You may submit more than one proposal, but each proposal must be prepared and submitted separately. You will receive an email confirming receipt of each proposal you submit.

Practitioners, policy makers, funders, the private sector, and other professionals involved in youth enterprise, employment, and livelihoods development are encouraged to submit proposals.

The organizations whose proposals are selected will receive recognition in electronic and print marketing materials; be invited to disseminate information on their programs and projects; enjoy visibility and increased credibility within the industry; be able to participate in unique networking opportunities; and contribute directly to the growth and development of the youth enterprise and livelihood development field.

• Holistic and integrated approaches that have successfully led to long-term youth employment and successful youth enterprises
• Effectively integrating youth into competitive value chains
• Methodologies for teaching youth how to identify viable business opportunities
• Private sector partnerships that support youth enterprise and employment creation
• Financial services for youth clients
• Youth participation in design and implementation of youth enterprise and employment programs
• Youth social entrepreneurship that creates income and builds livelihoods
• National policies that support youth enterprise and employment creation
• Key factors in successful youth enterprise start-up, growth and sustainability
• The use of remittances to achieve youth employment and enterprise creation

Theme 2: Effective Methodologies and Practices for Monitoring, Evaluating, and Conducting Impact Assessments

There is widespread interest in and a need to more effectively incorporate monitoring, evaluation, and impact assessments into programming related to youth enterprise, employment, and livelihood development. As the field is growing, it is critical to understand now what is working well and what should be improved or discarded. Participants at the Global Youth Enterprise Conference will address those questions we’ve heard many people asking, such as: “What tools, strategies and techniques are currently being used that have proven to be effective?”; “How do you know that your programming is having an impact?”; “How and when is it necessary to measure impact of a youth enterprise and/or employment program?”; “Can monitoring and impact data be used in deciding upon scale, and if so, what information would be needed?”; “How is an impact evaluation showing how a person is better or worse off as a direct result of a particular intervention?”; “How does this particular intervention compare to other possible interventions?”; “How can practitioners offer quality programs to significant numbers of young people?”; and “What does sustainability look like and how do we achieve it?”

• Effective monitoring and evaluation tools for measuring quality, scale, and/or sustainability
• Cost-benefit analyses that compare intervention strategies
• Studies on the returns on investment of particular youth enterprise, employment, and/or livelihood programs
• Examples of engaging young people in the monitoring and evaluation of youth enterprise, employment, and/or livelihoods programs
• How to use monitoring and evaluation tools to increase the competency and motivation of leaders in program implementation
• Effective low-cost methodologies for measuring impact
• Proxy indicators for measuring the impact of youth enterprise, employment, and livelihood programs
• Experiences and lessons learned from using different monitoring and evaluation methodologies in the same context

• 2hr Breakout Session. On day 1 of the conference, five simultaneous breakout sessions will address the Market-Driven Approaches theme for 2 hours. On day 2, five simultaneous breakout sessions will address the Effective Methodologies and Practices for Monitoring, Evaluating, and Conducting Impact Assessments theme for 2 hours.
  
  Organizations interested in submitting a proposal to lead a Breakout Session on one of these themes should focus on key learnings, results, and findings that would be useful and transferable to other practitioners, funders, and educators interested in applying these key points to their programming or policymaking. Information will be recorded, synthesized and presented at the end of the conference activities. Additional instructions on how to develop a proposal are stated below.
  
  An external Proposal Review Committee will select proposals that best meet the established criteria for leading a breakout session on one of the conference’s themes
   
• 1 Hour Roundtable Presentation. The roundtable discussion is an opportunity for facilitators and participants to present and interact with conference participants on a very specific tool, approach, methodology, curriculum, or research paper related to one of the conference’s themes with a smaller group of conference participants.
  
  At the conclusion of one 1-hour session, individuals will move locations and have an opportunity to engage in another roundtable presentation that will last 1-hour. Therefore, roundtable leaders will be presenting once. Dialogue will be recorded and synthesized for presentation at the end of the conference and possible inclusion in the Conference Outcomes publication.
  
