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 is an examination of the lives, capacities, and agencies of urban youth in the developing world and an identification of significant gaps for research.

In particular, this book provides a highlight of the political economy of youth-focused development in an increasingly urbanizing world. Political-economic processes that shape and are shaped by young people's urban lives get particular attention.

The Asia-Pacific region has more than half of its population composed of young people. The region is experiencing quite a number of positive developments but equally in the same measure registers quite a number of challenges amongst which are unemployment, poverty and increased population in slums. Recognizing this, the Asia Pacific Conference on Housing and Urban Development adopted the theme ‘Youth and IT in Sustainable Urban Development’.

Youth want recognition, meaningful employment and engagements in decision-making processes. It is becoming a very strong tool for connection, and the burning question is how ICT companies under the public-private partnerships can come up with modalities and take more social cooperate responsibilities in addressing short-comings. Youth should be seen as positive human power and not as a problem.

The increasing prominence of the youth bulge in most urban areas presents a unique opportunity, as they represent the most dynamic human resource available. Their numbers today are larger than at any point in human history. Yet this group suffers the most from urban unemployment and often feels that they lack equal access to opportunities.

This is especially acute in developing countries, which have a relatively youthful population that must be mobilised to realise greater economic and social development goals.

This Compendium has been compiled to accompany the Workshop on Strategies and best practices in crime prevention, in particular in relation to urban crime and youth at risk in the context of the 11th UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Bangkok, Thailand from 18-25th April 2005.

This strategy paper has been developed in the context of UN-Habitat’s Safer Cities Programme, and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). It forms part of UN-Habitat’s work on urbanization, the inclusive city, the problems of urban youth, and issues of governance and youth participation.

It is in keeping with the Millennium Development Goal of achieving a significant improvement in the lives of urban slum dwellers by 2020.