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2016-07-30T13:18:56Z

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2016-07-30T13:08:24Z

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Challenges Pakistan youth face

2013-08-05T20:13:32Z

Challenges Pakistan youth face In most of the developing countries young people are growing up without opportunities, information and services they need to reach their full potential. There is mounting evidence to prove that lack of investment and an indifference to the needs of youth incur a high cost in terms of lost development opportunities, ill health and social, physical, mental disruption. And it means failure to fully support our present "asset" as well as next generation of parents and leaders. There is no doubt that the youth have been at the centre of socio-economic and socio-political changes taking place in Pakistan and elsewhere. The period of the life under which the youth fall, is the most productive and energetic. If their energies are not channelled they fail to captivate opportunities that come their way. At this moment, the youth in Pakistan find themselves in a far better position than many of their peers in other countries because of the demographic advantage they enjoy in Pakistan. As a matter of fact Pakistani population is very young. The census of 1998 counted 56 million children under the age of 15. There were another 13 million adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19, and 11 million youth aged between 20 to 24 years. In other words, in 1998 children, the very young and the youth accounted for 62 million of the total population. (Census Report of Pakistan 1998, Table 5, Population by Selected Age Group) Of the 15 largest countries in the world in terms of population size Pakistan has by far the youngest people. Should such a young population be regarded as a burden or an asset? I believe that our demographic situation provides our young with an extraordinary opportunity to compete in whatever sphere they chose. We have an opportunity to turn our very large and very young people into a productive asset. That could contribute significantly to the economic growth and poverty alleviation. Both the government and society must join their hands or this nation-building task and concentrate on protecting the emotional and physical health of the youth, their skill-based education, provision of recreational facilities, employment, and above all incorporation of self-confidence, motivation and courage to move forward. The challenges, constraints and opportunities the young people face vary from region to region and culture to culture — from forced early marriages to increased poverty resulting from adjustment policies, from armed conflicts to a lack of opportunities. For many, bread and butter is a problem, for others it is HIV/AIDS, lack of education or poverty are major constraints in life. But nobody denies that the youth, wherever they are, need to be redirected for a larger well-being and prosperity of societies, countries and nations. The youth of Pakistan, despite a multitude of problems like unemployment, poverty, remorselessness, social taboos, drugs, guns and politics, have always been in the forefront of movements and political changes, for instance from Pakistan Movement to Independence of Pakistan and Indo-Pak wars, to Fall of Dhaka and Pakistan emerging as "something" on the map of the world to Pakistan becoming the first Islamic nuclear power. They have never let the nation down at any point of time. It is unfortunate that the youth, despite their contributions to national developments, find themselves trapped in a culture marked by guns, violence and drugs. All this has resulted in an unstable economy, a shattered confidence of foreign investors, lawlessness, and a break-up of the social fabric. Pakistan at the moment houses the largest number of youth in its history. This is the best time for Pakistan to invest in youth and reactivate and relocate their disfranchised energies if there is any need for economic growth and social development in Pakistan. If we glance through the history of the world, it stands clear that the countries with the fastest economic growth over the past 50 years are those which heavily invested in their youth. The most impounding problem our youth is facing at present is frustration. This monster is eating up our youth slowly and gradually. The youth in Pakistan don’t have jobs, means of healthy entertainment, health resources and awareness. They say the youth is like running water. It makes it own ways. The frustration as a result of multitude of problems is increasing day by day. This is the right time to look into the problems of youth and give them viable solutions otherwise it will be too late in the day. We need to bear in mind that the “destiny of nations is in the hands of youth.” As for education of our youth, there is a feeling that it should be more productive and progressive in terms of its application and usage. There is no formal guidance for students in logical selection of a specific course of study. There is no unified, single education system in the country. We have three to four education systems running at parallel levels. Education does not mean enrolment at universities and colleges. Rather it means evaluating the skills and knowledge of those individuals who acquired it, and the adequacy of this education in fulfilling their needs. Education means exploring alternate routes, both formal and informal, to knowledge and skill building. In Pakistan particularly it means putting the right persons to the right tracks. Most of our employed youth are misfits in their present positions and employment. They have been yoked to these unwanted engagements either by society, parents or their circumstances. Somebody who wanted to become a lawyer and was sent to a medical college against his wish, cannot give the best output as a doctor at all. We need proper education counselling system in the country if we require a maximum output from our youth. Unemployment is another problem being faced by our youths. We don’t have latest official figures but almost 12 percent (Labour Force Survey, Government of Pakistan, 1997) of our youth is unemployed. Unemployment is a multi-dimensional and complex issue which starts a vicious cycle of associated problems like involvement of youth in politics, bank-household burglaries, social insecurity, lawlessness, use of drugs, etc. Though every government has done something for the youth with regards to eradication of unemployment but the problem is sustainability of these programmes. One government launches a couple of youth promotion and youth investment schemes, the next one slates all the previous programmes and starts anew. The ultimate sufferers in this exercise are the youth. The role of media in upbringing of our youth has been minimum throughout the history of Pakistan. Most of the youth find our TV programmes non-entertaining and unattractive. Every body is interested in watching other South Asian and western channels. As a consequence we came to know what is call "cultural invasion". The term is very old but we experienced its magic in Pakistan only from 1990s onward. As to radio and newspaper, both of these media don’t target youth as one of their potential audiences. With the start of public-private partnership, the government should pay extra attention to using them in education, welfare and development of the youth. Our youth has lost its identity and importance. We need to enable our youth to rediscover their identity which they were made to loose over the last 50 years. There must be remedial measures at government, social and individual levels to restore the confidence of the youth in their potential qualities. The most important step to be taken by the Government of Pakistan, in this regard, is revision and revival of a national youth policy which must be to aspire to create situations whereby youth stand educated, employed and free from drug abuse, frustration, parochialism, sectarianism and other numerous evils which have jolted the foundations of our society like involvement of youth in politics, terrorism and lawlessness. We have to prepare our youth to face the challenges of the time with unshakable courage and youthful confidence.

