lives. However, when nance, it is important that the World Bank consult vulnerable groups are given the opportunity to share their directly on the ground with the groups that we seek to views in a candid and responsive environment, they show include, in order to understand their key development significant willingness to participate and express great barriers. understanding of the development dilemmas they face. As one of the participants stated: "For the first time in my life, I · By directly engaging and uniting the group that we seek feel that my views are being listened to and that I can affect to include - in this case poor and vulnerable young my own future". females - we help to lay the basis for the creation of networks and collective action by this excluded group, Women who never before had the chance of being heard which improves their self esteem and interest in engag- were provided a safe and supportive atmosphere that en- ing in community institutions that in turn help expand couraged them to speak up and speak out. The opportunity their own choices. to share their views seemed to encourage them to develop self-respect and confidence. In this sense, the pilot initiative · The opinions of the young participants regarding public was a success, and can also be considered a positive policy issues are often related to community level issues example of how increased awareness among young women rather than youth- specific problems. Therefore, these can raise their expectations on meetings serve as a catalyst to gain what can be achieved. The consciousness of their own particu- activities carried out also made larities as a vulnerable group. In the it possible for women without case of this initiative, it has contrib- direct access to Government or uted to the outlining of a common private institutions to receive agenda for young women as a dis- information about develop- tinctive group, complementing the ment. broader community agenda. As observed throughout the event, identification of · Problems and issues, such as common views and adolescent maternity, reproduc- experiences by the young tive health and domestic violence, women bred a sense of unity directly impact young women, among many of the and it was suggested that these participants. This unity provided the impetus for the issues be addressed in the World Bank's portfolio. It formation of networks and discussions on how to expand is important to understand these issues within the their capabilities and affect their futures. These specific community context of vulnerable populations networks would be coordinated by local grassroot in order to tackle their core dynamic. For example, organizations (Civil Society Organizations, CSOs) that early pregnancy was identified by some of the young would act as liaison between the girls. At the same time, women as "a method to gain a better position within the young girls themselves recognized their lack of the community, at least for doing less demanding influence, if they do not cooperate with formal non- jobs". governmental organizations and other institutions from both the public and private spheres. Specifically, many of · The lack of knowledge about World Bank's opera- the girls stated that they held a subordinated status tions could be reduced by building partnerships with within their communities, with no opportunity to express young leaders at the community level. Making use of opinions about their own development, nor about marital Youth contexts and other outreach initiatives targeted life, future choices or sexual relations. They at youth, the Bank could disseminate basic informa- unanimously recognized that their participation in CSOs tion nation-wide about its goals and operations. As empowers them. some girls pointed out during the initiative: "How can I know anything about the World Bank if I never The positive outcome of the event in the Southern Cone, as heard of it. Now that I know it exists, I want to know well as similar events carried out in other countries such as more". 3 Looking Ahead Visit Youthink, the Bank's new website The lessons learned can potentially be taken into consid- focused on youth issues in development eration and included in future World Bank supported programs. Given the success of the pilot event, similar http://youthink.worldbank.org/ initiatives will hopefully be supported and replicated in other parts of the world. In the Southern Cone, another two-day event of "Voices of the Girls" will be held in 2005 as a follow-up. The problems facing youth are also at the centre of the Southern Cone Development Marketplace; an initiative supported by the World Bank that will take place in 2005. The initiative provides a platform for creative thinking and innovative practice in development through two com- ponents: i) a contest featuring innovative projects aimed at strengthening civic values among young people, and ii) a knowledge forum bringing together actors from differ- ent spheres of society to generate a debate about the WHY THE YOUTH FOCUS? development agenda for youth in the region. The goal is to strengthen young people in the Southern Cone in their "Young people are the Future. ability and commitment to contribute to the development They are also the Present" of their communities. Furthermore, the aim is to build ­World Bank President James Wolfensohn partnerships and coalitions among actors that recognize The majority of the world's people are under the age of the need to support the education of youth in common 25, with a disproportionate number living in the world's civic values. Both activities culminate in a two-day event poorest countries. in Buenos Aires in late May 2005, when the selected finalists in the contest will present their projects in an To change this imbalance, the world needs your input, exhibition and share knowledge and experiences. your understanding, your involvement. Together, we face many challenges, including finding and ensuring The problems facing youth are highly significant in the fair distribution of resources to: Southern Cone countries of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay. Understanding the challenges faced by · Reduce poverty underprivileged poor youth is imperative to improving · Improve nutrition our common future. As World Bank President James D. · Increase access to schools and other education op- Wolfensohn stated in September 2004, "One thing is portunities certain: old solutions to old problems will not work. · Strengthen youth organizations Greater effort, in the form of research and resources, must · Promote youth participation and representation in be invested in better understanding the hopes and government & civil service aspirations of young people." · Improve health education · Increase employment opportunities Notes · Decrease national and regional conflicts 1 The independent Commission on Global Governance · Decrease risky behavior like drug abuse that can 2 National Direction of Youth of Argentina, December 2003 lead to an increase in the number of HIV infected 3 General Department of Statistics in Paraguay, 2003 people Note produced in collaboration with Daniela Urfeig and Teresa Carlsson The World Bank will work in an integrated way to meet the challenges of young people in developing countries. About the Authors This means not only working in the area of health and education, but also in areas like agriculture, business Sandra Cesilini is a Senior Social Development and Civil development and the reform of the justice system to Society Specialist. Lisandro Martin is a Junior Professional make sure that views of and challenges for young people Associate and Caroline Aberg is a Consultant. All are based are included when decisions are made. in the World Bank's Buenos Aires Office. 4