Across Africa, young people are navigating different realities, aspirations and possibilities. Questions of livelihoods, access to opportunities and influence in decision-making sit alongside the work young people are already doing to organise, create and shape their communities. Youth programming needs to engage with that complexity, recognising how priorities differ across and within countries.
Funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and implemented through a consortium comprising SAIIA, Positive Agenda Advisory and Université Alassane Ouattara, SAIIA’s Futures Programme convened a Youth Programming Innovation Lab in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14-16 July 2026.
Under the theme “Youth Shaping Africa’s Present and Future”, participants from North, East, West and Southern Africa examined the systems shaping youth programming, explored the futures they want to see, and considered what needs to change in how programmes are designed, supported and delivered.
This highlights video captures a snapshot of that exchange: the expectations participants brought to Nairobi, moments from the gathering, and reflections on what they are taking forward.