UN Internships Undermine the Organization's Commitment to Youth Issues

2012-08-10T16:21:27Z

With the world economy still struggling to recover, young people continue to face unprecedented levels of unemployment. The United Nations has responded by producing several events and studies, including May’s Youth Employment Forum at the International Labour Organization, as well as publishing the World Youth Report in 2011. Consultations with young people will continue this year as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the creation of a System-Wide Action Plan on Youth, a map for how the United Nations system will address youth issues. The United Nations will also celebrate International Youth Day, held each year on August 12, in recognition of young people worldwide.

While it is to be commended for its increased focus on youth issues, the United Nations has failed to address problems young people face within the organization, particularly the thousands of interns that contribute to its work for no pay. As an unpaid opportunity, UN internships are only available to those who can afford them, rather than those who deserve the experience based on merit alone. The UN clearly states that all expenses must be borne by the intern, including airfare, visas, medical insurance, and room and board. With operations conducted in cities like Geneva, New York, and Vienna, few of the world's youth can afford the high living costs of a UN internship, no matter how deserving they may be of such an opportunity.

According to Ban Ki-moon, "youth should be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making of local, national and global levels." To the defense of all young people interested in contributing to the UN's work, I fail to see how the organization thinks that we can participate in decision-making when it only accepts those who can afford the high costs associated with an unpaid internship. Young people are an amazing source of new ideas, passion and creativity. The contribution they make to the UN should not be uncompensated.

Luckily, I am not the only one who has noticed this inconsistency. Just over a week ago, I started a petition through Change.org to call on Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and other heads of agencies to make a commitment to pay UN interns a fair wage. As of this week, we have over 1,000 signatures, demonstrating that this is a legitimate concern of youth all over the world.

The UN has been fairly quiet on the issue of unpaid internships, a point I criticized in an article last February. A report by the Joint Inspection Unit concluded that UN internships are "overwhelmingly positive for all the parties involved" and are seen "as a win-win experience,” providing the "real possibility and hope that interns eventually may be hired within the United Nations system and be in policy- and decision-making positions." While the report recognized that interns face financial difficulties in undertaking an unpaid position, the Inspectors stopped short of recommending a full living stipend without giving any reason. They did, however, call on heads of organizations to consider requesting “appropriate funds,” such as a specific budget line, to ensure that internship programs are adequately funded.

Provision of some form of funding has been implemented in a number of other international organizations, including the World Trade Organization, the Inter-American Development Bank, and more. Within the UN system, the International Labour Organization is the only one that provides a full stipend to cover basic expenses. ILO Director-General Juan Somavia has said that he is “totally against” unpaid internships, stating that asking an intern to work for free represents a “total and absolute disrespect for a young person.” As head of an organization fighting for higher labor standards, Somavia concluded that ILO internships had to “set an example” by supporting its interns with a fair living stipend.

For the rest of the UN system, unpaid internships remain the norm and it is clear that such a system has serious implications for young people. According the JIU, only 5% of interns participating in the 2007 program came from the poorest countries in the world. The vast majority, nearly 60%, came from developed countries, representing a clear discrimination against those who cannot afford the experience. For an organization that claims to value fairness and opportunity for all, the UN fails to live up to its ideals when it comes to its interns.