• 90 Minute Facilitated Working Groups. Individuals and organizations are invited to submit an idea for leading a Working Group. These Working Groups will address a particular issue, question, collaboration, or other type of initiative that is related to youth enterprise, employment and livelihoods, but does not necessarily have to pertain directly to one of the conference themes for 90 minutes. The intent is to provide a space for open and informal dialogue on a variety of issues and innovations pertaining to youth enterprise, employment and livelihoods development. The Working Groups could serve as an opportunity to elicit feedback on a methodology being developed, a “think tank” to discuss a pressing question, a platform for mobilizing support or action on a certain initiative, or simply an information exchange related to a geographic region. The proposed facilitator for these interactive Working Groups should be someone who has familiarity with and strong interest in the topic and can maintain an active dialogue. The Working Groups could be proposed with the intention of them continuing after the conference.
  
  Dialogue will be recorded and synthesized for presentation at the end of the conference and possibly included in the conference outcomes publication.

conference[@]makingcents.com

Mail:
Youth Enterprise Conference Manager
Making Cents International • 1155 30th Street NW, Ste 300 • Washington, DC 20007 • USA

Fax:
+1 (202) 783-4091

Confirmation of receipt of your submission will be sent via email.

Proposals must be written in English.

Sessions are selected based on the following criteria:

• A completed session proposal has been submitted, and the primary presenter has complied with all application instructions, deadlines and requirements.
• The subject of the proposed session is clear and relevant to the conference theme(s).
• Learning objectives and the plan for meeting these objectives are clearly outlined in the application.
• The proposed presenter clearly demonstrates how he/she will take an analytical, and not a descriptive, approach towards addressing his/her proposed topic.
• The proposed session includes the use of creative or collaborative techniques and formats that engage the audience and promote a participatory environment.
• The proposed session offers tips, guides and tools for tangible take-away and practical application of the subject matter.
• The proposed presenter(s) are qualified to present on the subject of the proposed session, as demonstrated in a description of the experience he/she has had presenting or facilitating sessions.
• The proposed session is educational and is not a promotion of a product, service or organization.
• Youth have significant roles to play in the development and/or execution of a session.

Time Line

1) Title of proposed session

The title should be descriptive, action-oriented and not exceed eight to ten words. If your session is selected, this title will be used in the Conference Program and conference promotional materials. Please note that the conference organizers reserve the right to modify your proposed title for clarity, consistency and impact.

2) Contact information

Please include your full name, organization, title, email address, phone, fax and full mailing address, as well as your Skype address if you have one.

3)  Name of Collaborating Organization (if applicable):

While not required, the conference organizers strongly encourage organizations to collaborate with others on the design and execution of a session. If conference organizers receive multiple submissions from individual organizations on the same or similar topics, they will discuss with the organizations the possibility of their collaborating to lead a joint session.

4)  Presentation category selection

Individuals and organizations are invited to submit at least one proposal to lead one or more of the following types of sessions. Please see above for a description of each category.

• 2hr Breakout session
• 45 Minute Roundtable Discussion
• Working Group

5) Selection of Conference Theme – Especially for Breakout sessions and Roundtable Discussions, as Working Groups do not have to relate directly to one of the themes.

Theme 1: Market-Driven Approaches 

Theme 2:  Effective Methodologies and Practices for Monitoring, Evaluating, and Conducting Impact Assessments

Note: If more than on theme is relevant, please note this in your proposal. Please also include regional focus of your topic (if any).

6) Proposal - Session Description

A. Executive Summary: The Executive Summary should be a short description of the topic your Breakout Session, Roundtable Discussion, and Working Group will cover and include the following information:  your session’s primary learning objectives and desired outcomes, how you will engage conference attendees through specific participatory methodologies, and the intended audience. If your session is selected, this description will be used in the conference program and conference promotional materials. (Maximum word limit: 100)

B. Additional Information: Please include an explanation of the exact format, methodologies, and if appropriate, tools that you will use to engage the participants in your session (e.g. case studies, exercises, hand-outs, hands-on activities, etc.). Any additional information that would be helpful to the Proposal Selection Committee is welcome. (Maximum word limit: 250)

C) Definition of Youth: As many countries and organizations adhere to different definitions of "youth," please specify the age range to which you will be referring when discussing "youth" in your proposed session.

