Project Title
Youth Climate Action Network (YCAN)

Project Description
The Youth Climate Action Network (YCAN) is an initiative designed to empower young people in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda to become active leaders in climate action. Recognising that Africa contributes the least to global greenhouse gas emissions yet suffers disproportionately from the impacts of climate change, YCAN seeks to bridge the gap between awareness and action by equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and platforms needed to respond effectively to the climate crisis.

The project employs non-formal education methodologies to enhance the capacities of youth organisations and youth workers, enabling them to design and deliver climate education programs tailored to local contexts. Through youth mobility exchanges, participatory activities, and peer learning, YCAN promotes cross-cultural dialogue and collaboration between African and European youth, fostering a united front in addressing global environmental challenges.

Central to the project are youth-led initiatives, where young people develop and implement community-based projects to raise awareness, advocate for sustainable practices, and pilot innovative solutions in their local contexts. These efforts are amplified by the YCAN Community Platform and a continent-wide “Act Now for Tomorrow” digital campaign, which provides spaces for networking, advocacy, and visibility.

YCAN is deeply committed to inclusion and diversity, ensuring that marginalised groups, including rural youth, young women, and youth with fewer opportunities, are at the forefront of climate action. By building strong EU–AU partnerships, promoting civic participation, and encouraging green entrepreneurship, the project not only strengthens resilience to climate change but also contributes to long-term sustainable development.

Key Approaches

Applying non-formal and experiential learning methods that are participatory, learner-centred, and hands-on to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and active engagement.
Strengthening the capacity of youth workers through a structured training program that combines online modules and a dedicated mobility, resulting in outputs such as the Youth Climate Voices Report and a Comprehensive Toolkit.
Prioritising cross-border collaboration and mobility by engaging youth workers and young people from Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Europe in participatory activities and exchanges that promote intercultural learning and co-creation.
Ensuring inclusivity and diversity by deliberately involving participants from rural areas, disadvantaged backgrounds, and volunteer initiatives, while also guaranteeing gender and age balance.
Placing youth-led initiatives at the core by empowering young participants to design and implement community-driven actions that address local climate challenges.
Integrating continuous support and mentorship through peer-to-peer collaboration, remote guidance from European peers, and local facilitation by African partners.
Leveraging digital tools such as the YCAN Community Platform and coordinated awareness campaigns for sustaining collaboration, visibility, and cross-border engagement.

Objectives
Main Objective
To strengthen the capacity of Youth Organizations in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda to foster climate change awareness and youth-led initiatives in the local communities through an innovative non-formal learning approach, and promote cross-border collaboration and mobilities

Specific Objectives

Enhance climate education and literacy of youth workers.
Promote youth inclusion in decision-making processes.
Foster youth-led initiatives and financial support mechanisms.
Promote exchange and collaboration through youth mobilities.
Strengthen EU-AU youth collaboration via digital platforms.
Raise climate change awareness through youth-led initiatives and campaigns.
Strengthen dialogue between youth and decision-makers.

Project Duration
36 months (Jan 2026- Dec 2028)

Project Budget
450,000 Euros

Funder
European Union

Project Implementing Partners / Consortium Members

Asociación Mundus (Spain) – Coordinator
ALDA (France/Belgium)
Gaia Education -Europe
Hope4Life(H4LU)- Uganda
HUYS LINK -Uganda
Salesians of Don Bosco(SDB)- Ethiopia
The Youth Café(TYC) -Kenya

Location / Target Area

The project targets Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

Target Groups

The YCAN project primarily targets youth and youth organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. It specifically focuses on empowering young people, particularly those from rural areas and those with fewer opportunities, including individuals from low-income families, communities with limited access to education, or those experiencing social exclusion.

Expected Results / Outcomes

Empowered youth organisations: Youth organisations will receive training that helps them develop new methods for raising awareness and collaborating with international partners. This will enhance their ability to create a global network and effectively address climate change issues.
Enhanced youth skills: The project aims to equip young people with new skills, particularly in active citizenship and green sectors. These skills will empower them to develop and implement climate solutions and sustainable projects within their local communities.
Increased engagement: The project will foster greater involvement of young people in both democratic processes and with decision-makers. This will give them a stronger voice and enable their perspectives to be included in policy discussions.
Sustainability and Scalability: The project's goal is for youth-led initiatives to be repeatable and expandable beyond the initial funding period. This ensures the positive impact on sustainable development continues and grows over time.