Social Network Analysis (SNA) Report on Outputs and Findings

The Up to Youth project, a USAID-funded initiative, employed SNA to identify key stakeholders and resilience partners who can support the program's activities in Kosovo. The project team conducted a series of workshops to familiarize staff and youth with SNA tools and equip them with the skills to support youth through the SNA process. The first workshop, held on August 19, 2019, was conducted for the Up to Youth project team. The objectives of the workshop included training the team to understand key systems-thinking concepts, analyze social systems that focus on the relationships of actors in a system, use and interpret key network metrics, and identify formal and informal actors who can be engaged as resilience actors to support positive youth development. The team participated in participatory discussions focusing on obtaining their input into the six-step SNA design and implementation process. The second workshop, held on August 22, 2019, was conducted for the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and volunteers identified by the Up to Youth partner, PEN. The objectives of the workshop were similar to those of the staff workshop and solicited and finalized inputs for the upcoming SNA process. A total of 39 youth attended the workshop, including 24 YAB members and 15 PEN volunteers. The workshops resulted in several key outputs and achievements. An initial roster of youth development stakeholders in the nine target municipalities plus Pristina/Prishtine was completed. The SNA survey form was finalized, and youth conducted pilot surveys with actual stakeholders included in the initial roster in Pristina/Prishtine, Gjakove/Djakovica, and Vushtrri/Vucitrin. A plan was developed for completing the surveys for the remainder of the stakeholders. The feedback from YAB members, Up to Youth staff, and other participants throughout the week was positive, particularly with respect to the youth and their participation. The youth proved to be very capable, engaged, and enthusiastic, eagerly participating in group discussions, presentations, and workshop activities. The youth provided valuable contributions to the survey form, questions, and actors, which was agreed upon and incorporated into the final survey form. The pilot surveys, conducted by 32 YAB members and PEN volunteers, resulted in 127 surveys. The youth suggested numerous improvements to facilitate more efficient interviewing and record-keeping. The initial stakeholder roster was significantly improved, with the youth identifying an additional 104 youth-oriented actors, most of which were specific names of organizations and clubs. The Up to Youth project's use of SNA has provided valuable insights into the relationships and interactions within the youth development network in Kosovo. The project's ability to engage youth in the SNA process has resulted in a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the network, which will inform the development of effective strategies to support positive youth development.