Calling young people engaged in peacebuilding in the Asia-Pacific Region!

The United Nations is seeking 45 young people (aged 15-29) who are active, enthusiastic and invested in peacebuilding in their country or across the Asia Pacific region, to help reshape the role of youth in peacebuilding in communities, countries, across the region and worldwide for a safer tomorrow.

As part of a series of regional consultations United Nations will organize a consultation forthe Asia Pacific region, to be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 16​ th – 19​ th of May 2017​, which is part of a global effort to bolster action on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 that calls for a greater role for young people in strengthening peace and security. The discussions from all the regional consultations will feed into a report on the positive contribution of young people to peacebuilding. This will be presented to the UN Secretary General and the Member States of the United Nations at the end of 2017. The consultation in Bangkok will comprise of strategic peer to peer discussions among 45 selected young people from the region. There will also be time dedicated to capacity/skills building exchange for the selected participants, and discussions between young people and key stakeholders such as INGOs, academic institutions, donors and UN agencies.

Please note that we are only inviting a selected group of youth-led organizations in the region to submit applications. Your name/organisation has been recommended.. Selection of young people from the Asia Pacific will be made based on motivation and experience, with the majority coming from youth-led organizations. The organizers will ensure balance in terms of age, gender, geography and diversity among selected participants.

Successful applicants will be notified by email. The travel, visa and accommodation of the select youth participants will be provided.

All applications must be submitted by Wednesday 15 March 2017 at 1pm (Bangkok time). ​Please read this guide for more information on the eligibility and application process before applying here. All expenses, including travel and accommodation will be covered by the United Nations.

For questions please write to [email protected]

We wish you the best of luck in the application, and we look forward to reviewing your proposal!

Background

As a follow-up to the Global Forum on Youth, Peace and Security held in Amman in August 2015, and to Security Council Resolution 2250, the event is envisaged as an opportunity to gather young people engaged in peacebuilding from the Asia and the Pacific region to showcase their experiences and exchange evidence and lessons learned. It seeks to identify opportunities and barriers to participating in building peace at the community, national and regional levels.

The consultation will feed into a global progress study on the positive contribution of young people to peacebuilding, mandated by the Security Council, and will contribute to ongoing efforts at all levels to step-up attention to the contribution and role of youth to peace. This event will also include workshops that will also be a milestone in defining a common agenda to move forward youth-inclusive peacebuilding work in the region. Young peacebuilders from the Asia and the Pacific region will partner with the UN, government, civil society and private sectors in preventing conflict, preventing violent extremism and building lasting peace.

How to Apply

The application process involves a submitting an online application form, and a creative submission. Please submit your application by Wednesday 15 March 2017 at 1pm (ICT/Bangkok time)​. Please follow the steps below:

1. Click here to use the online application form.

2. The creative submission inspired by peacebuilding could take the form of a video, a photo story/essay, a painting, a poem or a written story and should be submitted along with the online application form. The key point is that the submission tells a personal story or shares an experience, idea or vision related to youth and peacebuilding. Aspects of the creative submissions may be used to raise awareness of youth peacebuilders in the region through UN social media platforms. Share the link on the online application form and send a copy to [email protected] with filename APYPS Creative

Submission_ (SAMPLE: APYPS_Creative Submission_youth4peace)

In order to be evaluated, your application has to be complete and submitted before the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants need to fulfill each and every one of the following criteria:

● Applicants must be between 15 and 29 at the time of the consultation.

● Applications must be submitted in English. The candidate must be able to speak clearly and comprehensively in English.

● Applicants must be able to travel to and participate in the entire event in Bangkok from 16-19 May 2017 (travelling on 15th and 20th).

● Applicants must be engaged in peacebuilding or supporting youth-led organizations working on peacebuilding, which is understood in a broad sense: peace processes, social cohesion, violence reduction, reconciliation, transitional justice, preventing violent extremism, disarmament demobilization and reintegration or other humanitarian work.

● All applicants must demonstrate commitment, experience and a vision for youth and peacebuilding.

Selection Process and Evaluation

All received applications will be reviewed to assess their eligibility on the basis of the criteria mentioned and the quality of the submission. Only those selected will receive an email notification. The selected applicants are not chosen as representatives of their country, but will have been chosen to contribute to the representation of the diversity of youth led organisations across the Asia Pacific region.

Evaluation and selection will be conducted by a Selection Committee on the basis of the following criteria:

Criteria for applicant’s working on peacebuilding:

● Participants should ideally be between 15 and 29 years of age as per the age range included in UN SCR 2250. However, participation of adolescents (15-18, in particular) is encouraged, in order to capture the experiences and perspectives of younger people on peace and security (bearing in mind that child protection protocols require participants under the age of 18 to be chaperoned to the place of consultation by a family member or an adult appointed by the parents. Expenses of of one chaperone will be covered for the selected candidates).

● We aim for gender balance to ensure equal participation of female and male participants, with a mix of rural and urban based participants.

● Diversity among participants; youth from various socioeconomic backgrounds, with disabilities, varied ethnic or religious backgrounds, minority groups, the LGBTIQ community, etc. are encouraged to apply.

Criteria for the creative expression will be:

● The creative submission inspired by peacebuilding could take the form of a video, a photo story, a painting, a poem or a written story.

● Must be original work and not previously submitted to another competition.

● The creative expression submitted by the online application form may be in low-resolution, high-resolution or compressed. Send to: [email protected], with file name APYPS Creative

Submission_ (SAMPLE: APYPS_Creative Submission_youth4peace)

● Identify any individuals featured in the art by name and age. Any videos, photos, or posters featuring a child (defined as any individual under the age of 18) must be accompanied by a consent form duly filled and signed by the parent or legal guardian of the child.

● You can use any language but an English translation must be provided.

*Please note that all creative submissions will become the property of the United Nations, whether applicants are selected or not. Any future usage of designs will give credit to their creators. With your submission you are consenting to the use of your images and poster submission.

We wish you the best of luck in the application, and we look forward to reviewing your proposal!

More Information

For questions please write to [email protected]

For more information on the Youth, Peace and Security Asia and the Pacific Regional Consultation, please see concept note here.

Additional Resources:

● Click here to access UNSCR 2250 (2015) on Youth, Peace and Security in all official

UN languages

● Click here to visualize the UNSCR 2250 Infographics

● Click here to read the Amman Youth Declaration (2015)

● Click here to access UNSCR 2282 (2016) on the Review of the United Nations

Peacebuilding Architecture

● Click here to download the Overview of the Progress Study

For more information, please visit here