First, feasibility studies will identify the communities' technical, financial, and institutional needs; the social and economic context; and the least cost means of providing renewable energy. While rural communities will be targeted, accessibility will be an important consideration.

Three institutions will then be identified based on their capacity to work with youth, preferably in the renewable energy sector. The institutions will be provided with tools and technical support. After selecting six young social entrepreneurs, these institutions will teach the youth about electrical equipment, electricity needs in the community, autonomous renewable energy systems, micro-enterprise development, accounting and management, and developing business plans. Participating youth will also learn how to develop a strategy for raising funds for their business. A workshop will be convened at which the youth will present their business plans to potential investors/venture capitalists.

Resources will be developed to incorporate lessons learned from the project activities, as well as lessons from experiences in renewable energy projects coupled with youth entrepreneurship from other parts of the world. Printed materials identifying best practices, policies, and strategies will be developed and distributed worldwide. A booklet that focuses on the life and contributions of an innovative leader in the field of sustainable livelihoods and renewable energy will be produced for use as a training tool in workshops. A toolkit for training and developing youth business plans in renewable energy enterprises will be published in English and Spanish, then printed and distributed globally and uploaded onto the web. An interactive website on the learning and knowledge gained from this project will be developed at the YES site. Workshops at three global meetings will be held to focus on building capacity for providing renewable energy through youth enterprises.

Finally, using a set of evaluative tools that include interviews, observations, surveys and narrative reports, mid-term and final performance reports will be completed.

Environment, Youth, Economic Development.

Over the last thirty years since the Stockholm Conference for the Environment, tremendous advances have taken place in developing environmentally sustainable strategies; and the issue of environment protection is now firmly placed on the global agenda. However, work is still needed to increase public and political acceptance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This work involves demonstrating that adoption of UNFCCC goals will not be destructive to the economy and that it may, in fact, enhance opportunities for youth employment (which is both an economic need and a political necessity). This project will also work to support the vision articulated in Agenda 21 by enabling the poor to achieve sustainable livelihoods.

There are over one billion young people in the world between the age of 15-24 years. Over 850 million of these live in developing countries where there are few opportunities for productive work. In this spirit, the Alexandria YES will take place in September, 2002 and will mark the launch of the Decade Campaign of Action to promote youth employment. YES 2002 will bring together members of the Global Alliance for Youth Employment, representatives of various sectors of society, and youth from around the world to share ideas and experiences of "what works" in addressing youth employment. A Summit Framework of Action will be developed to guide members of the Global Alliance in implementing strategies to promote youth employment.