Lessons Learned from Children and Youth Participation in Development - Introduction

Lessons learned and results from CIDA's pilot projects integrating participation of children and young people at different levels of the project cycle.

The Canadian International Development Agency, Children's Rights and Protection Unit has recently funded a new publication entitled: Lessons Learned from Children and Youth Participation in Development

To demonstrate the potential for children and young people's participation in its programming, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) launched a series of pilot projects integrating participation of children and young people at different levels of the project cycle. In 2005, CIDA commissioned the following review to capture lessons learned and good practices from those pilots to inform and strengthen current and future programming. The projects are:

• Education and Peace Building for Children Affected by Armed Conflict in Colombia, implemented by Save the Children Canada;
• Conflict Resolution for Adolescents in Colombia, implemented by Foster Parents Plan - Canada;
• Child Rights Project, Sri Lanka, implemented by the Foundation for International Training;
• Promoting and Protecting the Interests of Children Who Work in Egypt, implemented by Partners in Technology Exchange and Mennonite Economic Development Associates;
• Kosovo Educator Development Project of the Educator Development Program, implemented by Universalia Management Group and the University of Calgary.

By promoting children and young people's participation, CIDA supports Canada's international commitments and development priorities, including contributing to the international effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, CIDA's mandate of poverty reduction, and its commitment to strengthening its aid effectiveness.

Ultimately, this review concludes that supporting the participation of children and young people in CIDA projects (both as the focus of projects and as a cross-cutting issue) is good development practice that improves project results and contributes to the longer-term development of strong democratic societies.