Turkey

On the last day of the World Bank Meetings, UNDP Turkey organized a session on the 2009 Human Development Report, titled “Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development.” The panel had some great speakers, including Kemal Dervis, former UNDP Administrator and current director of the Brookings Institution.

The session started with a very obvious question: in a world marred by global recession, financial markets in a state of shock and turmoil, and rampant uncertainty despite some positive signs of a bottom out, why did this year’s HDR choose to look at mobility and migrants? Interestingly enough, when you gain a better understanding of what migration means for both the “giving” and the “receiving” states, the answer is pretty clear.

While I’ve yet to meet an actual youth delegation, there are still a number of young people here. Interns, assistants, conference support, information desks, coffee, photocopying, mic running, IT support, and of course depending on your definition of “youth,” active members of NGOs.

To me, they’re a silent force. We all notice each other, quietly wonder who is younger, who is more active, who has more responsibility, but there is no coordinated movement. While youth are recognized as an important demographic – one only has to pick up any printed publication to see at least one reference to “the importance of youth” – there is no active youth caucus (don’t worry, I made sure to make note of it in my conference evaluation). The young people present here are not so much young people as they are adults in training. Here to gain experience before being given greater responsibilities. Only when the adults aren’t looking can you see them hesitantly congregating, asking questions, trying to get to know one another. Into the room walks one of the European delegates. He is lost. 

It’s not like I was expecting apathy, but in any case it’s not what I got at all. The World Bank meetings are well-known, and opinions are pointed. Perhaps it’s because of a recent shoe-throwing incident aimed at IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Khan at a pre-meeting university seminar. Perhaps it’s because of the protests organized around the city (activists can be seen handing out flyers and the police running drills). Or perhaps it’s simply a collection of pointed opinions on all things political, economic, or cultural.

This year’s annual World Bank conference will be held in my beautiful home city of Istanbul. This year’s annual summit brings together government, civil society, and key financial and business figures to discuss the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness. And while we may not be participating directly in the discussions, youth involvement is still crucial!