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ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Fourth Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference
on Housing and Urban Development
Regional Slum Upgrading Working Group
SUPPORTING YOUTH LIVELIHOODS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Urban Development and Revitalization Organization (UDRO)
Secretariat for Regional Slum Upgrading Working Group, APMCHUD
Majid Kianpoor
Deputy Minister and Executive Director, UDRO
Majid Roosta
Director General, National Task Force for Informal
Settlements Upgrading, and Secretary, Regional Slum
Upgrading Working Group, APMCHUD
Mohammad Saeed Izadi,PhD Assistant Professor, Avicenna University & Secretary,
UDRO Peer review Committee
Babak Pirouz
Adviser, Regional Slum Upgrading Working Group,
APMCHUD
Niloofar Mosleh
Expert, Regional Slum Upgrading Working Group,
APMCHUD
Sommayeh Farhadi
Expert, Regional Slum Upgrading Working Group,
APMCHUD
UDRO Peer Review Committee
Pooya Alaeedini, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Tehran
Alireza Esmaeilzadeh, PhD
Resident Representative, UN-Habitat, Iran
Mohammad Ayeeni
Board Member, UDRO
Mozaffar Sarrafi, PhD
Assistant Professor, Shahid Beheshti University
Nasser Bonyadi, PhD
Assistant Professor, Architecture and Urban Planning
Research and Studies Centre
Esfandiar Zebardast, PhD
Deputy for Research, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of
Tehran
Hamid Majedi, PhD
Associate Professor, Islamic Islamic Azad University
Azita Rajabi, PhD
Associate Professor, Islamic Azad University
Rahim Sarvar
Associate Professor, Rey Islamic Azad University
Guiti Etemad
President of Board, Tarh va Memari Consultants
Mojtaba Rafiian
Professor, Tarbiat Modarres University
Ali Farzin, PhD
Chief, Poverty Alleviation and Economic Development
Section, UNDP, Iran
Navid Rezvani
Qazvin Islamic Azad University
Nasser Mashadizadeh
Executive Director, Ivan Naqsh Jahan Consultants
Farhad Gholizadeh
Secretary, National Committee for Slum Upgrading
Peer Review Committee was assisted by
Nazanin Ghaffari
PhD Candidate, Islamic Azad University
Saber Mohammadpoor
PhD Candidate, Shahid Beheshti (National) University
Drafted by
Farzin Fardanesh, PhD
Assistant Professor, Shahid Beheshti (National) University
Contents
Introduction: the ‘Youth Bulge’ in Iran ........................... 5
Youth in Iran.................................................................. 5
Threats and Opportunities............................................. 6
Legal Environment ........................................................ 7
Higher Youth Council .....................................................7
National Task Force for Management of Youth Affairs ...8
Ministry of Sports and Youth ..........................................9
Youth Voluntary Activities in Iran ................................ 10
Ministry of Education ....................................................10
Red Crescent Society...................................................12
Police Force .................................................................12
Youth and Upgrading .................................................. 13
Municipality of Tehran ..................................................13
Urban Development and Revitalization Organization.... 14
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In the Name of God
LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
Introduction: the ‘Youth Bulge’ in Iran
A prominent demographic feature of Middle East is the
‘youth bulge’: about 65 per cent of the region’s population
is under the age of 30. Islamic Republic of Iran is no
exception. In 2011, the youth (15~29 age group)
comprised 31% of the total population of the country with
this percentage increasing as high as 35.3% in provinces
with larger rural population.
Figure 1 Population Pyramids in 2011-Youth population (15~29 age
group) highlighted
Youth in Iran
Iranian youth enjoy a relatively high and increasing literacy
rate. In 2006, for example the literacy rate for male and
female youth has been 97% and 95%, respectively. The
same trend could be seen in higher education enrolments:
in 2006, the total youth enrolment in higher education was
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ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
about 13%, while the female enrolment rate has increased
from 9.2% in 1996 to 12.6% in 2006.
Despite this increase in education levels, youth
employment has decreased in the past decade.
