Nurturing values-driven young leaders to spark community transformation and inclusive development

Through the iLEAD Fellowship, ELF-Africa continues to invest in shaping a new generation of values-driven leaders whose work is grounded in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2024, 41 young people from seven countries—including Kenya, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Rwanda, Ghana, and Uganda—participated in a comprehensive leadership journey designed to foster personal insight and public impact.

The Fellowship equipped participants with tools for self-discovery, civic consciousness, and professional growth, enabling them to drive change within their communities and spheres of influence. Testimonials received from this cohort of leaders reflect deep personal growth, purpose alignment, and the emergence of grassroots collaborations—such as co-hosted dialogues and community training sessions. This approach reinforces our belief that lasting transformation begins with leaders who lead from within.

Improving access to decision-making spaces and amplifying youth voices in policy processes

In response to feedback from young people across the counties, we deepened localized engagement through county-based skilling sessions and virtual learning forums. Partnering with 80 youth-serving organizations, we reached 201 participants through targeted sessions on ethical leadership, climate governance, gender-responsive budgeting, and civic organizing.

These efforts fostered stronger relationships between young people and county decision-makers, with many administrators now actively engaging in these sessions—strengthening civil society–government collaboration. Initiatives like Tunaweza are gaining recognition, with participants receiving awards and appointments to county and national boards and committees; clear signs of shifting power. The “Wezesha Vijana Kuongoza” project, led by one of ELF-Africa Alumni, reflects the multiplier effect of our programming—where trained young leaders now champion civic action, ethical leadership, and voter education in their own communities.

Expanding access to dignified work through skills development, mentorship, and market linkages

We believe that youth employability, professional growth, and access to dignified work are essential pathways for young people to contribute meaningfully to governance, the economy and public life. In 2024, we directly engaged over 200 young people in skills development, mentorship, and networking opportunities with key ecosystem actors. Through flagship interventions like Enterprise Development Services, we engaged with 50+ stakeholders to equip young people with business development skills and tools, strategic connections, and funding opportunities. This included support to 11 youth-led enterprises to grow and scale their business models, training 77 young people on using digital platforms to boost visibility and customer engagement, and designing new curricula focused on green business ventures. We also convened conversations linking climate justice, economic transformation, and the future of work, helping young people imagine and prepare for emerging labor markets.

Forging strategic partnerships to scale impact and drive collective action

Strategic partnerships remain central to amplifying the voices and actions of young people. Our collaboration with 80+ grassroots organizations has enabled coordinated mobilization for civic and policy engagement. These partners have led social accountability efforts across the country—including town halls, memoranda submissions, People’s Dialogue Festival sessions, and community forums. In partnership with LEAP Africa, we celebrated International Youth Week with hybrid engagements across nine counties, reaching 3,090 participants. Activities promoted civic consciousness, environmental stewardship, digital activism, and intergenerational dialogue.

We also collaborated with institutions such as Daystar University, Tafaria Castle, Lightup Impact, Center for Multiparty Democracy, EAC Youth Fellowship, Tetranet Services Ltd., and St. Andrew’s Turi, engaging over 220 young people and 80+ grassroots organizations in learning and capacity-strengthening efforts on leadership, governance, and organizational development.

Notably, our partnership with Tafaria Castle created an immersive space for 30 student leaders from Crawford International School to explore leadership through a cultural and creative lens—merging reflection with expression.

Fueling youth-led movements for advocacy and social accountability

Our commitment to youth-led movements continues to evolve, embracing diverse strategies and creative forms of advocacy. In 2024, we supported Mfalme Productions, a grassroots animation company using African-centered storytelling to produce edutainment content that advances civic education.

Through participation in the Voice Knowledge Exchange and Learning Convenings, we engaged with grantee partners from 4 African countries (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Nigeria), fostering cross-border solidarity, accountability, and shared learning among youth-led initiatives. Continuous engagement and skilling efforts at the county level—combined with collaboration across our 80+ youth-serving organization partners—led to the formation of a vibrant network of over 500 young leaders. This growing collective promotes peer learning, civic action, and social accountability, serving as a dynamic engine for movement building across the country and beyond.

Creating platforms for young people to shape discourse and co-create solutions

We continued to invest in platforms that center young people in policy discourse and collective action. In partnership with the Center for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), we hosted town halls and dialogues that amplified young voices in governance and public affairs.

These forums brought together 110 young people and diverse stakeholders, igniting conversations on citizen-centered policymaking and meaningful engagement. The growing need to strengthen civic competencies among younger generations led to governance talks with students from St. Andrew’s Turi—many of whom will be first-time voters in the next general election. Through such early interventions, we are cultivating a pipeline of civically conscious young people ready to help shape Kenya’s democratic future.