While the system clearly favors the wealthy, a UN internship does not guarantee a job with the organization. Despite its commitment to youth issues, UN hiring practices ensure that few young people actually have a place within the organization. According to another report by the JIU in 2007, out of 23,006 professional staff recorded worldwide in 2004, only 680 were below the age of 30, a mere 3%. Compare that to the 3,500 unpaid interns it registered in 2007 and it's hard to deny that the UN is not hiring young people in any professional capacity.

Rather than finding paid work, too often interns are used as a cheap source of labor, undermining the integrity of a system that is supposedly looking out for young people. Just take a look at this current offer for a “Finance/Administrative Internship” with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in London. Among other things, the intern will be tasked with “undertaking filing and mailings; organising meetings and arranging catering,” all for no pay.

This is just one example of many where the use of unpaid interns has become a shameful way to fill posts that should be paid. Adding the word “intern” to the end of what clearly should be a paid job title does not change the fact that what the UN and its various agencies are doing is wrong. While it claims that interns are “exposed to high-profile conferences, participate in meetings, and contribute to analytical work as well as organizational policy,” it seems dubious that organizing a luncheon for absolutely no pay significantly contributes to a young person's understanding of the policymaking process. On the contrary, it merely reinforces the idea that young people are an expendable source of free labor, a message few at the UN would (or should) support.

Ban Ki-moon has stated that “young people everywhere deserve the power to get information, connect and ask hard questions – about justice, equality and opportunity” and that policymakers have the obligation to “listen to youth and answer their calls.” When it comes to unpaid internships, now is the time to start asking those questions. As the UN prepares to celebrate International Youth Day on 12 August, young people and UN staff alike need to call into question a system that clearly discriminates against the very people this day commemorates. Fair pay will ensure that all qualified young people, rich or poor, are able to contribute their passion and ideals to the United Nations.

For more information about this initiative, please visit UnpaidIsUnfair.org

(Images: IYD logo and Ban Ki-Moon speaking to UN Summer 2012 Interns © UN; Unpaid is Unfair logo © Unpaid is Unfair)

Opinions voiced by Global Minds do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Global Journal.

Online Marketplaces – the Pros and the Cons

2012-06-18T17:55:56Z

With the recent economy forcing employers worldwide to get more stringent with their resources, several industries have seen increases in the outsourcing of work to in-country as well as international freelance workers. This trend has allowed for the expansion of international online freelance recruiting marketplaces (such as Odesk, Elance, and Guru), which promise speedy access to freelancers all over the world, as well as the possibility of getting work projects and assignments completed quickly.

In theory, the existence of an open, Internet-based global freelance marketplace such as the ones previously mentioned should be mutually beneficial. International employers, project managers, and individuals in need of various services, from web development to writing, design, translation, data analysis and more, can gain instant access to a broad range of workers who will enthusiastically vie for the chance to complete the required tasks. Ostensibly, this system should benefit international freelance workers as well, as, 1) it provides them with a platform within which they can instantly search through dozens of ‘valid’ posted freelance jobs, and, ii) it encourages free competition between such freelancers, in which case the most qualified candidate would theoretically get the job.

In actuality, however, such online freelance recruiting marketplaces offer a mixed bag of benefits and drawbacks. They benefit the employers, groups, and individuals who use such marketplaces to find labor to fit their needs, since such employers gain instant access to hundreds of eager applicants willing to do their work. If we look at such freelance workers as commodities within the international freelance world, it is definitely a ‘buyer's market’. For the freelancers themselves, however, the situation quickly becomes less rosy. The competition soon becomes not one in which the most qualified worker with a reasonable rate wins, but one in which the qualified worker who is most willing to drive down his or her wages gets the task.

These online freelance marketplaces allow freelancers to set their desired hourly, as well as per-project, rates, but since the available jobs are auctioned off in a lower-rate-wins bidding system, many freelancers abandon their reasonable rates (such as, let's say, the US Department of Labor's minimum hourly wage of 7.25 USD/hr., not to mention the higher rates that more skilled workers may wish to charge), and projects can close for as little as 4.25 USD/hr. One is to assume that the employers have selected with reasonable care, and the employee, who, for example, agrees to do the work for 4.25 USD/hr. is adequately equipped to perform the freelance service; this worker, however, is now doing so for a rate that is on the low side of – or below – the average compensation standard of his industry. This reduced rate will be further diminished by any service fees paid to the online mediators.

Consequently, online freelance marketplaces undoubtedly favor the employer – books may get written for as little as 50 USD and entire complex websites developed for 300 USD. Moreover, in countries where the relative minimum wage is lower than that in the US, and less strictly enforced, workers may find themselves driving down their wages even further and accepting even lower rates.

The overall effects of such marketplaces are similar to those of outsourcing: substandard wages for remote employees in exchange for a standard quality and scope of work.

