Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement Guidance
A practical guide for funders on how to meaningfully work with and resource the leadership of adolescents and youth.
Designed to be referred to throughout the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes and investments with and for adolescents and young people.
Showcases best practices, diverse case studies, resources and practical tools to to support staff and leadership to embed MAYE at all levels and sectors.
Offer guidance on how to fund and work directly with adolescents and young people and with adult-led organizations to strengthen their MAYE practices.
“Adolescents and young people are leaders of change. They are creating change in all areas of society: changing laws and reclaiming democracy, leading frontline humanitarian response, catalysing climate adaptation and resilience, and delivering local services from health and education and beyond. Funders have an opportunity to recognise, lift up and deepen adolescent and youth-led change.”
— ANNA WINDSOR
Wellspring Philanthropic Foundation
Who is this for?
This guidance is designed primarily for funders who resource adolescents and young people’s work; however, it can be used by International and local NGOs, youth‑led organisations, governments, multilateral agencies and networks seeking to embed meaningful adolescent and youth engagement.
The evidence is clear - meaningfully engaging adolescents and young people leads to concrete outcomes
As a sector, we have a substantive body of evidence across sectors, themes and geographies on how MAYE contributes to change at varying levels from the individual to the societal. Concretely:
1
MAYE catalyses individual changes, building confidence, mental health and well-being and leadership
2
MAYE leads to more impactful programmes and investments
3
MAYE leads to stronger social, economic and environmental outcomes in society
The field should recognise adolescents and young people as leaders of change, and experts in their own lives and communities. Funders have an opportunity to leverage access, resources and power to support the meaningful engagement of adolescents and young people.
Key recommendations
The best outcomes for adolescents and young people’s rights cannot be achieved without their meaningful involvement.
