AYP Sense-Making Workshop: Mid-Term Review Highlights Progress in Youth Agency and Impact
We recently brought together Youth Panelists, National Coordinators and partners in Kigali, Rwanda, in a Sense-Making Workshop to reflect on insights from the Mid-Term Review and explore how these learnings can continue to shape AYP’s planning and implementation.
The findings reaffirm something central to the African Youth Panel: when young people have the skills, confidence and space to lead, they can create meaningful change.
Across 10 countries and 200 Youth Panelists:
- 89.1% report increased confidence in their ability to lead.
- 89.7% have influenced or engaged other young people.
- 64.1% have started a business or become self-employed.
But the story goes beyond the numbers. Panelists are putting their learning into action, supporting peers, initiating community activities, building networks and engaging their communities.
So, what’s next?
The Kigali workshop gave the AYP ecosystem a valuable opportunity to look at what is working and what we can do better.
The priorities emerging are clear:
- 1. Introduce financial and enterprise training earlier
- 2. Build a stronger research-to-action pathway
- 3. Formalise and strengthen mentorship
- 4. Improve transition support through finance, peer networks and market linkages
- 5. Create more opportunities for young people, particularly young women, to access institutional decision-making spaces
From capability to lasting impact
The evidence shows that AYP is building stronger individual capability and emerging community influence.
Our next chapter is about connecting that capability to the resources, relationships and platforms young people need to sustain and extend their impact.
The journey continues and the young people are already leading the way.
