(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) Four international agencies have pledged their support in advancing the work of the recently-established CARICOM Commission on Youth Development (CCYD).

At the meeting of the Commission in Kingston, Jamaica on 6-11 August, 2007, representatives from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shared with the Commission, their research findings and best practices on youth development and pledged their support to its work.

The CARICOM Commission on Youth Development which was launched in March 2007 has the mandate to provide an analysis of the challenges and opportunities for youth in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME); and to make recommendations on how to improve their well-being and empowerment.

The Commission is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government in July, 2008.

The International development Agencies have conducted several studies on youth issues and development; the findings of which will be shared with the Commission. They may also contribute to recommendations on the way forward.