Key Definitions
Civic Education: Formal and non-formal activities that promote knowledge, attitudes, values, skills, and behaviors desired of citizens to increase political participation and civic engagement. (Definition Source)
Civic Engagement/Participation: Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. Actions can take many forms, from individual volunteerism to organizational involvement to electoral participation. They can include efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem, or interact with the institutions of representative democracy. (Definition Source)
Civic Knowledge: The basic knowledge or awareness of legal rights and representations under the law. This can include knowledge of voting dates, political parties, candidates, human rights norms, and legal responsibilities under a country’s constitution and governance practices. (Definition Source)
Civic Skills: Civic skills include the abilities to communicate with elected officials, organize to influence policy, understand and participate in one's polity, and think critically about civic and political life. (Definition Source)
Civic Values: Civic values are the cultivated sets of values or beliefs that encourage stable communities. It is defined as the commitment of citizens to the welfare of their communities, regions, and nations. (Definition Source)
Collective Action: Collective action refers to any form of organized social or political act carried out by a group of people to address their needs or achieve a common objective. (Definition Source)
Equity and Inclusive Development: The principle that every person, regardless of identity, is instrumental in the transformation of their own communities, and their inclusion throughout the development process leads to better outcomes. (Definition Source)
Positive Youth Development: The Positive Youth Development (PYD) approach engages young people along with their families, communities, and/or governments so that young people are equipped to reach their full potential. PYD approaches build skills, assets, and competencies; foster healthy relationships; strengthen the enabling environment; and transform systems. (Learn more about PYD here)
Soft Skills/Life Skills: A “broad set of skills, behaviors, and personal qualities that enable people to effectively navigate their environment, relate well with others, and achieve their goals.” When young people and adults cultivate these interconnected sets of positive competencies and skills, communities are better equipped to holistically promote sustainable social outcomes. (Definition Source)
Youth: A life stage where one transitions from the dependence of childhood to adulthood’s independence. While key multilateral institutions define youth as persons between the ages of 15 and 24 years for statistical purposes, the meaning of “youth” varies in different societies. USAID Youth in Development Policy explains that programs also are likely to engage individuals aged 10-29 as a broader youth cohort. For the purposes of this toolkit, we will use the 10-29 age range while keeping in mind the concept of “life stage” and transitioning to adult independence. (Definition Source)
Youth Engagement: Meaningful youth engagement is an inclusive, intentional, mutually-respectful partnership between youth and adults whereby power is shared, respective contributions are valued, and young people’s ideas, perspectives, skills, and strengths are integrated into the design and delivery of programs, strategies, policies, funding mechanisms and organizations that affect their lives and their communities, countries, and globally. Meaningful youth engagement recognizes and seeks to change the power structures that prevent young people from being considered experts in regard to their own needs and priorities, while also building their leadership capacities. (Definition Source)
Youth Leadership Development: The process of supporting young people to inspire and mobilize others for a common purpose or to address personal and/or social issues and challenges in order to effect positive change. (Definition Source)
Looking for additional background on education, civic engagement, and leadership development programming?
Our Global Landscape Analysis offers statistics, illustrative activities, metrics, and recommendations for civic education and engagement approaches.
