Reinventing Democracy in the Digital Era (UNDEF)

RDDE UNDEF Contract Title [Reinventing Democracy in the Digital Era (UNDEF)] Contract Number UDF-GLO-13-532 Funding Agency United Nations Democracy Fund Partners Talents Coaching & Consulting Kenya Ltd (Kenya, Africa) Kwansei Gakuin University (Japan, Asia) National University of Patagonia (Argentina, Americas)

'Reinventing Democracy in the Digital Era (UNDEF) 's key objective is to increase youth participation in democratic governance by empowering young people from across the world to invent and propose new, innovative and concrete actions. More than 1000 young people will contribute with ideas face-to-face and virtually during five Co-Laboratories engaging ICT and structured democratic dialogue methodology. The process is designed to mobilize young people and to increase interaction among youth globally with the aim to advocate for and enable meaningful youth participation in democratic processes.

This project is being implemented in Cyprus by the Future Worlds Center, Kenya by the Talents Coaching & Consulting Kenya Ltd, Japan by Kwansei Gakuin University, and Argentina by National University of Patagonia.

Overall objectives

Overall development goal Empowerment and active participation of young people at all levels of governance around the world.

Project objective Communication and collaboration among youth across the world is strengthened using structured dialogue, new innovative ICT-based solutions and tools to find common ground for increased participation.

Expected outcomes

Outcome 1: Structured youth dialogue has capacitated and empowered youth, and strengthened the level of engagement among youth across the world. Outcome 2: Social media is increasingly used in advocacy efforts to strengthen the voice of youths across the world. Outcome 3: Increased number of globally produced tools to strengthen youth participation in democratic processes.

Target Groups

Young People The project will focus on the age group 18-35 but the frames are not exclusive. The group includes college and university students, young people out of the formal educational system, employed and unemployed young people. Gender (20%), Age: young people 18 – 30 years old (15%), Anti-discrimination criteria (10%), Years of relevant experience or/and prior relevant activities (10%), Potential for organizing follow-up activities (10%), Belonging to associations with wide networks (5%), Communication skills (5%), Reliability / Commitment (5%), Country of origin / nationality (5%), Availability of sponsors (10%), Uninterrupted access to social networking (5%).

Youth Organizations and Structures These include NGOs working with youth, informal youth groups, youth councils and parliaments, youth centers and public agencies working with youth or any structure out of the formal educational system, which works with young people and influences their values and behavior. The concrete themes (spheres of work) of the organizations/structures to be involved in the action vary and are not selection criteria.

Global Society

Activities

Output 1.1: 5 Regional Co-Laboratories of Democracy held with a total of 100 participants

Output 1.2: At least 1000 ‘Shadow Participants’ to Co-Laboratories recruited

Output 1.3: 13 Regional Webinars on Participatory Democracy held

Output 1.4: Two Global Webinars on Participatory Democracy held

Expected Results

Outcome 1: Structured youth dialogue has capacitated and empowered youth, and strengthened the level of engagement among youth across the world.

The necessary requirement for any action to be successful is that the youth has clarity of their situation and are able to articulate their thoughts and goals clearly. Future Worlds Center will coordinate and carryout co-laboratories in which 100-125 youth and citizens’ representatives/leaders, will participate. Doing so will develop a common language and a shared understanding of the situation for youth and capacitate them to formulate their ideas, suggestions, and strategies with clarity. They will work together to develop shared action plans. They will co-author a book and produce video clips to promote their action plans. Moreover, they will co-develop a Manifesto for 21st Century Democracy. As a result, the participating youth will regain their interest in the democratic process and their faith toOutcome 2: Social media is increasingly used in advocacy efforts to strengthen the voice of youths across the world.

Outcome 2: Social media is increasingly used in advocacy efforts to strengthen the voice of youths across the world.

A series of 1-min video clips and a best video clip competition will serve as a major step towards engaging a few thousand people in evaluating and selecting ideas using modern social media and Apps. This is envisioned as the launching of a global mobilization process which will engage thousands of people in critical and reflecting thinking by sharing and discussing the video clips. The results of best video clip- voting process will be disseminated to the media, organizations and decision makers through various communication channels and are expected to make an impact in the political agenda.

Outcome 3: Increased number of tools to strengthen youth participation in democratic processes.

A number of tools to strengthening youth participation will be created through the project. This includes publicizing a collectively authored e-book and the Manifesto for 21st Century Democracy, as well as the operational action plans. These deliverables will empower citizens to express their ideas for the future of democracy and the system of governance. The expected support of international organizations and networks will further assist in connecting citizens with policy makers such as members of the government and parliament, international institutions and local authorities.