The AU-EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective is a four-year initiative that began in March 2024, funded by the European Commission in collaboration with the African Union. Restless Development joins a consortium; Search For Common Ground, YouthMakers Hub, Makesense Africa, led by Oxfam Intermon. The overall goal of the project is to build a more youth-responsive and inclusive society by placing young people at the heart of decision-making, advocacy, and accountability across Africa and Europe. The project envisions a society in which policies, partnerships, plans, and decision-making processes are a result of enhanced youth engagement, empowerment, and connection, and improved intergenerational partnerships and action at local, national, continental, and cross-continental levels.
Our Approach
At the core of the Youth Voices Lab is a commitment to power-shifting, supporting young people to influence policies and partnerships at every level, from local communities to AU-EU platforms.
Our actions include:
- Capacity building for youth civil society and accountability champions
- Youth-led research and Youth Power Hackathons
- Advocacy rooted in evidence and lived experience
- Engagement with AU-EU summits and influencing spaces
Why It Matters
The AU-EU Youth Voices Lab is about resourcing, mentoring, and connecting young people to lead transformative change. By supporting youth to engage, research, advocate, and hold power to account, we are working toward a fairer, more inclusive future, shaped by the voices and leadership of young people across Africa and Europe.
Where We Work
The programme has a continental reach, with targeted efforts in 15 intervention countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Tunisia, and Belgium.
What We’ve Done So Far
From January to July 2025, Restless Development Zimbabwe led youth-led research, engaging 27 Youth Researchers across 14 African countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Tunisia.
Youth Researchers
Kwori Lodiong David Lubang, Youth Researcher from South Sudan
Hannah Silas, Youth Researcher from Nigeria
Sadiya Diallo, Youth Researcher from Burkina Faso
This phase focused on identifying the most urgent issues affecting young people and establishing a foundation for future youth-led advocacy and accountability. Before convening in Uganda for a youth-led research foundational training, Youth Researchers conducted literature reviews to identify pressing youth issues in their respective countries. These insights were then synthesised to develop a shared research question:
“Accelerating Meaningful Youth Participation in Decision-Making on Reproductive Health, Entrepreneurship, and Public Policy for Sustainable Development in Africa.”
The study explored how young people across Africa experience barriers and opportunities and how their participation in decision-making spaces can be strengthened.
The research concluded in July 2025, and youth researchers are currently finalizing the Continental Research report. These findings will directly inform the next phase of the programme: youth-led accountability.
Maria Malomalo, Restless Development Senior Research Manager, facilitating a session during the foundational training in Uganda
What’s Next
We now move into the Youth-led Accountability phase. Using the findings from the continental research, Youth Accountability Champions will:
- Craft evidence-based advocacy messages
- Mobilize their peers to take action
- Engage duty-bearers in dialogues and accountability spaces
- Influence policies and decisions that shape young people’s futures
For more information, email infozimbabwe@restlessdevelopment.org. Partner with us in advancing young people’s priorities in Zimbabwe and across the region.
