Driving Sustainable Development through Youth Action Raleigh International’s 2013-2016 Strategic Plan

The Raleigh 2013 – 2016 Strategy guides our journey to make a positive impact on environmental, social and economic development so that the work we do brings sustainable change. Our work with youth volunteers in poor, rural communities focuses on improving the lives of those in need.

Our strategy will help us take the contribution of young people a step further. It will enable them to contribute more actively as the world transitions from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We aim to empower and motivate communities and young people to drive positive change that will last throughout their own lifetime and that of future generations.

We have two strategic goals. The first is to increase environmental sustainability and community resilience. It will have a triple benefit: for the environment and community; for the personal and social development of young people; and to help create more active citizens. Our second goal is to inspire young leaders who will support the development of strong sustainable communities.

At Raleigh International we trust young people to have an active role in making a difference to some of the poorest people in the world. The communities we work with are inspired by the passion and energy brought by groups of young people who care enough to come from all over the world to work alongside them to improve their lives.

We work to empower our volunteers and give them self-belief, to show them that it is possible to change the world for the better. This spirit is shared with communities who rarely receive support from their own government, and are inspired and motivated by the opportunity to work alongside people from all around the world.

We recognise the requirement to evolve as an organisation to reflect the most effective ways of delivering those improvements. We have systems and processes to evaluate our impact, and invest in and support our staff and volunteers to build the knowledge and skills to deliver real change.

We will deliver all this through a range of programmes. We are also open to and actively seeking new opportunities which will support the delivery of our strategic goals.

As an organisation, 2014 brings new milestones. Raleigh International will turn 30 and we are fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, courtesy of one of our trustees, Alderman Fiona Woolf CBE, the Lord Mayor of the City of London. We will celebrate both of these as a time of opportunity and reflection, using them to continue making a difference to the people in the world who need it most.

Stacey Adams, Chief Executive Officer

The Raleigh Journey

In the run-up to and since the Rio+20 conference in 2012 the world has engaged in a dialogue about what will happen to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) beyond 2015 when they will come to an end. The United Nations is working with governments and civil society, including youth, to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will take over from the MDGs in 2016. Currently, the thinking about these SDGs aspires to address the current global development needs of poor countries (recognising the challenges of a growing global population and the growth of the middle class in emerging markets), whilst taking into account the reality of environmentally unsustainable practices in all countries around the world. It is anticipated that they will also focus more heavily on the role that youth can play within this.

More than half of the world’s population, over 2.9 billion people, are aged under 25 . Around 85% of the world’s young people live in developing countries , the largest proportion ever. Nearly a third of young people alive today live in poverty and survive on less than $2 per day .

Young people are inheriting a world that is fundamentally challenged by a global economic system that was not designed to be able to cater for the needs of the growing numbers of new consumers whilst staying within environmental planetary limits. The population will be 9.5 billion by 2050 , including 5 billion consumers who will demand a better quality of life than the generations before. The resulting sustainability challenge must be addressed now by governments, companies and individuals. We believe that young people need to be involved in developing solutions through innovation and changed behaviours.

At Raleigh International, we believe that young people are perfectly placed to engage with and influence communities to take control of their own future.

“You have to take ownership and leadership of tomorrow. For that to be possible, you have to strengthen your capacity and widen your vision as a global citizen.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

I World BankII UN Youth Social Policy and Development DivisionIII International Labour OrganisationIV UN DESA World Population Prospects 2012

Context

What is Sustainable Development?:“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” - Brundtland Commission

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Our core beliefs

• We believe that the world is living beyond its economic and environmental means and this needs to change• We believe that all countries have the right to develop but need to innovate to do it sustainably • We believe that the passion, energy and creativity of young people can achieve change• We believe that by working together communities and young people are inspired to build a better future

Our charitable objectives

• Relief of those in need by reason of disadvantage • Advancement of environmental protection and sustainable community development • Advancement of education and global citizenship

Our VisionA global community working to build a sustainable future

Our Mission Driving sustainable development though inspiring young people to be the agents of change

Our Values‘Raleigh people’ are a global community of volunteers, partner organisations and local people working together to build a better future.

Courage

Discovery

Drive

Impact

Integrity

What drives us

Raleigh people have the courage to create change in their lives and communities. We are not afraid to step out of our comfort zone and take on a challenge.

We want to learn one from one another. We embrace innovation to create positive change.

We are driven by the desire to get the job done. Our attitude is ‘can do’ and we believe in not giving up if the going gets tough.

Our work makes a difference long term. We seek to maximise impact in everything we do to ensure that positive results are long lasting and far reaching.

We act with honesty and respect and we are responsible for our own actions. We listen to the needs of communities and partners and work to address them.

Environmental

Social Economic

Sustainable development occurs where all three elements are addressed together without prioritising one form of development over the others.