Conversely, agencies recruiting for physical work (for example, construction work, nursing) may offer freelance workers a much better situation – at least where the minimum wage is enforced; workers (including, of course, legal foreign contractors working on location) are guaranteed a minimum earning standard, and can reasonably expect the rates they set for their skills to be honored by companies looking to hire them.

While the idea of online freelance marketplaces with an international reach may be initially appealing to freelancers as well as employers, upon closer analysis one must consider the serious drawbacks and overall economic consequences that such platforms may have, not only for individual freelance workers themselves, but for the state of entire industries (such as, for instance, web development and graphic design) within specific nations and abroad. However, there are ways in which the online freelance marketplaces can improve the situation, including, first and foremost, agreeing not to feature employers or employees willing to go below reasonable industry rates for the proposed jobs. If one believes in the integrity of human labor, as well as the importance of preserving the economic worth of industries both nationally and abroad, one might choose to utilize such marketplaces sparingly, if at all.

The overall effects of such marketplaces are similar to those of outsourcing: substandard wages for remote employees in exchange for a standard quality and scope of work. More importantly, since such marketplaces host local/national as well as international workers, when local workers drive their wages down they have the unsettling effect of bringing the negative qualities of outsourcing into not commonly outsourced-to countries, as if commonly-outsourced-to areas of the world have suddenly been replaced by local soil. Nico, I really think we should cut this section - do you agree? It is a sort of repetition and I can’t quite see why it’s MORE worrying if it happens to Americans than anyone else…

(Photo © DR)

(Opinions voiced by Global Minds do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Global Journal.)

Pierre Tapie: More Brains to Understand Globalization

2012-04-02T16:39:44Z

Global governance issues are forcing universities and colleges to increase their capacity for research and understanding of phenomena outside the national sphere. For Pierre Tapie, what happens at the interface of the worlds of business and socio-politics has never been so delicate. With four other major academic centers, the University of Mannheim in Germany, Keio in Japan, Fudan in China and Tuck Business School at Dartmouth in the USA, Tapie is starting The Council for Business in Society, a think tank about the mutual influences exerted by the political, societal and economic fields at the global scale. At stake is the strengthening of decisionmaking capacity among international actors at all levels. A Global exclusive.

You are announcing the creation of a think tank on issues related to globalization. Why is the theme “Business in Society” and not “Globalization” or “New Governance”?

Business in Society is a much broader title than “globalization” or “governance”. The Council for Business in Society is a very small circle of business schools, all of excellent reputation, located in countries that represent half of the world’s economy, that will combine their intellectual and social energies to explore topics of great societal importance, in a context of globalization. These fi ve schools share the belief that the consequences of what happens at the interface between business and the social and political environments in which they operate has never been more important. This interface is obviously highly contextual, that is, it is dependent on the societies where it takes place, while the consequences of these phenomena are often global. Companies have missions that a ect the public interest and the common good, positively or negatively. The objective of The Council for Business and Society is to explore, on the one hand, the consequences of business decisions on society and, on the other, the e ects that systems of regulation will or will not have on the behavior of
economic actors.
From October 2012, we will focus each year on specific topics in all their international diversity –governance and leadership, and issues such as financing health, changes in available energy, urbanization, the management of water, etc.

Where did this idea come from? Do your students –and their future employers– have particular expectations or aspirations from this approach?

This idea first came from university teams, who are in contact with students as much as companies and government. We find that our students are asking more and more questions about the consistency between their professional lives and what they want as citizens or parents, and that their future employers are finding their businesses increasingly subject to the challenge of sustainable development or corporate social responsibility. In addition, public o cials are very interested in developing a collective decision-making capacity, at all levels, between countries.

What will the Council “produce”?

An annual forum, by invitation only, at a very highlevel; studies; teaching materials; the organization of intercultural collaboration between students and teachers at di erent schools.

Who will produce and who will lead?

Who are some of the Council’s leading figures? The students and teachers will produce under the direction of the Deans of the schools who act on the Council’s initiative and who are already leading fi gures. Soon, our teachers will become recognized faces.

How can you ensure that this refl ection will be heard outside your inner circle?

The press will be invited to each forum. Press coverage will be structurally international by grouping correspondents from the fi ve countries of the schools. The work will be organized to interest targeted decision- makers and infl uential people.

There is a fierce debate on de-globalization. Do you fear the word “global”?

