Youth representation in organisation decision‑making
Assesses the extent to which young people have a meaningful voice and formal representation in the organization's governance and decision-making processes. It ensures their perspectives shape direction through defined voting rights or decision privileges, a tiered devolved budget, time‑bound board responses to youth recommendations, and public reporting on impact. The approach is grounded in *Shūrā* (consultation) and *Adab al-Ikhtilāf* (ethics of disagreement), ensuring participation is genuine, safe, and influential.
| Metric | Youth council reports to board |
|---|---|
| Target | ≥ 3 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Method | Count of formal reports from the youth council to the board per year |
| Unit | Count |
Level 1: Initial/Ad-hoc
Youth input is sought on an ad-hoc, informal basis. There are no formal structures for youth representation in decision-making.
Level 2: Developing
A formal but purely advisory body for youth exists (e.g., a youth committee). Its influence on governance and strategic decisions is limited and inconsistent.
Level 3: Established
Youth have formal representation in some decision-making bodies. Their input is regularly sought and demonstrably considered in relevant operational areas.
Level 4: Advanced
Youth are integrated into key governance structures (e.g., board of trustees, senior management committees) with defined roles and voting rights. Their involvement systemically influences strategic decisions.
Level 5: Optimizing
The organization actively implements succession planning (*Istikhlāf*) by mentoring and empowering young leaders for senior roles. It is recognized as a model for intergenerational collaboration and leadership.
Organisation Types
By Organisation Size
| Size | Applicability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | exempt | Formal youth councils and strict board age quotas are disproportionate for micro volunteer groups. |
| Small | partial | Scaled down to seeking a youth trustee; maintaining a formal quarterly youth council is disproportionate. |
| Medium | partial | Board representation targets apply, but formal youth councils can be scaled down to informal advisory groups. |
| Large | full | |
| Major | full |
Applicable When
- The organization's structure includes a board or senior management team
- The organization serves a community that includes young people
Not Applicable When
- The organization has no formal governance structure
- The organization does not engage young people (16–29) as beneficiaries, members, staff, or volunteers in any material way.
Discussion (1)
📋 **Version updated: 1.0.0 → 2.9.7** **Changes:** Updated islamic_references from mizan-297.json
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