Building Youth-Led Solutions: AYP Panelists Complete Phase 1 Foundational Training
TrustAfrica, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and partners, has successfully concluded the first phase of the foundational training for all panelists participating in the African Youth Panel (AYP) Initiative across the project countries.
The immersive training equipped panelists with the knowledge, skills, and mindset required to move beyond implementing isolated activities to designing practical, community-driven solutions that address systemic barriers to dignified work and livelihoods.
In several project countries, the training also included learning visits to organisations delivering successful community-based interventions, providing panelists with first-hand exposure to scalable models, practical approaches, and best practices.
Using experiential learning and human-centred design methodologies, the programme guided participants through a structured process of identifying root causes of community challenges, validating barriers using local evidence, designing innovative solutions, and developing implementation plans tailored to their local contexts.
By the end of the training, each panelist had refined their project concept into a strengthened Version 2 work plan, complete with clear objectives, implementation pathways, and measurable actions that are ready to be tested and implemented within their communities.
Key components of the training included:
- Ecosystem mapping, stakeholder identification, power analysis, local labour market assessments, and an introduction to barrier taxonomy.
- Root cause analysis, barrier validation using local data, identification of leverage points, and distinguishing underlying drivers from surface-level symptoms.
- Human-centred design and design sprint methodologies, theory of change development, intervention logic, collaborative refinement of Version 2 work plans, and peer review sessions.
- Presentation of Version 2 work plans, facilitated coaching and technical feedback, field application planning, mentorship matching, commitment agreements, and accountability mechanisms.
The initiative has now transitioned into its next phase, where panelists are being matched with experienced coaches and mentors within their respective communities. Through this mentorship process, they will refine and stress-test their ideas, strengthen implementation strategies, and receive ongoing technical support as they pilot their solutions. This marks an important step in supporting young people to translate innovative ideas into sustainable community impact and meaningful pathways towards dignified work and improved livelihoods.