Speaking for myself, as an individual, I am not at all afraid of the word “global”, which represents the reality of many challenges and the scale at which they must be treated, as well as the reality of a large number of organizations. But behind the word “global” and “globalization”, we hear comments as simplistic as “the world is flat”. The world is not fl at. It is connected with plains, mountains, plateaux and valleys where the land is geologically, climatically, humanly, historically and culturally di erent. I do not believe in a standardization of cultures and practices that would bring all the inhabitants of the planet to adopt the same culinary, cultural and educational habits. There is indeed a rejection of this interpretation of the word “global” and “globalization”. If by “de-globalization”, one means the pursuit of a closer interaction of human and commercial exchanges, but a greater respect for the identity of peoples and cultures, then the word de-globalization is relevant. If it means self-su cient retreat to a small area that anxiously isolates itself from the rest of the world, then we must avoid the word.

On the scale of global decisions, what concerns you most in the coming months?

The EU’s inability to take bold decisions in terms of rules, and economic decision-making processes at the European level. We have a model that is exceptionally interesting for the checks and balances it has built in. This model cannot resist the speculative attacks of those who have an interest in its failure - suffice it to remember the organized attacks against the Euro at the time of its creation –by carrying integration further. It is absurd for Europeans to play a game of Prisoner’s Dilemma whereby fi scal dumping makes all the competing countries sterile. We need a European economic government that can make a number of collective decisions on behalf of wider European interests on the world scene. We should also get it done for the sake of Europe’s diplomatic weight.

What qualities should students have to deal with globalization?

Curiosity and the humility to listen and understand the new universes, cultural or conceptual, so that they can function in complex environments. The courage to reject decisions that others would like to make them take or assume, if they are at odds with their deepest values. Long-term vision and the ambition to look ahead. The willingness to participate in collective e ort and a fundamental empathy toward their peers as well as disadvantaged people.

by Jean-Christophe Nothias

India: The Singing, Dancing, Entrepreneurial Revolution

2012-03-14T16:15:08Z

Socrates believed that the first step towards gaining true knowledge was eliminating misinformation and realizing how much you don’t know, a state he called ‘Aporia’. The Chinese have a similar saying which suggests that one needs to empty one’s cup before anything else can be poured into it. A look at the headlines across newspapers and magazines over the past decade shows how much airtime and public discourse has been taken up by the growth stories of China, India and other fast emerging countries. Despite all the news bites, headlines and newly coined terms like ‘BRIC’ and ‘Chindia’, the truth about the realities of people living in these societies remains somewhat elusive. Beyond mere statistics, getting some answers to questions about the challenges and opportunities for people living in these societies is important. What are the aspirations and values that guide the next generation of leadership in these countries? What does that mean for the geopolitical climate in the years and decades ahead? These questions are significant because they hold some of the important clues to the puzzle of what future governance systems and economic & social models might look like. It is important therefore to look beyond the headlines, to understand the statistics and get a flavor of the reality on the ground.

On 17th June, 2011 in Toronto, Canada, the Aurea Foundation organized a Munk Debate involving Henry Kissinger, Farid Zakaria, Niall Fergusson and David Daokui Li on the topic: ‘Be it resolved that the 21st Century will belong to China’. In a charged and passionate debate Mr Li made the point that “China’s emergence gives us an alternative model of social and economic institutions different from the west.” One, he claimed, that focuses more on social good than on individual freedom. The argument is an old, but significant, one. It is clear that any country of significant size will share more than its resources and markets with the world - it will also share its own model of growth, geo-politics and social evolution. It’s not merely the economic size of an economy but its ability to present the most progressive and relevant social and cultural ideas that mark out the leaders. This includes the ability to innovate, produce new technologies, solve problems and create a society in which the educated and hardworking middle classes will want to live. Irrespective of whether you like that model or not, China’s emergence implies an alternate to Western models.

The question is equally interesting when applied to India. What are the social, cultural and political structures that a more significant if not more assertive India presents? How do they differ from the political system of democracy India inherited from the British, or the capitalistic and open markets system that America and the major global economic institutions have been championing? Is it merely an amalgamation of those two with a dash of its own version of right-wing politics thrown in? All these are ingredients in the mix, but what comes out of it is something quite unique and specific to India. Something that people outside the country don’t necessarily hear about enough and those within the country aren’t always able to adequately communicate. Aside from call centers, technology companies and the usual political cacophony, there is something far more critical and valuable happening inside India. Developments rooted in entrepreneurship and the advancing aspirations of a young society, powered by social & technological innovation, have a significant impact on the resulting social structures emerging in the country.

The economic crisis, which tested the governance system even in America and forced a closer scrutiny of the political and economic systems in the EU, turns our attention to other models. Consequently, an evaluation of the democratic principles and governance of other diverse populations (sometimes with very divergent views) becomes relevant, and India is a valuable case study. Before addressing the sociological aspects, a quick look at some numbers helps get a sense of the scale and context of any discussion on India. As per the 2011 census, India’s population is 1.21 billion (or 1,210 million). According to 2010 data from the United Nations Development Program, an estimated 37.2% of Indians, approximately 450 million people, live below the country's national poverty line. The poverty line in India is defined as Rs. 32 (0.50 euros) per capita per day in urban areas, Rs. 26 (0.40 euros) in rural areas, and is itself a subject of controversy; the definition is considered by many to be too low to represent actual living costs, even on PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) terms, implying that, based on more realistic living standards, the actual number of poor people in India could be even higher.

