SHAPING THE FUTURE HOW CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS CAN POWER HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

as an important challenge. But they were less
likely than youth in other regions to believe in
their ability to have an impact locally, globally
or politically. Only 37 percent thought that
their participation in political processes would
be worthwhile, compared to 55 percent to 60
percent in Latin America, the Middle East and
North America (Figure 3.10).
To turn around low faith in formal platforms
for participation, countries may need to consider
new modes for engagement that actively seek to
bolster confidence and respond to youth interests.
Successful youth engagement strategies rest on
genuine opportunities for youth to work with
each other and with policy makers in bringing
about positive change.
FIGURE 3.10:
Youth in the region are concerned about many
issues, but most do not think participation in
politics has an impact
Currently, in many instances, youth feel that they
are consulted at an initial stage of development
decisions, but are not part of key decisions and
programmes later on. Giving them key roles
from beginning to end, including in consultations,
budgeting, programme implementation,
and evaluation and feedback, will require a
much stronger degree of commitment from
governments, backed by formal mechanisms
for continuous involvement.
The notion that youth do not effectively engage,
currently widespread among policy makers
in Asia-Pacific, underlines the importance of
civic education on how political systems work, as
has been done in Cambodia and Mongolia (Box
3.8). For the most part, youth civic education
is sporadic, however, limited to a few countries
and not institutionalized.
UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL
OF THE NEXT GENERATION
Asia-Pacific’s young
people will drive the
demographic dividend,
but only if supportive
measures are in place
Asia-Pacific’s young people will be the driving
force behind the demographic dividend and
human development in the next few decades,
but only if deliberate measures are in place to
enhance their opportunities for education, health,
decent work and participation.
The quantity and quality of education needs
to improve, especially for vulnerable groups, and
remain relevant to the demands of the labour
market. Health care should be universal, with
priorities including further reduction of child
and maternal mortality, and access for all to
the full range of sexual and reproductive health
services. A smoother transition from school to
employment would result from easing barriers
to starting work, improving flexibility in hiring
and job mobility, and encouraging private sector
participation in vocational training. Finally,
young people need to be fully engaged in civic
and political life, and the choices that affect
them now and in the future.
106
Source: Teléfonica 2013.