Project Overview

This project represents a multi-level, concerted effort to bolster the capabilities of the Ministry of State for Youth Affairs (MoSYA), and expands their assets in order to better meet the growing internal and external demands to promote and support the empowerment of Kuwait’s young men and women. UNDP supports MoSYA in its work to develop innovative approaches that respond capably to the needs and priorities of Kuwait’s young men and women, empowering them further to be positive, active agents of change at the local, national, regional, and international levels – youth who are proud of their nation’s authentic values, and who are creators, initiators, and partners in the sustainable development of their nation.

Operationally, this also means that the project will take a close look at the quality, results, and sustainability in efficiently developing national capacities to reach these goals, further positioning Kuwait as a national and regional youth leader, after the country was named the ‘Capital of Arab Youth’ in 2017, enabling it to play a role of leadership in youth empowerment across the region. This would address the activation and technical support needed for Kuwait to respond to all regional and global conventions, as well as supporting upcoming events hosted by Kuwait and other global youth-focused conferences and forums. It would also include an accompanying communication and outreach strategy.

The following Four pillars were identified in developing the project’s strategies and goals, aligned with the compatible Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

1. National competitiveness, focusing on priorities like education, employment, productivity, skills, and entrepreneurship
2. Social cohesion: focusing on priorities like health, inclusion, well-being, and sports.
3. Leadership and voice: focusing on priorities like participation and democratization.
4. Creativity: focusing on priorities like innovation, talent, creativity, culture, and digitization

These pillars are aligned with the country’s initiative to improve their youth sector as outlined in the Kuwait Mid-Range National Development Plan for 2015/2016 – 2019-2020, focusing on:

a. The support of youth empowerment and expansion of their social role in society
b. The improvement of youth innovation by supporting youth initiatives that address social issues
c. Strengthen youth entrepreneurship by creating a culture of leadership and supporting SME’s
d. Proper Investment in youth pastimes
e. Develop and improve the services of the youth centres and opening them to the public by converting them into family centres

Project Highlights

After establishing close contact and developing foundations for plans, the first activity for this project takes place on 5th May, 2018.