7) Biography and Organizational Description

Please provide a 100-word biographical paragraph about the presenter and a 100-word description of the organization that we can use in the conference program and other promotional materials.  Please include information on specific qualifications the proposed presenter has relevant to the conference content, and any previous conference presentation experience he/she has had.

8) Description of Youth Involvement in Session

Conference organizers support youth taking key roles in the development and execution of the Global Youth Enterprise Conference. Please provide a short paragraph that describes how youth will participate in your proposed session if at all. Care should be given to ensure youth are not given only supportive roles, but are actively involved in the execution of your session. For example, they may be presenters or facilitators. The conference would be enriched by the participation of youth entrepreneurs, and youth who have engaged in program design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

Primary Presenters
One person must be designated as the primary presenter of each session. The primary presenter will be the primary contact for all communications regarding the proposal and the session. He/She will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with these policies, and that all other co-presenters are aware of, and comply with these policies.

Unconfirmed Presenters
Session presenters who are not confirmed by April 25, 2008 risk exclusion in conference marketing, promotional materials. Their session may also be replaced by another one. Unconfirmed presenters otherwise remain subject to these policies.

Session Duration and Scheduling
YECO will determine the final scheduling of all sessions. By confirming your final selection, you are agreeing to be available for at least one of the times designed for sessions during the conference.

Session Content
If you are the primary presenter, you assume full responsibility for the design of the session, the coordination of all session presenters (if applicable), and the session delivery.  You must also ensure that the session methodology reflects that which you specified in your proposal submission, with such refinements to the content as may be advised by Youth Enterprise Conference organizers. Conference organizers will be available to assist with logistical matters.

Session Materials
A copy of all materials that will be used in your session (including PowerPoint presentation and any handouts) must be finalized and submitted electronically to the Conference Manager by August 11, 2008. Session materials must conform to the following requirements:

• Submit documents in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint format.
• Use 8 ½ by 11-inch paper, and typed single-spaces. Pages should be numbered at the bottom. Margins should not be less than 1-inch.
• On the front page of each document, be sure to include the title of the session, and your name(s). Include any credits on the front page, including permission to re-print copyrighted materials.

Please note that all presenters will be responsible for bringing with them all their presentation material, as well as copies of any handouts needed for their session.  The conference organizers will not have access to photocopy or other services while at the conference.

Final presentations will be uploaded to the conference website after the event.

Conference Orientation
Confirmed Presenters are required to participate in at least one teleconference or email exchange prior to the actual conference for an orientation and discussion of logistics.

At the Conference
Upon arrival at the conference, Presenters must check in at the Conference Registration desk. Presenters for Breakout Sessions must also (i) prepare their session’s room during the break that precedes their session, or beforehand if possible; (ii) distribute and collect session evaluation forms, place them in the envelope provided by Youth Enterprise Conference organizers and leave them in the meeting room for collection after your session; and (iii) obtain and provide Youth Enterprise Conference organizers with a final head-count for your session or meeting (you may write this information on the envelope provided for your session evaluations). Any items left in the room will be removed by staff at the end of the day. Please take all materials you wish to keep with you when leaving your session. Conference organizers will not be held responsible for items missing from your session room.

Additional Information
Several interactive Breakout Sessions will take place concurrently.

The content of the sessions will be recorded, synthesized and presented at the end of the conference activities. Many sessions will also be included in the conference proceedings. Please see www.youthenterpriseconference.org to read the publication that resulted from the 2007 Global Youth Microenterprise Conference titled, “Youth Microenterprise and Livelihoods: State of the Field, Lessons from the 2007 Global Youth Microenterprise Conference.”

To download this information, please click here.