TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE + CAPACITY-BUILDING

Young people are experts in their own experiences, and are best positioned to inform the policies, programmes, and funding priorities that affect them. For this to happen meaningfully, they require support, resources, and a responsive environment that values their perspectives. However, sometimes these youth-led or youth-serving initiatives don't have the capacity or technical skills to achieve their advocacy goals, or they're operating within youth unfriendly structures, processes, or mechanisms. 

Members of the Torchlight Collective have an extensive track record of designing resources, tools, briefs, and workshops for and with young people in order to bridge the gaps between their current capacity and their potential impact. Additionally, the Collective is well-positioned to 'sensitize' adult allies who are interested in truly support movement-building and meaningful youth engagement. 

COALITION MANAGEMENT

Coalitions and networks are the backbone of any social justice movement. The cross-cutting nature of these movements in particular (feminist movements, LGBT movements, indigenous people's movements, labour rights movements, etc.) all rely on coordinated, aligned, and intersectional activism and advocacy to make an impact. The youth movement is no different. 

Coalition management takes investment of time and resources. In particular, international coalitions and working groups function best when they have a dedicated and independent [yet knowledgable] manager to ensure that every voice is heard and that information remains transparent and easily accessible to all members.

Torchlight brings decades of coalition-building and management experience to its work. We have worked in support of coalitions such as:

  • The PACT;

  • The Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA);

  • YouACT;

  • The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights;

  • Y-PEER;

  • UNFPA's Youth Leadership Working Group; and others.

We can help to strengthen and expand coalitions by offering capacity support, expertise, and an independent management perspective. 

STRATEGIC SUPPORT

Many global health and development institutions -- including governments, multilateral agencies, donors and civil society organizations -- are joining the growing consensus that young people are experts in their own experiences, and must have access to their rights in order to live healthy and fulfilled lives. The Torchlight Collective works with these institutions when they require an additional boost of expertise or capacity as they develop programmatic strategies, advocacy campaigns, research agendas, engagement initiatives, and policy briefs. We have:

  • Helped global health organizations, donors, private sector partners, foundations, and UN agencies determine what questions to ask when designing programs for and with adolescents and young people.

  • Identified opportunities for coalitions and networks to share information and optimize their work.

  • Executed landscape analyses for institutions interested in avoiding duplication and streamlining efforts and funders interested in making good decisions with their portfolios. 

  • Supported institutions to analyze the power structures that inhibit full and meaningful engagement and participation, including reviewing how their own organizational structure or funding model may not truly work with and for young people.

  • Conducted desk reviews and stakeholder interviews to determine cutting edge best practices in the field of AYSRHR.

  • Performed media scans and developed messaging frameworks to help these institutions enhance how they talk about these issues.

  • Fine-tuned already well-established and well-respected programs and campaigns for young people, aligning efforts to support young people.