Youth, Development and Peace (YDP) 2004

On the last day, World Bank President Jim Wolfensohn met with participants, who reported on the sessions, presented recommendations for collaboration, and asked many questions.

Wolfensohn noted that all their demands dealt with including youth and consulting with them on Bank projects. He added that both Bank staff and youth themselves should become more skilled on how to advocate for youth issues.

“The World Bank is starting to build a better understanding of the power of youth,” he said. “We cannot ignore the fact that half of today’s world population is under 24. It is essential that the World Bank and youth organizations work together.”

The youth participants and the Bank agreed to set up an informal network to help raise awareness of youth issues by disseminating information and sharing knowledge, facilitating work on selected issues, empowering and strengthening youth organizations.