We have decided to narrow the focus of our programmes to concentrate our strategic goals on the areas where we have the most experience and know that we can make the most impact. Within these, we focus on the activities which help drive this most effectively. All of our programmes incorporate elements which are fundamental to achieving holistic change: diversity, gender empowerment, equality, climate change and poverty reduction.

Our Theory of Change shows the building blocks of how we intend to achieve all this:

Our goals for 2016:

Programme Areas

Inputs Outputs Outcomes Impact/CharitableObjectives

Vision &Mission

1. Safe water & sanitation

2. Community resilience

3. Effective useof natural resources

4. National youth

societies

5. Build youth leadership culture

Mainstreaming cross cutting issues such as diversity, gender, equality, climate change and poverty reduction

Raleigh International’s human, �nancial and physical resources

Local Partnerships

Delivered in the ‘Raleigh Way’ – diverse teams of youth volunteers delivering grassroots projects through experiential, facilitated, challenge-based and supported learning

Community/ environmental

• Supported at least 150 communities to build a sustainable future, working on safe water and sanitation, community resilience, effective use of natural resources and biodiversity conservation• At least 750,000 direct and indirect bene�ciaries in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Tanzania, India and Borneo bene�t from our work 

Volunteer

• At least 2,300 UK volunteers are selected, trained and supported to take part in programmes• At least 2,000 local in country and at least 600   other international volunteers join Raleigh programmes• We’ve engaged diverse groups of volunteers from over 25 countries• Volunteers are supported to raise awareness amongst general and specialist audiences on issues poor communities face, and on the environment and safe water and sanitation• Volunteers’ employability skills are enhanced• Volunteers’ knowledge, awareness and commitment to development issues are increased and put into action.

Increase environmental sustainability and community resilience

Increased access to safe water and sanitation

Increased effective use of natural resources and development of skills to manage natural resources and conserve biodiversity;

Increased community resilience

Strengthened delivery, organisational and management capacity for all project partners

Build a leadership culture - after being on Raleigh, over 1,000 volunteers are inspired and supported to take action

National Youth Societies - Strengthened, supported and new national societies

Relief of those in need by reason of disadvantage

Advancement of environmental protection and sustainable community development

Advancement of education and active global citizenship

Mission

Driving sustainable development through inspiring young people to be agents of change

Vision

A global community working to build a sustainable future

Inspire young leaders

“There was no resource in the team to commit the hours that the volunteers have spent in the communities. The volunteers have been able to spend more time on instilling improved practices among community members and to support a change in habits.”

Anides, Nicaraguan Association for Sustainable Development

Goal: Increase environmentalsustainability & community resilience

Economic

This will be achieved through our focus on:

• Community resilience• Water and sanitation• Effective use of natural resources

1. Community resilience

Resilient communities have the capacity and capability to respond to environmental, social and economic challenges. They are equipped to adapt, respond to, withstand and recover from unforeseen stress and challenges in their lives. They are healthier and more productive with secure and improving livelihoods; their children have access to education and they have and are members of supportive formal and informal community networks. All of this leads to more positive dynamics where people feel more in control of their future. The increase in opportunities leads to a greater sense of wellbeing and a better quality of life.

Within this programme Raleigh helps communities to:• Gain access to education and other related services and information • Gain access to health services and information• Develop capabilities, skills and knowledge to be adaptable, creative problem solvers• Create versatile, sustainable ways of making money (livelihoods)• Foster and build networks in communities that provide skill sharing and support to further develop capabilities, civic participation, and sense of community• Prepare and plan measures to cope with or prevent potential environmental problems relating to climate change

Goal: Increase environmentalsustainability & community resilience

2. Water and sanitation

This programme aims to improve access to and quality of water and sanitation services, in order to improve the overall health of beneficiary communities

Providing people in developing countries with access to safe drinking water and effective sanitation, combined with education on the importance of good hygiene practice, are some of the most cost effective ways of achieving real, positive results with regards to health, livelihoods and social impact.

Improved health contributes to reducing poverty as family breadwinners are less likely to be prevented from working through illness and they don’t incur costly medical expenses which can be the equivalent of weeks or months of household income.

The programme also addresses social development as collecting water usually falls to women and girls. Lack of access stops women from doing other activities and causes girls to miss school. It also exposes them to the risk of violence.

3. Effective use of natural resources

This programme has two aims: to promote sustainable use of natural resources in rural beneficiary communities and to protect areas of special biological diversity, so-called biodiversity hotspots. We recognise the real value of biodiversity and protected ecosystems to society in relation to secure livelihoods, access to food and water, improved resilience and the conservation of threatened species and their habitats. Within this programme we address issues holistically to achieve multiple development dividends.

