Youth Compass: A Strategic Guide to Strengthen Youth Activities

USAID's YouthPower Action project recently finalized the Youth Compass, a cross-sectoral youth assessment tool, which can be used by implementers to strengthen the design or on-going efforts of a youth-focused activity. More than an analytical tool, the Youth Compass is a three-step, seven task strategic process for analyzing weaknesses, opportunities and gaps in knowledge concerning a youth activity (or any activity in which youth will be supported); identifying and prioritizing actions to strengthen the activity; and incorporating actions into them. This tool was developed with funds from Global Health, PEPFAR, DCHA, and E3 and is applicable across all sectors of youth programming.

Informed by the key development approaches of positive youth development, cross-sectoral coordination, and gender equality, the Youth Compass’ conceptual framework consists of four areas: beneficiaries; enabling environment; youth participation and empowerment; and gender equality. These serve as standards that a youth activity is both measured against and strives to attain.