Espen Berg

Espen Berg
CEO and Founder of United Youth Development Organization
Personal details
Born July 6, 1981
Bergen, Norway
Nationality Norwegian

Espen Berg is a Norwegian humanitarian. Espen is the founder[1][2] and CEO[3] of the United Youth Development Organization. Espen completed a BA (Hons) in International Business at Bournemouth University[4] and an Msc in Development Management at the London School of Economics.[5] Espen is quickly becoming an authority on issues such as youth in development, youth focused microfinance, and youth empowerment, and is a frequent speaker at events and conferences across the UK.[6][7]

UYDO

In 2008, Espen founded the United Youth Development Organization, a charity that focuses on utilizing the skills and talents of young people globally to raise funds and capacity to invest in micro loans to disadvantaged youth entrepreneurs.[8] In 2010 UYDO was discontinued due to funding challenges.

Espen's view on youth and microfinance

Espen argues that it is a market failure that young people have more difficulties in accessing microfinance services than their ‘adult’ counterparts. He argues that young people are just as capable of maintaining and successfully repaying a loan as adults.[9] Furthermore, he argues that the development return of investing in young people is very high, and that young people have important characteristics and attributes that can add value to the development process. He argues that as a consequence, the development community needs to ensure that young people and their needs are being included in any development programs in order to alleviate the market failure and thus optimize the positive impact that young people can have on economic and social development.[10][11][12]

References

  1. ↑ "Empowering students: working towards the wider goals of sustainable development". Centre for Global Perspectives. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  2. ↑ "U8 Alumni setting up youth-led microfinance initiative". U8development.org. 11 August 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  3. ↑ "About the team". UYDO.org. 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  4. ↑ "Empowering students: working towards the wider goals of sustainable development". Centre for Global Perspectives. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  5. ↑ "The Lottery of Birth Art exhibition and Panel Discussion". London School of Economics. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  6. ↑ "Education for sustainable development: Graduating students as Global Citizens Conference". Bournemouth University. 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  7. ↑ "Lottery of Birth Discussion". London School of Economics. 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  8. ↑ "About UYDO". UYDO. 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  9. ↑ "'The Lottery of Birth: the role of youth in development' Panel Discussion". London School of Economics. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  10. ↑ "The bottom line: the young helping the young". Social Enterprise. 10 March 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  11. ↑ "BUGLE Issue 10 March 2010" (PDF). Bournemouth University Global Local Education. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 5 May 2010.
  12. ↑ "'The Lottery of Birth: the role of youth in development' Panel Discussion". London School of Economics. 28 April 2010. Retrieved 7 May 2010.