Kenya is experiencing profound demographic and social change. The country’s population is ageing, yet younger generations are simultaneously grappling with unemployment, rising living costs, and shifting family obligations. These realities have created tensions between generations, often expressed in the language of mistrust, frustration, and unmet expectations. The Monthly Discussion Forum on Ageing (MDFA), convened under the theme “Bridging the Generational Divide: Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity, Social Protection and the Rights of Older Persons in Kenya”, sought to provide a platform for dialogue, evidence‑based policy reflection, and collaborative solutions.
Kenya’s 10‑Point Agenda | Civil Society, Youth, And The Path To Inclusive Governance
Kenya’s political journey has often been defined by moments of contestation followed by dialogue and reform. In March 2025, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding anchored on a 10‑Point Agenda. This pact, endorsed by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, sought to foster national cohesion and drive inclusive prosperity.
Rethinking Progress | Beyond GDP And The Future Of Development
For much of the twentieth century, Gross Domestic Product became the dominant measure of national success. Policymakers, economists, and international institutions relied on GDP growth rates as shorthand for prosperity, assuming that rising production and consumption equated to improved lives. Yet the cracks in this assumption have become increasingly visible. GDP tells us how much we produce, but it does not tell us how well we live, how fairly resources are shared, or whether our development is sustainable. The United Nations’ Beyond GDP initiative, shaped by the High‑Level Expert Group and articulated in a series of guiding papers, calls for a new compass of progress—one that values what truly counts for people and planet.
Youth Legislators At the Forefront | The County Assemblies Forum Conference And The Youth Café’s Call For Inclusive Governance
Kenya’s democratic journey is deeply intertwined with the energy, vision, and resilience of its youth. With more than 70% of the population under the age of 35, the future of governance depends on how effectively young people are integrated into decision‑making structures. The Young Legislators Conference, convened by the County Assemblies Forum (CAF), brought together youthful Members of County Assemblies (MCAs), civil society actors, student leaders, and grassroots organizations to deliberate on the role of young legislators in shaping Kenya’s governance landscape.
Putting People First | The Youth Café And Civil Society’s Call For A Sustainable, Equitable, And Accountable Health System In Kenya
Kenya stands at a defining moment in its health reform journey. The transition from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Social Health Authority (SHA), the enactment of the Primary Health Care Act and the Facility Improvement Financing Act, the expansion of Primary Care Networks (PCNs), and the deployment of more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters (CHPs) represent genuine progress. Yet, as the country prepares for the Kenya Health Summit 2026, the central question is not whether reforms exist on paper, but whether they can be financed, implemented, governed, and sustained in a fiscal environment marked by debt distress
Global Partnerships Compact: Building A Future-Ready System Of International Cooperation
Reflections From The World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 | Reimagining Youth Participation In Global Health
Africa’s health systems are entering a period of deep structural change. Climate shocks are intensifying across the continent while economic inequality, demographic pressure, migration, and strained public financing systems continue reshaping social realities. At the same time, misinformation, digital fragmentation, and declining institutional trust are changing how communities engage with healthcare systems and public institutions more broadly.
The Africa Youth Employment Clock (AYEC)
Co-creators, Not Bystanders: Advancing Meaningful Youth Engagement In Antimicrobial Resistance Response In Africa
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to rise as one of the most urgent global health threats, projected to cause millions of deaths annually by 2050 and significant economic losses through increased healthcare costs and reduced productivity. Sub-Saharan Africa carries one of the largest burdens, with high rates of infectious diseases, limited access to appropriate treatments, and weak health systems that worsen the spread and impact of AMR.
Latin American And Caribbean Youth Issue Strong Declaration On The Environment
Young people across Latin America and the Caribbean have released a powerful regional declaration calling for urgent, inclusive, and justice-driven action to confront the escalating environmental and climate crisis. The Youth Declaration on the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean reflects the voices of adolescents and young adults from 18 countries, gathered through extensive consultations and an in-person meeting organized under the Latin America & Caribbean Youth Environment Forum (LACYEF) LAC Youth Statement (English).
Rooted in the lived realities of the region’s diverse youth—including Indigenous communities, Afro-descendants, migrants, persons with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ young people, and those from both rural and urban settings—the declaration highlights the urgency of a crisis that is already reshaping ecosystems, livelihoods, and public health across the continent LAC Youth Statement (English).
A Collective Effort Representing the Region’s Diversity
The consultation process was convened by the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP (CYMG), the United Nations Environment Programme’s official youth engagement mechanism, representing over 1,800 organizations and 12,000 individual members worldwide. The final declaration captures and systematizes 362 contributions gathered through dialogue spaces and collaborative reflection across the region LAC Youth Statement (English).
Participants emphasized that Latin America and the Caribbean, despite their immense natural and cultural wealth, remain among the regions most affected by environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and the impacts of climate change. Yet they also stressed the invaluable role of ancestral knowledge, community resilience, and youth leadership in shaping sustainable solutions LAC Youth Statement (English).
Key Environmental Concerns Raised by Youth
The document outlines six major challenges that young people see as urgent priorities for action:
Widespread pollution of air, water, and soil driven by plastics, waste mismanagement, and urban emissions.
A deepening water crisis rooted in scarcity, contamination, and poor wastewater treatment.
Accelerated deforestation, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem destruction linked to extractive industries and agricultural expansion.
Ineffective waste management and slow progress toward circular economy models.
Intensifying climate impacts such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves that disproportionately harm vulnerable groups.
Weak environmental institutions and insufficient inclusion of youth in governance and decision-making processes.
LAC Youth Statement (English)
Demands for Transformative Action
Youth from the region are calling for decisive steps from governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Their demands include:
Universal and culturally relevant environmental education.
Binding mechanisms that ensure youth participation and representation in policy decisions.
Stronger public policies to regulate pollution, safeguard ecosystems, and deliver climate justice.
A just transition toward renewable energy and sustainable mobility.
Restoration and protection of critical ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, rivers, and marine environments.
Transparent climate financing that reaches communities and youth organizations.
Protection of vulnerable groups to ensure no one is left behind.
LAC Youth Statement (English)
Youth Commitments to Lead Change
Beyond their demands, the young people of Latin America and the Caribbean also articulate their own commitments. They pledge to:
Strengthen regional mobilization for collective climate solutions.
Promote environmental education and climate action within their local communities.
Advocate for social, environmental, and climate justice across all spheres of influence.
LAC Youth Statement (English)
A Clear Call to Action
The declaration closes with a strong appeal: genuine and lasting environmental solutions cannot be achieved without the meaningful involvement of youth. Governments, institutions, and all sectors of society are urged to work side-by-side with young people to implement urgent, effective, and equitable responses to the climate and ecological crisis.
As the declaration states, the voice of youth is both present and future—there can be no sustainability or climate justice without them LAC Youth Statement (English).