Further, according to numbers published after the 2001 Census of India, 29 languages were each spoken by more than a million people, while 57 languages were each spoken by more than 100,000 people. These figures reveal a diverse and complicated society, resembling more the characteristics of a continent than a nation state. India is, therefore, a very large country with an exceedingly diverse population, in terms of language and of race and religion. So the challenge is to dovetail the aspirations of a very varied population into a coherent strategy that delivers growth to the different stakeholders.

India moved away from a socialistic model towards liberalization at the start of the 1990s under the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh, who is now the country’s Prime Minister. The accelerated rate of economic growth since liberalization has led to a rapidly growing middle class. According to a report by the National Council for Applied Economic Research's (NCAER) Centre for Macro Consumer Research by 2015-16, India will be a country of 53.3 million middle class households, translating into 267 million people. Currently India has 31.4 million middle class households (160 million individuals).

The expanding middle class and the resulting rise in literacy have created a generation of educated young people with the desire and the qualifications to effect real change. While the population proportions still remain skewed towards a very high percentage of poor households and low literacy levels, the rate of positive change has accelerated considerably. Another major development comes from the leaps made in information and communication technologies. These advances have created entire industries in emerging markets, based in little towns and small IT companies, capable of delivering services to the developed economies from halfway across the globe. The growth in technology education in India is representative of the role IT is seen as playing in the country’s progress. India’s most renowned technology institutes, the IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) more than doubled their branches in the last decade - from 7 in 2001 to 16 in 2011. The liberalization and expansion of communication and technological innovation is at the heart of India’s recent growth. Although the country has achieved an average annual growth rate in excess of 7% for over 10 years, there are severe challenges to sustaining this growth, not least because of the relative lack of manufacturing in the country where growth has largely been driven by technology-enabled services.

What do these statistics and developments mean for the everyday lives of people? At a party in south Delhi a few weeks ago, I got a flavor of it. In an upper middle class neighborhood, a group of professionals, students, academics and young businessmen and women had gathered for a weekend party. The song and dance that accompanies almost every aspect of Indian society across its vast land was in full display, but in the middle of the singing and dancing, I caught a glimpse of the preoccupations of the youth, and a sense of what drives them, their outlook for the future. Among this dynamic and forward-looking group was a young woman, who had set up women’s empowerment organizations in two cities in north India (Urban Mahila Association and the Maids Company) aiming to provide social security for underprivileged women, often outside the organized economy and therefore outside the reach of government initiatives; there was a social entrepreneur from the organization Swechha who was organizing a festival on the banks of the Yamuna to clean the river and raise awareness of environmental issues among the Delhi slums; there was the owner of an IT and web development firm that also does work with the visually challenged in South India (Society for the Rehabilitation of the Visually Challenged); a fashion designer working on textiles with tribal communities in the northern Himalayas helping to create a market for their garments.

These are not isolated examples. According to a report in the Indian Express quoting a Government of India study of 2009, India has close to 3.3 million NGOs working in the country. This element of social responsibility in a nascent and newly liberalized capitalistic economy is surprising - corporate social responsibility is still lacking and large organizations face criticism for their low involvement with social issues. However, this element of Indian society is not always correctly and adequately represented in discussions about the country’s economic and social evolution. For example, at the 32nd Jawahar Lal Nehru memorial lecture in London in November 2011, Lord Bhikhu Parekh brought to light some of the issues facing democracy in India. A detailed, thoughtful and critical lecture titled ‘The Crisis of Indian democracy’ spelled out the challenges of governing through democracy, but failed to mention this most central of developments in India – the rise of the young (social) entrepreneur with a changing definition of enterprise. Knowledge sharing, open sourcing and crowd sourcing which are commonplace among software and IT professionals are spreading to other areas of the economy as well. Apart from social media and its role in increasing transparency and mobilizing people, collective problem solving is yet another area in which web-enabled communication systems are increasingly deployed. Such platforms are being built and used in the social sector as never before. This form of entrepreneurship and involvement with social issues is seen increasingly among the upper middle classes as well - people who have traditionally shunned such ventures, seeking instead to look for positions in the public sector or working in family businesses. These social entrepreneurs form a crucial link between India’s capitalistic present and its socialist past. The statistics suggest that the beneficiaries of India’s recent growth have been predominantly the affluent classes, but there are significant improvements for the wider population as well. According to a recent statement from Andrew Mitchell, UK Secretary of State for International Development, India has got 60 million children into school in recent years. By some estimates, India lifted over 200 million people out of poverty between 2005 and 2010. NGOs (although sometimes coming under criticism for lack of transparency or corruption) and the services sector are partly responsible for this positive change.

