An era of greater co-ordination of youth-centred development in the Pacific has been ushered in with the launch of a regional youth framework and the endorsement of a new youth think tank.
The announcements have been made by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and the Pacific Youth Council as they joined with young people and development partners to mark International Youth Day.
In launching the Pacific Youth Development Framework 2014-2023 in Suva, the SPC's Director-General, Colin Tukuitonga, says considerable consultation with young people, governments and other stakeholders had gone into designing it.
He says engaging with youth is a prerequisite for effective development.
Dr Tukuitonga says young people can help improve their communities if given the opportunity to become better educated, healthier, to have their say and to engage in useful work.
Young men in Vanuatu. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
