Project Title: Youth Futures In Action: Green Jobs and Digital Futures in East and Southern Africa
Project Duration: 30 months
Project Budget: €414,000
Funder: European Union
Location / Target Area: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia
Project Description
The project empowers youth (18-30) across Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia by creating inclusive hybrid “Spaces for Youth” that provide pathways into green jobs and digital futures. Through institutional capacity building, mentorship, and competitive sub-granting, the initiative strengthens youth-led civil society organizations (CSOs) and equips young people with the skills needed to thrive in renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, ICT, and digital entrepreneurship.
This initiative directly contributes to the Africa-Europe Youth Academy (AEYA) objectives under the Global Gateway Africa-Europe Investment Package, aligning with priorities on youth empowerment, climate resilience, digital transformation, and inclusive governance.
Key Approaches
Institutional Capacity Building: Strengthening 20 youth-led/focused CSOs to meet EU compliance standards and manage sustainable projects.
Green and Digital Skills Training: Providing 1,000 youth with access to renewable energy, circular economy, ICT and e-commerce opportunities.
Hybrid Spaces for Youth: Establishing 20 inclusive hubs across 7 countries to serve as platforms for collaboration, innovation and advocacy.
Transparent Sub-Granting: Competitive allocation of grants (Round 1: 20×€10,000; Round 2: 4×€40,000) to scale promising youth-led initiatives.
EU–Africa Partnerships: Linking youth organizations with European institutions, innovation ecosystems, and policy processes.
Cross-Country Peer Exchanges: Facilitating networking, knowledge-sharing, and dissemination of results across East and Southern Africa.
Psychosocial Support: Providing volunteer mentors and experts to support youth during intensive training, monitoring, and reporting activities.
Objectives
Overall Objective:
To empower youth and strengthen democratic participation in East & Southern Africa by creating inclusive Spaces for Youth that provide pathways into green jobs and digital futures.
Specific Objectives:
Strengthen the institutional and leadership capacity of 20 youth-led/focused CSOs.
Provide at least 1,000 young people (≥50% women; ≥25% vulnerable youth) with access to green and digital skills, mentorship, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Foster EU–Africa partnerships, connecting youth initiatives with European institutions, innovation ecosystems, and policy processes.
Enable scale-up of four high-potential youth-led initiatives through competitive sub-granting.
Project Implementing Partners
The Youth Cafe (TYC)
Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) – Zambia
Taremba Association for Community Development – Mozambique
Development Path for Community Transformation (DEPCOT) – Uganda
Binti Makini Foundation – Tanzania
Youth Wave – Malawi
East Action Organization (EAO) – Ethiopia
Target Groups
20 youth-led/focused CSOs in East and Southern Africa
1,000,000 youth aged 18–30 (≥50% women; ≥25% vulnerable youth including rural, displaced, and youth with disabilities)
Local innovation hubs, accelerators, and training institutions focused on green and digital skilling
European and African policy actors in climate action and digital transformation
Expected Results / Outcomes
20 stronger youth CSOs meeting EU compliance standards
20 hybrid “Spaces for Youth” established across 7 countries
Increased youth participation in green jobs and digital futures, reducing unemployment and vulnerability
Strengthened EU–Africa cooperation through institutional linkages and peer learning
Indirect reach of 5,000,000 community members through advocacy, campaigns, and youth-led initiatives