However, problems remain, especially in corporate social responsibility, graft and corruption in deploying funds for the improvement of public goods and services. Perhaps this widespread corruption is one of the reasons why large organizations still do not come forward enough to participate in socially relevant issues, preferring instead to get cosy with politicians through graft to facilitate their business ends. Smaller organizations and newly established ventures are less able and increasingly less willing to follow this process. Societal recognition through being involved in social issues compensates to an extent what large organizations achieve through graft. Like the people at the party in south Delhi, the aspiration of starting up one’s own business and following an entrepreneurial path, as opposed to working in large corporate organizations, is an increasing trend. The acceptability and pride associated with working in large multi-national organizations is substantially diminished in the middle classes. More and more diverse, smaller and entrepreneurial ventures with increasing dependence on technology seem to be taking hold and guiding growth. There is a greater degree of dependence on vast networks rather than large organizations in meeting business and social ends. Smaller organizations tied through networks are far more able and willing to adapt to and work with local communities to deliver value. Where large organizations have failed to adapt and monolithic structures have failed to evolve, these smaller organizations created by entrepreneurs, enabled by technology and joined by networks spreading over vast geographies and industries, seem to be better equipped to produce the next generation of growth. This to me is the critical development where the challenges and opportunities of the future will increasingly be met. More ideas will be shared and strategies developed in chat rooms, social gatherings and parties rather than in board room meetings behind closed doors. The singing dancing generation of entrepreneurs dealing with the grime and dust of the challenges posed by outdated structures and inefficient practices is deciding the course of the country’s future more than ever before.

These nimble, technically savvy and energetic groups of people working in smaller organizations and coming together across a range of sectors and industries, possibly hold the key to what the future socio-economic structures might look like. In the middle of the song and dance, one can sense a little revolution developing that promises some excitement and perhaps some opportunities for real change in the years ahead.

Read the article of Prof. Amartya Sen on Quality of Life: India vs China.

UN Youth Employment Conference Overlooks Unpaid Internships

2012-02-27T14:45:03Z

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN) is to hold an event today (February 27) on the current and future status of youth employment, “Breaking new ground: Partnerships for more and better jobs for young people”. Organized by the Department for Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the conference will bring together international organizations and the private sector. The outcome of the one-day event will be submitted to the UN Member States during the Council’s High-level session in July 2012.

While its concern for youth employment is laudable, perhaps the UN should start by taking a look in its own backyard...

Of the UN agencies participating in the youth conference, only one provides compensation to its interns (the ILO). For the thousands of young people coming through the UN system each year (around 3,500 in 2007), the vast majority must do so at their own expense. Students and their families fork out thousands of dollars to get a foot in the door, resulting in a situation rife with elitism. Despite their best efforts, few interns actually gain employment with the UN, often taking on yet another internship in the hopes of eventually being paid. For the lucky few who do manage, paid work usually comes in the form of precarious short-term contracts, most of which lack the various benefits provided to permanent staff.

The trend in unpaid internships has been widely covered in the press, yet there has been little reported on what is taking place at the UN. In 2009, the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) published a report on internships within the UN system. Surveying 18 organizations, it concluded that internships were "overwhelmingly positive for all the parties involved" and were seen "as a win-win experience". Besides gaining valuable experience, the JIU stated that internships provided the "real possibility and hope that interns eventually may be hired within the United Nations system and be in policy- and decision-making positions."

Speaking to current interns, the picture appears quite different. One recent graduate stated with regret how today’s unpaid interns are "disposable". While internships were originally intended to give current students exposure to the working world, they have in many cases become a convenient way for organizations to cut costs. Graduates who have already earned their qualifications are told they are unqualified for professional positions, leaving them little choice but to take on additional internships. Despite the conclusions of the JIU report, it is clear in many cases that interns are replacing workers who would otherwise be paid.

The current system is flawed on multiple fronts. While in some cases interns are able to secure outside funding, many rely on family, personal savings, or even loans to gain UN experience. Given the costs of living in cities like New York and Geneva, an unpaid internship for a period of three to six months could easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, putting the experience out of reach for all but the most privileged. These conditions skew the geographic distribution of interns, most of whom come from developed countries. According to the JIU, 59% came from developed countries, with a mere 5% from Least Developed Countries. For an organization that prides itself on inclusion, diversity, and equality, the UN’s refusal to compensate its interns has created a system that counters those very ideals.