We work with communities to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, which include land, water, flora, fauna, wood and minerals. Environmental degradation and the ongoing decline in natural resources due to deforestation, biodiversity loss, land degradation, air and water pollution, shrinking fresh water supplies, and climate change are globally recognised issues which threaten us all. We address these issues by empowering communities to value and have ownership of the environment around them.

Our programmes not only help at a local community level, but we also help communities learn how to approach their local or national government bodies. They are then able to access financial and legal support to help protect and share these resources more equally and protect biodiverse hotspots for future generations and ensuring sustainable economic, social and environmental development.

By 2016, we’ll have achieved the following outcomes increasing environmental sustainability and community resilience:

• Supported at least 150 communities to build a sustainable future• At least 750,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries in Borneo, Costa Rica, India, Nicaragua, and Tanzania have benefitted from our work• Strengthened delivery, organisational and management capacity for all project partners• Enhanced access to education and health services; community competence & capacity; social cohesion, and livelihoods• Increased access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities; driven social behaviour change through improved hygiene practices reduced distance to services and ensured reliability of services, all leading to improved health• Introduced sustainable technologies and community based natural resource management practices; developed skills and know-how in how to manage natural resources whilst conserving biodiversity and reduced negative environmental impact caused by poor livelihood practices or affected by the low value placed on protecting natural resources and biodiversity

This will be achieved through:• Supporting the development of Raleigh national youth societies • Building a youth leadership culture

1. Raleigh National Youth Societies

Successful sustainable development ensures that local communities adopt change and continue to drive it themselves once international support has moved on. The National Youth Societies programme aims to formally expand, enhance and sustain the work and commitment of Raleigh International and local youth volunteers in poor, marginalised or vulnerable communities beyond their involvement with Raleigh. We are committed to providing a platform where young people can engage in sustainable development through direct experience and are inspired to go that step further to embrace their ongoing role and responsibilities as global citizens and drivers of change within their own communities.

The programme also aims to provide leadership development and skills training. This in turn should give young people a better chance of securing meaningful employment, reducing their economic vulnerability and giving them a more stable future.

Goal: Inspire young leaders

“When you work side by side with people in the community, mixing sand and cement, building trenches and laying pipes, you become workers together, and attitudes change.”

Grace, volunteer in Tanzania

2. Building a youth leadership culture

Personal development and a strong belief in the potential of young people are at the heart of Raleigh programmes. Our work includes diverse groups of young people, aged between 17 and 25 who come from all walks of life. However, we don’t want to stop there; we want to make the most of 30 years of experience and show the world just what the passion and creativity of young people can achieve. Our programmes already develop young people’s skills and experience so that they can become active citizens who are more employable and more entrepreneurial.

We’re working to build a youth leadership culture that embraces the collective actions of formal and informal youth leaders, acting together to influence the achievement of our goals. We will help them take action and become active advocates in making the future more sustainable for everyone. We recognise that it is not simply the number or quality of individual leaders that determines success, but the ability of formal and informal leaders to work together, united in the desire to achieve shared goals.

Progress does not stop when the young volunteers leave their programmes. Through our alumni work, we aim to give young people a voice. We encourage them to take the learning from their experience on our programmes and harness it at community, national and international levels.

By 2016, we’ll have achieved the following outcomes inspiring young leaders:

• At least 2,300 UK volunteers selected, trained and supported to take part in programmes• At least 2,000 local in country and at least 600 other international volunteers joined Raleigh programmes• Engage diverse groups of volunteers from over 25 countries• Volunteers supported to raise awareness amongst general and specialist audiences on issues poor communities face, and on the environment and safe water and sanitation• After being on Raleigh, over 1,000 volunteers inspired and supported to take further action • Volunteers’ employability skills enhanced• Volunteers’ knowledge, awareness and commitment to development issues increased and put into action• Run both national and international conferences bringing together our young alumni to share their experiences and improve their capacity to deliver change and to contribute to sustainable development• Developed the Raleigh alumni Speaker Network of young people and given them access to opportunities that enable them to use their learning and engage with a broader community of businesses and governments• Strengthened delivery and organisational and management capacity for all national societies• Increased satisfaction and membership of the Raleigh Global Alliance Framework for Youth, the document which governs the international Raleigh alumni societies • Youth society members reported improved know-how on being active members of civil society in their own country

Where we work

www.raleighinternational.orginfo@raleighinternational.org @Raleigh_+ 44 (0) 207 183 1270

“It is imperative that youth from all parts of the world participate actively in all relevant levels of decision-making processes because it affects their lives today and has implications for their futures. In addition to their intellectual contribution and their ability to mobilise support, they bring unique perspectives that need to be taken into account.”

- UNEP, Children and Youth in Sustainable Development

Raleigh International Trust is a registered charity no. 1047653 (England and Wales) and no. SCO40023 (Scotland)