NYC launches Youth Friendly Local Governance campaign

Kathmandu: The National Youth Council (NYC) has initiated a Youth Friendly Local Governance (YFLG) campaign to ensure the effective implementation of these provisions for the establishment of youth rights in the country.

YFLG is a strategic framework that incorporates the concerns of youths in the local governance system to operate with the active participation, involvement and cooperation of the youth.

It is highly essential to promote the YFLG concept for implementing the responsibilities and rights given to the local government by the Local Government Operation Act, 2074, the five pillars of the Youth Vision, 2025 and the Ten-year strategic plan namely; quality and vocational education, employment, entrepreneurship and skill development, health and social protection, youth mobilization and participation, and leadership development and sports and entertainment.

This year, NYC jointly with Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal (JCYCN), and support of UNICEF and UNDP revised the YFLG Guideline, 2075 through the virtual engagement of more than 180 stakeholders and youth of various backgrounds. The revised YFLG guideline provisions seven strategies, 46 approaches, 45 indicators and four steps for adoption, implementation and declaration of YFLG at the local level.

They can be localized as per local need, importance and demand. In addition, a YFLG training Manual was prepared with the engagement of more than 200 youth and stakeholders for kicking off the YFLG pilot programme in the country.

Seven Local Governments were selected for the implementation of the YFLG pilot project including Rautamai Rural Municipality, Udayapur (Province no. 1), Kanchanrup Municipality, Saptari (Madhesh province), Madi Municipality, Chitwan (Bagmati province), Kawasoti Municipality, Nawalpur (Gandaki province), Tilottama Municipality, Rupandehi (Lumbini Province), Mahabu Rural Municipality, Dailekh (Karnali province) and Dashrathchand Municipality (Baitadi).

Three days capacity-building programme was conducted in these selected local governments reaching more than 300 stakeholders including Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chief Administrative Officers, section officers, youths from private sectors, conflict-affected youths, Sexual and Gender Minority youths, youths with disabilities, farmers, and so on.

These pilot training have kindled YFLG momentum in the selected areas, and the stakeholders have provided complete ownership and commitment to contribute to the promotion of the YFLG program realizing the contemporary need for YFLG intervention in the local governments. A support committee was formed for the continuation of the YFLG campaign, and a commitment letter was signed by the participants at the end of each of these training.

A specific work plan has also been prepared at all selected seven Local Governments for further intervention on the YFLG agenda.

With the kick-off of the YFLG campaign against various burning issues hindering the effective development, platform and opportunities for youth, it is hoped that the campaign will continue with the engagement and ownership of all the relevant stakeholders, especially youth, NYC said in a press release.