USAID Youth in Development Policy: Realizing the Demographic Opportunity

USAID has decades of valuable experience in leading efforts with young people and societies to enable safe and productive transition of youth to adulthood. However, USAID has not always approached its work with youth systematically. This policy puts forward an overarching goal for youth development along with related objectives and outcomes to be achieved. It outlines a conceptual approach to youth in development and provides guiding principles and operational practices in support of USAID’s efforts to mainstream youth in development, carry out more effective programs, and elevate youth participation. Importantly, this policy will position USAID and its partners to capitalize on favorable global population trends by investing in programs and policies by, with, and for youth that seize opportunity and lead to sustainable growth and human development, including through the realization of what is often referred to as a demographic dividend.

Through its climate change work,USAID is committed to engaging and preparing young people as a constituency for policy change, as innovators, and as the emerging green industries workforce. As stated in its 2012 Climate Change and Development Strategy “USAID will reach out to engage youth at home and abroad as thought partners and will build a dialogue with youth constituencies regarding climate change…Recognizing the active manner in which this constituency is already engaging in such international forums as the Rio 2012 conference on sustainable development, USAID’s climate and youth experts will work together to partner with youth organizations to bring awareness to the impacts of climate change on youth and the opportunities it poses for young entrepreneurs, advocates, students, and others.

Please see the Youth in Development Policy: 2022 Update here.