Strengthening youth-focused research: Takeaways from IDRC project reviews in Africa

Africa has the world’s youngest population, with the youth representing a vibrant and diverse generation holding immense potential to drive innovation and positive change across the continent and beyond. This demographic trend has far-reaching implications for the region's social, economic and political landscapes. Effectively harnessing the potential of a growing youth population requires intentional and contextually relevant research and development programs that not only respond to young people’s needs but are also informed and shaped by their perspectives.  

Recognizing this potential, global and regional development agendas place youth at the centre of transformation efforts. Approximately one-third of the targets outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals reference young people, and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 similarly emphasizes youth empowerment and engagement. In particular, Aspiration Six of Agenda 2063 envisions an Africa whose development is people-driven, harnessing the full potential of its youth. 

This article shares insights from a review and analysis of more than 200 IDRC-funded research projects on youth programming across Africa. The effort aimed to distill lessons from these investments and to anticipate strategic future programming opportunities for youth in Africa. 

Defining youth, from static age-bracket to dynamic social group 

The youth demographic has often been narrowly defined by fixed age brackets, such as 15 to 35 years or 15 to 24 years, which are commonly used in regional and global frameworks. Such static definitions do not capture the diverse and changing realities of young people across Africa. Another school of thought anchors the definition of youth in context, reflecting not only chronological age but also social roles, responsibilities and transitions. Individuals may therefore enter or exit the category of youth depending on cultural, economic and situational factors.  Considering these local nuances is essential when engaging youth as a dynamic social group rather than a rigid age category. Non-age-based descriptions of youthhood are valuable in research and development, enabling analyses beyond youth as a socially problematic category and the exploration of opportunities created by the dynamism. 

Applying an intersectional lens

Youth-focused research and programming should move beyond traditional approaches to employ an intersectional and inclusive lens that captures the multi-layered nature of their identities. Youth are not a homogenous group; they occupy diverse roles and identities (such as learners, adolescents and young women) that intersect with factors like gender, geography, location, ethnicity, marginalization and class. This lens recognizes youth as a dynamic category calling for flexible definitions that acknowledge the various stages and categories. Youth are integral to broader gender equity and social-inclusion efforts, highlighting the importance of conducting intersectional analyses that consider multiple identities and experiences while remaining mindful of regional, political or cultural sensitivities that might affect youth-focused agendas. 

Aligning youth programming with regional development contexts and priorities

The selected projects represented all five programming areas of IDRC (economies, education, food systems, governance, health) across Africa’s sub-regions, completed between 2018 and 2023. In Eastern and Southern Africa, research focused on youth in agriculture, skills development, migration, labour participation and entrepreneurship. In West and Central Africa, the focus was on sexual and reproductive health and rights, countering violent extremism, climate justice and gender equality and inclusion in education. In North Africa, the research emphasized fragility and political inclusion. While some of these overlap across regions, the research projects reflected the specific contexts and realities of youth, highlighting the need to align research and development initiatives with regional priorities.

Examining how projects align with national and sub-regional priorities, policies and frameworks is equally important. Such alignment ensures youth initiatives are contextually relevant and complement broader development agendas. A regional lens enables stakeholders to better design intersectional interventions and advocate for policies that reflect youth voices and aspirations, ultimately strengthening the impact of development initiatives. Recognizing that there is no one “youth-size” fits-all in Africa, even within sub-regions where intercountry and local variations are important, is essential for effective youth programming.

From subjects to actors in research and development

The youth projects across Africa showed varying degrees of engagement in research, reflecting a broader shift from viewing young people as passive subjects to recognizing them as active, empowered contributors. Historically, youth involvement was often limited to data collection and program participation. Today, youth-led research puts young people in the driver’s seat, setting agendas, designing methodologies and interpreting and communicating findings in a way that reflects their lived realities. Supporting these approaches calls for a rethink how research grants are awarded with view to including youth organizations and build the capacities of young people to engage effectively at the local, regional and global levels. Youth engagement in research and development initiatives should exist on a spectrum shaped by context, audiences, tools, objectives and intended outcomes, rather than distinct categories.

Youth partners as game changers in African research landscapes

Africa’s youth hold immense potential for driving positive change, and effective empowerment requires flexible, intersectional and locally relevant approaches. Beyond project-based approaches, building movements of young people as active partners in research — aligned with regional priorities — is a game changer that will contribute to sustainable development across the continent.

These reflections are part of youth synthesis work across Africa. The synthesis deepens analysis of youth research and development initiatives and informs future programming in Africa. It is intended to stimulate discussion shaped by the varied and complex ideas and perspectives of youth regarding power, knowledge, agency, rights, abilities and responsibilities in the research and development landscape.

Contributors: Alaa Mufleh, IDRC regional advisor, Amman, Jordan; Elizabeth Muriithi, IDRC program officer, Nairobi, Kenya; and Lancelot Ehode, IDRC regional advisor, Dakar, Senegal.