Employment is lower for females than male youth
population. In 2006, about 81% of male youth were
employed, while the employment level for females was
about 62%.
Iran witnesses significant population mobility in its
provinces. More than 55% of migration is within the
province. Nevertheless, the reasons of migration for male
youth are diversified; search for employment, compulsory
military service and pursuit of education are among the
key reasons for the female youth however, the major
reason has been to accompany their family.
Threats and Opportunities
The young people living in slums face several callenges:
lack of basic services; lack of employment opportunities;
stigma and social exclusion; non-inclusive environment;
lack of entertainment; fear of harassment and crime;
vehicular traffic; inadequate waste management; and a
sense of political powerlessness.
Nevertheless, youth are valuable assets for now and
future who are not only part of the core problem, but also,
as vectors of development and change, constitute the
solution.
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LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
Legal Environment
Youth affairs were the subject of concern since the Third
Five Year Development Plan (2000~2005) under which a
National Youth Organization was established. In
accordance with article 112 of the Fourth Five Year
Development Plan (2005~2009) a National Youth
Document was elaborated and adopted by the Cabinet in
2005. Fully titled as the National Special Multi-Sectoral
Development Document for Managing Youth Affairs, this
document includes a comprehensive inter-agency plan for
attending to youth affairs in the areas of: employment;
housing; education and training; marriage; recreation; as
well as national and religious identity. To assist
implementation, an institutional arrangement is also
defined at ministerial, sub-ministerial and provincial levels.
The implementation of the National Youth Document is
enforced in article 41 of the Fifth Five Year Development
Plan (2010~2015).
Higher Youth Council
The Higher Youth Council is established in accordance
with the National Youth Document. Headed by the
President and attended by 22 members including:
Minsters of Education; Science, Information and
Technology; Islamic Guidance; Labour and Social Affairs;
Health, Care and Medical Education; Interior; and Sports
and Youth Affairs; as well as two Vice-Ministers; President
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of Red Crescent Society; Islamic Azad University;
Executive Director of Islamic Republic of Iran
Broadcasting (IRIB), Commander of Militia Forces; and
other relevant authorities, the Council oversees and
coordinates activities of diverse agencies to:
Assist development of youth personality based on
ideals of Islamic Revolution;
Respond to intellectual, social, physical, spiritual
needs of the youth; and
Pave the ground for Youth participation in social,
cultural, economic and administrative aspects of the
country.
Provincial Youth Councils are established at provincial
level to oversee the implementation of the National Youth
Document at this level.
National Task Force for Management of Youth Affairs
Established as the executive arm of the Higher Youth
Council and attended by authorized representatives of key
relevant ministries, public organizations, universities as
well as the representative of a youth NGO and five
university professors, the National Task Force for
Management of Youth Affairs makes operational decisions
for implementation of the National Youth Document Action
Plans.
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LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
Ministry of Sports and Youth
Ministry of Sports and Youth was formed by merging the
National Youth Organization and the Physical Training
Organization. It hosts the secretariat for the Higher Youth
Council. The Minister of Sports and Youth is the president
of the National Task Force for Management of Youth
Affairs. The Ministry undertakes planning for marriage and
family affairs, youth education and cultural affairs, as well
as elaborating national plans concerning youth social
participation.
Figure 2 Organizational Chart of Ministry of Sports and Youth: deputies
dealing with Youth are expanded.
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ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Youth Voluntary Activities in Iran
Different agencies have developed their own special
programmes for organizing youth voluntary activities and
promote their participation. Some of these programmes
are implemented by one agency, while others are
implemented as joint activities.
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education has developed several schemes for
organizing youth voluntary activities and promote their
participation.
Students Councils were first established in 1998 to
prepare students for democratic participation. These
elected councils act as advisors to the director of school,
contribute to all curricular and extracurricular activities and
will run school’s journal. This council will elect a
representative to attend the Parents and Teachers Board.
