Intergenerational Governance
Published: June 2024
Version: 3.0
Written by: Accountable Futures Collective
Intergenerational + Accountable Governance
We know that young people should be decision makers in their own right.
We are trialling an intergenerational governance model that means we are modelling accountability to young people ourselves.
We have 3 Boards that each have a specific purpose:
Impact Board (young people): the purpose of the Impact Board is to ensure young people set strategic direction and determine how we engage with young people and partners
Integrity Board (18+): the purpose of the Integrity Board is to make sure the collective is managed effectively in order to achieve its purpose within budget, and that young people are enabled to lead
Intergenerational Board (all ages): the purpose of the Intergenerational Board is to create conversations across generations and ensure the collective itself is accountable to young people in everything it does and is having genuine impact.
Supported by a Charter, each Board has unique responsibilities and rhythms, as well as unique decision-making processes. Incorporating diversity in approaches to meetings, communications, capability building and delegation of responsibilities enables intergenerational perspectives to guide different aspects of Accountable Futures Collective.
Some elements of governance are shared, developed and decided collaboratively, such as Our Values and Design Principles and leadership evaluations. Creating these foundational elements together enables cohesive decisions to be made by the different Boards with alignment to shared values and ideas.
What are we learning?
Intergenerational governance has been essential to creating Accountable Futures Collective so far.
This model has created tangible, practical accountability to young people in all decision making: start-up strategy, values, partnerships, funding, youth engagement, communications and team performance. Our focus on changing the way young people and adults connect and work together continues to be both driven and
Enabling Conditions for Intergenerational Governance:
The key ingredients for success have been:
Asking adults to take up their roles in new ways and intentionally supporting adults to think and act differently, so that young people can truly lead
Identifying what is unique for each Board and what is shared across all Boards
Collectively answering the big questions together, including ‘how will three Boards act as one?’ and ‘what happens when Boards disagree?’