USAID/El Salvador country development cooperation strategy, 2019-2023 : El Salvador youth assessment : final report

The assessment examined the macro and sectoral factors affecting youth inequalities, the Mission’s level of engagement with youth, and challenges and opportunities for maximizing the impact of Mission youth programming. The assessment concluded that the lack of quality education, economic opportunities, political voice, and a sense of belonging to their community, together with family fragmentation, violence, drugs, and psychosocial problems are the key constraints to positive change among Salvadoran youth. USAID/El Salvador’s youth activities, which have adopted a positive youth development (PYD) approach, have made strong contributions to youth across multiple sectors, and have established effective engagement with the private sector around youth issues. The assessment also found several issues that threaten the impact of youth programming, including the failure to integrate PYD standard indicators to monitor youth programming, weak collaboration across the Mission’s youth activities, lack of flexibility in activity design and implementation, and scant participation of family in youth activities. The assessment recommended six steps to maximize the impact of Mission youth programming: 1) institutionalize Mission leadership on youth issues; 2) implement an evidence-based approach; 3) facilitate more collaboration among implementing partners and government; 4) support youth leadership development; 5) tailor youth engagement to particular youth cohorts and categories; and 6) strengthen local capacities.