World Bank - Leading the way in creating youth policies
When WOSM decided to collaborate with the World Bank in March 2003, it endeavoured to ensure that this would be a useful exercise and would bring about change in a criticised system. The challenge was directed at the President himself, James Wolfensohn, who was given the opportunity by World Scouting to meet a panel of representatives of the largest youth organisations: to establish a youth policy that did not yet exist.
The meeting was held in Athens. The president's enthusiasm accelerated the process with the support of the unit responsible for the matter in Washington. The Dialogue with Civil Society, based at the European Vice-President's headquarters in Paris, organised a series of meetings with youth organisations on the theme of “Youth, Development and Peace”. Inspired by this experience, James Wolfensohn met with the participants in September 2004 in Sarajevo. He decided to give a policy framework before he left the World Bank to stabilise the initiative. World Scouting has contributed to developing all stages of this youth policy, which has existed since May 2005.
Download PDF version of this page
