The increasing prominence of the youth bulge in most urban areas presents a unique opportunity, as they represent the most dynamic human resource available.

Youth are key to the prosperity of cities in the developing world, yet many barriers prevent them from fulfilling this role - most notably access to education, vocational training, and employment.

WUF6 World Urban Youth Assembly. Participation of Youth representatives from developing Countries at the UN-Habitat World Urban Youth Assembly and World Urban Forum 6.

Urban youth face challenges that need to urgently be addressed. The global youth unemployment rate, which is estimated at 12.6 per cent in 2013, is creating an environment in which young people are unable to satisfy their basic needs. As demonstrated by the mass protests in many cities globally, young people believe that their voices are not being heard and their needs are not being addressed.

Although the proportion of young people in cities is growing rapidly, few studies take into account the diversity of and views on their urban experiences.

This manual exists as one of a growing library of materials produced by UN-HABITAT for use by and in Urban Youth Centres, both One Stop and We Are the Future models.

This manual is about the core principles and procedures for the starting up of, delivery of, and monitoring of One Stop Youth Information Resource Services.

The concept of One Stop Centres grew out of a collaborative process with key stakeholders including youth, municipal leaders, and UN-HABITAT.

This manual exists as one of a growing library of materials produced by UNHABITAT for use by and in the One Stop and We Are the Future Urban Youth Centres.