Harambee has been taking part in a continental summit focused on strengthening youth programming and ensuring young people play a central role in shaping initiatives designed for them.
From 14 to 17 July 2026, Harambee's Head of Research, Victoria Duncan, represented the organisation at the Youth Shaping Africa's Present and Future: Insights from Youth Programming Across the Continent Summit in Nairobi, Kenya. The event was convened by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
The summit brought together participants from across Africa to share insights from the Youth Programming Innovation Labs and discuss how youth programmes can be designed, supported and strengthened to better meet the needs of young people.
A key focus of the discussions was ensuring that youth development initiatives are created with meaningful input from young people. Through futures and systems thinking, delegates explored how policy, funding, implementation and participation practices can better reflect the lived realities of Africa's youth.
Reflecting on the event, Victoria Duncan said, “This has been an incredible learning experience, particularly given the diversity of participants from across the African continent. Hearing the experiences of others working in youth programming has highlighted both the shared challenges we face and the nuances of the South African context.”
The discussions highlighted the importance of collaboration across the continent to address youth unemployment and improve opportunities for education, skills development, entrepreneurship and employment.
For Harambee, participating in the summit reinforces the belief that effective youth employment solutions cannot be developed in isolation. Organisations across Africa are increasingly focused on moving beyond youth participation towards meaningful influence, while creating stronger systems that connect young people to learning opportunities, employment and self-employment pathways.
Harambee thanked SAIIA and IDRC for providing a platform that encouraged collaboration, knowledge sharing and cross-continental dialogue on the future of youth programming in Africa.
