UNICEF YuWaah, UNFPA, and UNHCR launch Technical Guidelines for Engaging the Most Marginalized

New Delhi, 7 November 2024: UNICEF YuWaah, in partnership with UNFPA and UNHCR, has launched the Technical Guidelines for Engaging the Most Marginalized, promoting inclusive advocacy and accessible programming for underserved youth. These guidelines aim to ensure that youth on the margins are prioritized in programming and decision-making.

The guidelines were unveiled at Youth Central, a public-private-youth convening hosted by UNICEF YuWaah to celebrate its fifth anniversary as it marks the milestone of enabling nearly 100 million young people in India. It was launched by Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF India Representative; Ms. Areti Sianni, Chief of Mission, UNHCR India; Ms. Lorna Rolls, Deputy Representative,  UNFPA India ; and Ms. Dhuwarakha Sriram, Chief of YuWaah (Generation Unlimited India). Over 100 global leaders and youth changemakers attended, focusing on critical youth issues in India.

The event featured roundtable discussions on career guidance, climate resilience, marginalized community engagement, entrepreneurship, mental health, 21st-century skills, and women’s workforce participation.

Shri Nitesh Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said, “We have a long standing partnership with UNICEF YuWaah and together have empowered young people including volunteers from National Service Scheme (NSS) and MY Bharat, to develop skills and contribute to nation-building.

YuWaah’s efforts have enabled young people across diverse communities to actively shape their futures through essential tools and skills. It has also played an important role as a knowledge partner for advancing youth-centric governance, helping shape the G20’s Y20 agenda, and providing insights on the future of work.

Together, we are building a foundation that ensures every young person has the opportunity to drive India’s progress towards a Viksit Bharat.”

Highlighting the guidelines’ impact, Ms. Cynthia McCaffrey, UNICEF Representative to India and Co-chair of UNICEF YuWaah Board remarked,” As we launch the Technical Guidelines for Engaging the Most Marginalized, UNICEF India reaffirms its commitment to an inclusive future for young people of India. These guidelines aim to foster conversations and actions that promote an equitable future for marginalized youth, empowering them to unlock their potential and realize their aspirations. Placing gender and equity at the centre of our work is not just strategic; it’s essential. We aim to dismantle the systemic obstacles that hold back girls and marginalized youth, providing them with fair opportunities to build successful livelihoods.”

The Technical Guidelines aim to strengthen programs for marginalized youth in India, supporting their transition from learning to livelihoods. With the RAISE-TM Framework—Relevance, Accessibility, Inclusivity, Safeguarding, Enabling, and Transformative Monitoring—these guidelines provide strategies for sustainable impact. Practitioners can use the framework’s self-assessment tool to better meet the needs of marginalized young people.