Overview of youth development perspectives in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

The purpose of the activity is to engage select youth in target areas in the Kivu provinces to provide them with the skills and experience to become active citizens with a vision for their own future and that of their communities. The activity design included a desk review to initiate a research- and evidenced-based process that guided the approach of the Integrated Youth Education and Training program. The desk review examined literature relevant to youth in the DRC across a multitude of sectors: education, economic opportunity, civic engagement, health, conflict and stabilization, humanitarian assistance, and positive youth development. The process incorporated concepts and principles related to Positive Youth Development, and outlined how key features of this approach can be incorporated into the program. The desk review was followed by a rapid field assessment activity in February 2017. During this assessment, research teams in Bukavu (South Kivu) and Goma (North Kivu) held a total of 16 focus group discussions with more than 150 youth between the ages of 18 and 24 who represented different youth segments.