2012年-世界发展银行全球_Voices_of_Youth_in_Post-Conflict_Burundi___Perspectives_on_Exclusion_Gender_and_Conflict_72页_578kb

Summary of "Voices of Youth in Post-conflict Burundi: Perspectives on Exclusion, Gender and Conflict"

Core Content

This report explores the situation of youth in post-conflict Burundi, focusing on young men and their role in conflict dynamics. It analyzes the socio-economic, educational, and gender-related challenges faced by Burundian youth, and evaluates the effectiveness of existing youth policies and programs in addressing these issues. The study is based on qualitative data collected in 2006 and is part of a broader effort to understand how youth development can contribute to peacebuilding and national recovery.

Main Objectives

• To assess how poor and excluded youth are coping in the post-conflict environment and whether they pose a risk to renewed conflict.
• To examine how gender dynamics are influencing youth behavior and conflict risks.
• To identify existing policies and programs supporting youth.
• To derive policy and programming recommendations based on the findings.

Key Findings

• Impact of Conflict: Burundi's civil war (1993–2005) had a profound impact on the country's socio-economic and human development indicators. Poverty rates were high, and the country's GDP has not recovered to pre-conflict levels.
• Youth Demographics: Youth are defined as individuals aged 15–30, comprising 30% of the population. They have suffered from lost education, trauma, and limited opportunities.
• Socio-Economic Status: Poverty is more pronounced in rural areas and among those affected by the conflict. Urban youth, especially migrants, report a relative improvement in their situation.
• Education and Employment: Education is a central coping strategy for families and individuals. Vocational training is in high demand but limited. Employment remains a key aspiration for youth, yet opportunities are scarce due to economic constraints and a weak labor market.
• Migration: Urban migration is a common strategy for improving educational and employment prospects, particularly for male youth. However, it faces social resistance in rural areas.
• Gender Norms: Traditional gender roles persist, but are evolving due to poverty and urbanization. Young men are still expected to be breadwinners and protectors, while young women are expected to be caregivers. However, there is a growing trend toward more flexible family roles and increased education for girls.
• Ex-combatants: The reintegration of ex-combatants has been largely positive, with most living with their families and reporting satisfaction with reintegration programs. However, self-demobilized youth and some urban-based ex-combatants face challenges.
• Youth Policy: Burundi has developed a new National Youth Policy (NYP) in 2008, which includes key areas such as employment, education, and governance. The UN's Peace Building Fund (PBF) has also launched a Youth Enterprise Development Fund.

Key Recommendations

• Three-pronged Approach to Youth Development:

  1. Mainstreaming Youth: Youth should be integrated into existing development and recovery programs.
  2. Tailored Support: Programs should address specific needs of different youth groups, including unemployed skilled youth.
  3. Community-based Empowerment: Local organizations and governance mechanisms should be central to youth empowerment and citizenship development.

• Improving Education:

  • Enhance the quality and relevance of education to prepare youth for both work and life.
  • Be cautious with technical and vocational education (TVE) due to its high costs.
  • Implement 'second-chance' programs for youth who missed educational opportunities.

• Supporting Livelihoods:

  • Strengthen formal and informal business support to increase productivity and growth.
  • Create public work schemes to provide employment pathways for poor youth.
  • Improve traditional apprenticeships to enhance skills for out-of-school youth.

• Family Formation:

  • Increase access to sexual and reproductive health services.
  • Promote sex-based education to prevent early childbearing.
  • Provide youth-friendly reproductive health services.
  • Strengthen linkages between adolescent health and HIV services.
  • Teach parenting and life skills through various platforms, including schools and employment programs.

• Empowering Citizenship:

  • Promote social accountability mechanisms to harness youth's strong citizenship values.
  • Encourage direct citizen participation in governance processes, such as participatory policy and budget formulation.
  • Strengthen youth engagement in democratic processes and public service delivery.

Conclusion

Youth in Burundi, despite their challenges, are a positive force and display optimism and resilience. While concerns about 'angry young men' persist, the study suggests that these fears are not well-founded among the general youth population. The report emphasizes the need for a comprehensive, gender-sensitive, and community-driven approach to youth development to ensure their productive integration into Burundi's post-conflict society and to prevent future conflict.