The Capacity4dev editorial team collaborated with INTPA.G.1 and presents lessons learnt and recommendations.
WYDE aims to promote political pluralism and the inclusiveness of democratic processes by significantly enhancing the participation of youth and women in all aspects of public life. The many legal, cultural and economic barriers to women's and youth political participation are being identified, measured and mapped. The program enables women and youth themselves to carry out the awareness and advocacy actions needed to overcome or remove these barriers. The program’s name stands for Women and Youth in Democracy initiative. It was decided by INTPA’s youth sounding board based on a series of options set by EPD’s junior officers. The Youth Action Plan has WYDE as one of its main flagships. It represents a total effort of EUR 43 million invested from EU’s Human Rights and Democracy thematic program. WYDE also aims at addressing the increasing distrust of young people in institutions and political systems. Therefore, WYDE contributes to better inform, network and empower young people so that they can actively, safely and legally participate in democracy support, civic activism and political office. Learning by doing, empowering through subgrants accompanied with coaching, is at the core-heart of the methodology. The WYDE Civic engagement chapter has already distributed 50 small grants accompanied with expertise. WYDE invests in all forms of participation claimed by youth: Political and partisan participation: working with young people and (young) women from political parties and parliaments so that they can play an ever-meaningful role. Citizen participation, often non-partisan: working with youth and women who have chosen to participate as citizens in grassroots organizations that engage in institutional oversight, anti-corruption, citizen election observation, democratic reform advocacy and civic education. Democracy activism: working with bloggers, influencers, researchers and grassroots movements that promote the universal values of human rights and democracy. The many beneficiaries of the program are encouraged to network within the Youth Democracy Cohort co-lead by EPD and the European Commission. The WYDE initiative is multilevel (global, regional, country and local scopes) andmultifaceted (involving Parliaments, political parties, academia (young African researchers), democracy support organisations, youth and youth-led organisations, and grass-roots CSOs).