Introduction

Since 2009 UNFPA CO supports Annual Experience Sharing Meetings of Y-PEER national network. The purpose of this meeting is to create the opportunity for sharing the experience and activity planning among Y-PEER members.

4th Annual Y-PEER Experience Sharing and planning Meeting was prepared by joint efforts of Y-PEER Focal Points and UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel members. The highlights of this meeting were designed during 7th meeting of UNFPA Youth Advisory Panel (YAP) and were discussed with YAP members at all stages.

This year the meeting focused on such broader topics as ICPD Beyond 2014 MDG 2015 Post Development Agenda, capacity building of Y-PEER trainers, planning the activities for the year, partnership with national structures like Kelajak Ovozi, Social Initiatives Support Fund and others UN agencies like UNESCO on Soap Opera Joint Project to promote healthy lifestyle among youth. Additionally, there was an opportunity for volunteers of the network to showcase best works of the best volunteers of 2012 and others. The meeting was held in Tashkent city, the Grand Orzu Hotel.

Meeting brought together around 20 most active volunteers of Y-PEER Uzbekistan.

Objectives of the meeting

Overall objective: create a space for experience sharing and planning among Y-PEER peer educators, as well as strengthen their capacity and skills in the areas of communication, leadership and HIV prevention, strategy discussion of the UNFPA partnerships and youth projects which will increase the quality of youth activities.

Specific Objectives:

● Share information about youth activities;

● Examine the problems that network is facing on different levels and make steps toward finding the solution;

● To strengthen the structure of network in Uzbekistan, to improve the coordination and communication;

● Help participants to learn more about fundraising, coordination and management, media communication, motivation tools  in order to improve the quality and sustainability of existing initiatives;

● Increase knowledge and skills of participants on types of education, leadership, teambuilding and management through variety of exercises;

● To promote positive attitudes that increase participants’ abilities to work as partners with young people and adults;

Partner organizations like SISF emphasized their interest to work with youth, support Y-PEER and pointed their importance of the work related to SRHR issues. They talked about the programs and project related to SRHR and how contribution can be offered to Y-PEER.

Lessons learned during fourth Y-PEER Experience sharing and Planning Meeting:

● Additional UNFPA staff support needed in order to manage organizational and logistical matters;

● Difficulty in engaging newly Focal Points; empowerment needed;

● Better planning and preparation and distribution of duties among Focal Points needed;

● Stronger communication and coordination among FPs needed.