Drawing on extensive archival and internet research, this short analytical literature review aims to illuminate key themes, trends, and promising prospects for war-affected youth and the programs that aim to assist them.

The review introduces debates over how the youth category has been defined and whether youth should be seen primarily as passive victims of warfare, active threats to peace, or as resilient survivors. Analysis of programmatic responses reveals several widely shared program themes related to class, gender, advocacy, participation, work, and holism. The review also discusses the six main program areas emerging from the literature: vocational training, reproductive health, basic skills, peace education, empowerment, and psycho-social programming. Finally, it makes seven recommendations related enhancing programming.

This case study is part of the Microfinance, Youth and Conflict research initiative. Research was conducted in central Uganda in March 2005, with the primary objective to learn from both the supply and demand side participants about the challenges and opportunities in serving youth with microfinance. The secondary objective was to pilot test and further develop qualitative tools, as research methods and tools that effectively address both youth and microfinance have not been well-developed, rigorously tested or documented.

The Microfinance, Youth and Conflict research initiative was designed to respond to a common need among a wide range of USAID Missions and partner organizations: to better understand the appropriate use of microfinance-driven programming (including savings, credit, and business development services) for youth populations in post-conflict environments.

The report assesses economic and vocational training programs being implemented in the Burmese refugee camps near the Thai-Burma border to see what is possible given the Thai Government’s restrictions on refugees’ freedom of movement and their right to work. Findings note the protection failures of the Thai Government’s current policies and how these, in fact, place refugees at heightened risk for arrest and economic exploitation. The report also concludes that much more could be done by the humanitarian community to promote the self-reliance of refugees even within the camp settings.

The report presents the findings of a two-week field assessment that reviewed livelihood programs targeting returning internally displaced persons in the Midwest region of Nepal and Bhutanese refugees living in seven refugee camps in the southeast of the country. The report details some of the more creative interventions being implemented for both populations by international and local non-governmental organizations - such as relief substitution projects in the refugee camps and value chain interventions with forest users groups and off-season vegetable cooperatives. The report also highlights some of the opportunities that are being over-looked such as capitalizing on the existing in-camp economies and ensuring that vocational training programs are market driven.

The three-part Market Assessment Toolkit for VT Providers and Youth is a combination of resources, questionnaires and activities to assist VT programs and youth to gather information on market demand and translate it into programming that responds to a dynamic business environment and youth needs. The toolkit offers a roadmap to VT providers, youth participants and other local and international actors. Increased access to information will guide service providers in a demand-driven approach, matching youths’ interests, skills and available resources to market opportunities for employment and self-employment. Many of the tools have multiple purposes and all rely on using a combination of desk research and interviews with key actors.

A summary of the toolkit is available in French: here. The full version of the toolkit (in English) can be downloaded at the link below.