Beyond the issue of pay, the UN system discriminates against its interns by placing unnecessary constraints on how they can later be employed. At most agencies, former interns are required to have a 3-6 month break of contract before they are allowed to start any paid work. This arbitrary break is inconvenient and frustrating, both for the intern and for the supervisor in need of a worker. The JIU report recognized this fact in 2009, suggesting that such breaks be eliminated. Three years later, little has been changed at most organizations, including the UN Offices in Geneva (UNOG).

Furthermore, the United Nations does not recognize internships as a valid form of work experience. Human Resources staff at UNOG tells young people that their time spent as interns counts as half the rate of "real" work experience. Therefore, a graduate student with over a year of internship experience and a Masters degree would be ineligible for any type of entry-level professional position within the UN. This leaves young people stuck in a catch-22: without internship experience, they cannot get jobs, yet with internship experience, they are ineligible for professional posts, driving them to take on more unpaid work.

If the UN system wishes to attract and retain the best and the brightest, the system needs to change. Organizations cannot continue to view their most junior staff as an easy way to save money and free up backlogs. A decent living stipend should be provided and rules should be changed to facilitate hiring interns for professional positions. Such systems are already in place at the ILO, IOM and the WTO. The UN should work with these organizations to share best practices and improve the intern system.

Having concrete objectives and a proactive attitude will be essential in engaging the UN. Young people should approach the administration in a positive and professional way. Joining organizations like the Geneva Interns Association is one way to get involved and give feedback to improve the system. Current UN staff with a sympathetic ear should also step up and show support for young employees.

While the 2009 JIU report was a good first step, there is a clear need for follow-up. The survey period between 2007 and 2008 took place just before the financial crisis. Youth unemployment has skyrocketed since then, driving many to take on unpaid internships. As budget cuts have reduced the availability of paid work, the line between what was once seen as a learning experience - and what now resembles something more - has blurred. If finding "more and better jobs for young people" is truly a UN priority, improving the way it employs its own young workers should start today.

If you'd like to let the UN know what you think, tweet your suggestions to ECOSOC at #UN4youth.

(Photo © DR)

In the Press:

Meritocracy For Sale

#66 - Room to Read

2012-01-23T14:10:37Z

Check out if Room to Read is in The Top 100 NGOs 2013 Edition!

Fighting poverty with books.

Over 12,500 libraries built.

While hiking in the Himalayas in 1998, John Wood – at the time a Microsoft senior executive – was inspired to provide books for a Nepali school after seeing how badly the ‘library’ was resourced. Wood, his father and eight donkeys returned a year later carrying a few thousand books in English.

Founded in late 1999, his nonprofit Room to Read now works in nine countries – Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zambia. The organization has five solid programs – girls’ education, local language publishing, libraries, school construction and reading and writing. Having built over 1400 new schools, Room to Read works carefully with local ministries of education to overcome curriculum gaps. Following a participatory ethos, communities engage in project management and share costs to maintain the public schools.

Of the 793 million illiterate people globally, two-thirds are women, predominantly in developing countries. Viewing literacy as the vehicle of progress, the organization places special emphasis on educating this demographic as a tool to influence the success and livelihood of entire families. Moving into its second decade, Room to Read is focusing on enhancing the growing girls education program to provide life skills training, promote self esteem and encourage school retention rates.

#57 - Ashoka

2012-01-23T14:08:04Z

Check out if Ashoka is in The Top 100 NGOs 2013 Edition!

Fostering social entrepreneurship.

Nearly 3000 fellows worldwide.

On a break from Harvard at age 20, Bill Drayton witnessed Vinoba Bhave walk across India convincing individuals to legally gift their land, which he later redistributed to ‘untouchables’ and other destitute people – a total sum of seven million acres. Drayton was inspired by what he saw as a display of social entrepreneurship – sharp business sense combined with a commitment to social betterment. In his own words, social entrepreneurs are not content ‘’to give a fish, or teach how to fish’’ – they aspire to ‘revolutionize the fishing industry.

30 years later, the organization founded by Drayton – Ashoka – has supported nearly 3000 ‘Ashoka Fellows’ in pursuing their dreams of social innovation. Members of the organization’s carefully selected cohort are each given a living wage for three years to focus solely on realizing the potential of their groundbreaking ideas. The global reach of Ashoka’s impact is incalculable. Careful evaluation has shown, however, that over 80 percent of its alumni are driving systemic change at a national level within ten years. Similarly, 96 percent of their ideas have been replicated by independent groups.

Notable members of Ashoka’s growing network of social entrepreneurs include Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, Wendy Kopp of Teach for America, and Nobel Peace Laureate Mohammad Yunus.