Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) Youth Leadership Program 2022

Deadline: April 1, 2022

Applications are open for the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) Youth Leadership Program 2022. The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) recognizes the potential of youth as change agents and believes that youth can – and should – be engaged as key stakeholders to build more resilient and inclusive democracies and markets.

Building on CIPE’s previous experience developing youth as future civic, political, and business leaders, supporting youth advocacy campaigns, and providing entrepreneurship training, the CIPE Youth Leadership Program is a five-month non-residential program that aims to increase the visibility of economic issues affecting youth as a critical piece to post-pandemic recovery, and create a platform for young people to amplify their voices and ideas.

The culmination of this program will be CIPE’s virtual Youth Leadership Conference focused on youth engagement with private enterprise and democracy, as well as challenges that disproportionately affect young people and proposed solutions. This event will serve as a venue for CIPE Youth Leaders to showcase the advocacy and research conducted during the program.

The 2022 theme is Youth Engagement with Private Enterprise and Democracy.

Stipend

• Five candidates will be selected for the CIPE Youth Leadership Program and will receive up to $2,500 USD for completing all the required activities based on the extent of the proposed project and associated expenses.

Eligibility

Candidates must be between the ages of 18-25 at the time of application. Preference will be given to individuals from non-OECD countries.

Applicants must have:

• Demonstrated interest or experience working on youth empowerment issues, with preference given to those focused on democracy, private sector/entrepreneurship, or civic/political participation.
• Experience in one or more of the following areas: policy, activism, entrepreneurship, or research.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision in collaboration with CIPE staff and other Youth Leaders across different time zones.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Access to a reliable computer and internet connection that enables video participation in virtual workshops or conferences.

Required Activities

• Advocacy or Research Project
  • Conduct a local, national, or regional project focused on advocacy, raising awareness, or research that falls under either the “Youth and Private Enterprise” or “Youth and Democracy” sub-theme. Examples of what projects might entail include (but are not limited to):
  • A series of activities (in-person or virtual, depending on COVID-19 conditions) that directly contribute to a local, national, or regional conversation. For example, multi-stakeholder workshops or roundtable discussions to develop a platform or position on a proposed government action.
  • Organizing an advocacy campaign to raise awareness and equip community stakeholders or policymakers with information about an economic issue important to youth in a given locality or country.
  • Developing a training module or instructional videos for youth to help them with an identified challenge.
  • Mapping national and/or regional policies or proposals on employment, education, or skills training, and their potential consequences.
  • Mapping the network of in-country and regional groups and individuals working on youth empowerment issues, identifying potential areas for collaboration, and developing strategies for engagement and collective action.
  • Conducting secondary research and interviews with topic experts, private sector representatives, and other stakeholders to obtain data and formulate recommendations for government or community actions to benefit youth in post-pandemic economic recovery.
• Thought Leadership and Communications
  • Present (virtually) the work conducted during the program at the CIPE Youth Leadership Conference.
  • Submit a final report to CIPE, such as the final version of a policy paper laying out key findings and conclusions, or a detailed summary of activities and accomplishments during the program and assessment of impact. Photos, videos, and other multimedia are highly encouraged.
  • Identify and participate in relevant events or conferences (virtually or in-person) throughout the program.
  • Participate in monthly status calls with CIPE and the other Leaders to provide updates on the project.
  • Halfway through the program, participate in an internal brownbag meeting with CIPE staff to provide an overview of the project and share learnings.
  • Actively engage during kick-off meeting with the other Leaders and contribute to ongoing information sharing about youth issues via a dedicated WhatsApp group and by email.

Application

Click here to apply

For more information, visit CIPE Youth Leadership Program.