Figure 3 Students Council Elections (source: Iran News Agency)
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LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
Students Parliament is elected by students form a list of
school councillors for a period of two years. The
parliament includes members from key religious
minorities. The 150 elected members are formally
appointed as advisers to the Minister of Education and as
part of their mandate, review the bills of the Ministry before
presentation to the national Parliament (Majles).
Figure 4 the first meeting of Students Parliament
(source: Iran Students News Agency)
School Mayor is a joint activity with the Municipality, in
which the Mayor, his deputies and members of City
Council are elected by the students. The projects
indentified by this City Council are then implemented by
the Mayor, his deputies and voluntary support of the
students with the financial support of the Municipality.
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Red Crescent Society
The Red Crescent Youth
Organization is
established under the
Red Crescent Society to
train young people. The
trainees will then assist
volunteer groups in
disasters.
Figure 5 members of the Red
Crescent
Youth
Organization
(source: Fars News Agency)
Police Force
The police provide several services targeting the young
people such as counselling, training, virtual training,
research, and supporting the making of movies. To
encourage youth participation, the police organize
conferences and seminars.
Police Assistants are young people who volunteer to
assist the police in improving the safety and security of
their settlement.
Figure 6 Young Police Assistants (source: IRP, Social Deputy)
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LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
Youth and Upgrading
There is a growing emphasis on the role of youth in
upgrading of informal settlements in Iran. This trend could
be seen both in the efforts of Tehran Municipality and
UDRO.
Municipality of Tehran
The Municipality of
Tehran has developed
diverse programmes for
organizing youth
voluntary activities and
promote their
participation in settlement
management.
Figure 7 A weblog prepared by youth
in Ahangrarn Neighbourhood
Shahryaran Javan (Young
City Assistants) is a network of young people who act as
advisers to the District Mayors.
Upgrading Offices are established by the Tehran Urban
Renewal Organization in neighbourhoods to be upgraded.
They act as facilitators who liaise with the community to
initiate the upgrading process.
Youth play a key role in this initiation phase. They are
trained as journalists and webloggers who write on the
history, identity and problems of their neighbourhood. This
social network formed of interested youth then acts an
agent of change and a strong advocator for upgrading.
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ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Urban Development and Revitalization Organization
(UDRO)
Founded under the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development in 1996, UDRO’s projects were initially
focused on deteriorated historic fabrics. Since 1999,
UDRO has undertaken upgrading projects in informal
settlements. Currently, UDRO has completed some 71
upgrading projects by investing IRI 537,000 billion and has
67 ongoing projects in 18 provinces in 50 informal
settlements with a total investment of IRI 229,000 billion.
UDRO has also implemented 63 catalytic projects to
stimulate development in deteriorated fabrics. In these
fabrics, UDRO has replaced more than 192,000
dilapidated buildings with 661,000 newly built houses.
In upgrading projects, UDRO provides livelihood training in
basic working skills, handicraft production and other
income generating activities for the inhabitants. Training
courses provided in informal settlements also targets
youth for prevention of high risk behaviours such as drugs
and HIV-AIDS.
Figure 8 Rehabilitation of a square in Tabriz City
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LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH
Upgrading projects usually begin with focus group
discussions with inhabitants of an informal settlement for
needs assessment. Faith-based community organizations
are effective entry points for initiating these discussions
and building interest and trust. In this needs assessment
exercise, the special needs of women and youth are duly
considered. The focus group discussions lead to formation
of self-help groups who identify local income-generating
activities. UDRO supports these community-based
organizations and assists the expansion of their activities
to include neighbourhood weblogs and/or journals,
formation of thematic community-based groups, creation
of micro-credit fund. Thus a strong social network is
developed which will guarantee meaningful participation
and will subsequently lead the upgrading process.
Figure 9 Faith-based community organizations are effective entry points
for youth involvement and initiating the upgrading process
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Regional Slum Upgrading Working Group
P O Box 19395-4339,
Tehran, I R Iran
http://www.rsuwg.ir
Email: secretariat@rsuwg.ir