A Systematic Literature Review of Positive Youth Development Impacts on Marginalized and Vulnerable Youth

Across the globe, VMY exist in all countries and contexts, with those from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) being exposed to more risk factors of vulnerability due to poverty and limited access to resources. The goal of this report is to appraise the youth development field's understanding of youth vulnerability, its measurement, best practices to address it, and the effectiveness of positive youth development (PYD) programs in addressing it among youth in LMICs. The research team assessed relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature of youth between the ages of 15-24 years, focusing on articles published between 2010 and 2020 in English. A total of 118 peer-reviewed or grey literature publications met the criteria for inclusion, and key informant interviews (KIIs) and a youth focus group discussion (FGD) were conducted to understand emerging gaps and further contextualize findings. Definitions of vulnerability are specific to culture and context, and no established, clear, and consistent definition of vulnerability was found in the literature. The meanings of the term "vulnerability" are complex and context-specific, but its uses in the extant literature do not reflect this complexity. Historically, vulnerability in LMICs has been associated with poverty, limited access to resources, and exposure to risk factors. The research team identified six core findings, which are elaborated below. The first finding is that definitions of vulnerability are specific to culture and context, and no established, clear, and consistent definition of vulnerability was found in the literature. The second finding is that the meanings of the term "vulnerability" are complex and context-specific, but its uses in the extant literature do not reflect this complexity. The third finding is that historically, vulnerability in LMICs has been associated with poverty, limited access to resources, and exposure to risk factors. The fourth finding is that the social determinants of marginalization for youth include poverty, limited access to education and employment opportunities, and exposure to violence and abuse. The fifth finding is that experiences of marginalization among at-risk sub-populations of youth include poverty, limited access to education and employment opportunities, and exposure to violence and abuse. The sixth finding is that existing tools for measuring experiences of marginalization are limited, and there is a need for more effective tools to measure vulnerability and marginalization among youth in LMICs. The research team also found that multicomponent, cross-sectoral interventions tend to yield more positive outcomes than standalone or individual programs targeting a specific issue. In addition, the research team found that the interplay of intrinsic, contextual, and structural factors created additional barriers to accessing youth-focused programs, including poverty, stigma, and discrimination as well as cultural and social norms related to gender. However, the research team also found various enabling factors supporting vulnerable youth's access to programs, including youth-friendly public policies, community involvement, compatibility with cultural and social norms, and creative use of media. The research team conducted key informant interviews (KIIs) and a youth focus group discussion (FGD) to understand emerging gaps and further contextualize findings. The KIIs and FGDs supported the key themes found in the review of the literature, including the need for more effective tools to measure vulnerability and marginalization among youth in LMICs, the importance of multicomponent, cross-sectoral interventions, and the need for more youth-friendly public policies and community involvement. The report concludes that the youth development field's understanding of youth vulnerability is complex and context-specific, and there is a need for more effective tools to measure vulnerability and marginalization among youth in LMICs. The report also highlights the importance of multicomponent, cross-sectoral interventions and the need for more youth-friendly public policies and community involvement to support vulnerable youth's access to programs.