UNHCR Youth Initiative Fund – 2019

In 2019, the YIF enters its seventh year. The YIF was initiated by the Division of International Protection in Geneva to support community based protection projects imagined, designed and led by young people. Since 2014, the YIF has supported more than 100 youth led projects globally that have addressed protection challenges including sexual and gender-based violence, peaceful coexistence, child protection and psychosocial wellbeing.

The YIF is unique in that it targets and builds upon the existing capacities and capabilities of young people, rather than focussing on vulnerabilities. The YIF creates an enabling environment that provides young people with the space and support necessary to become active protection actors within their communities and helps them build life skills that strengthen resilience. This is achieved through the realisation of three main objectives:

1. Participation: Young people have genuine opportunities for community participation and
opportunities to effect decision making processes, especially in the area of protection;
2. Empowerment: Young people learn about project management, use their initiative,
evaluate options, learn to make informed decisions and choices, developing and
enhancing leadership skills;
3. Innovation: Young people develop innovative, youth-appropriate protection solutions to
addressing personal, group and community challenges.