Highlights

Dear YPARD Members.On 22 June we have started YPARD E-Discussion Round 1 about the future approach of YPARD. Currently we have 43 comments with very interesting and useful inputs on the direction YPARD should take in the future. A big thank you to all who have contributed!While the inputs are quite diverse, I think two things come out of the discussion:1.) Direct support to Young Professionals (especially capacity building) is considered important2.) Many YPARD members favour a broad approachIn Discussion Round 2 we will try to get more specific. Based on the inputs about the general approach of YPARD we ask ourselves:----------------------------------------------------------------------------------What activities and concrete outputs should YPARD plan for the coming 5 years?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------From 2006 up to now the main outputs of YPARD were:- Information services (newsletter, website, funding news)- Participation in ARD events- Databases (youth organizations, young professionals)- Thematic outputs (biofuels-discussion, occasional papers)- Lobbying at relevant organizations- Support members' participation in ARD events /programsWhich outputs do you consider useful? What would you change? What other outputs and activities do you propose?----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Please enter your ideas and comments on the YPARD E-Discussion platform at: http://ypard.wordpress.com/This is an open platform. All inputs are valuable. Don’t hesitate to give your personal opinion!----------------------------------------------------------------------------------You can enter your comments by clicking on “[please enter your ideas and comments]”. There you can see the comments of other members and react to them. If you still would like to contribute to Discussion Round 1, you can do that. The information on Discussion Round 1 is just below Discussion Round 2.If you have any technical problems with the E-Discussion platform, please contact YPARD by e-mail.We are looking forward to reading your inputs, also if you haven't contributed to Discussion Round 1.Best regardsFelix Hintermann(external consultant for YPARD and E-Discussion moderator)