A governance argument inspired by Lift Africa’s intervention at the UN General Assembly Youth Plenary
Across Africa and the wider Global South, youth participation is often celebrated in speeches, featured in policy dialogues, and highlighted in development agendas. But beneath the rhetoric lies a stark reality:
Most youth participation is symbolic — not structural.
It is invitation-based, not institution-based.
It is ceremonial, not legally mandated.
It is inspired by goodwill, not protected by governance frameworks.
At the UN General Assembly Youth Plenary, Lift Africa Foundation raised an unambiguous argument:
Youth participation that is not backed by law, structure, financing, and accountability is tokenism — not inclusion.
This essay outlines Lift Africa’s governance-centered position on youth participation, informed by years of work with youth advocates and by global policy dialogues at UNGA.
1. The Illusion of Inclusion: Why Youth Participation Often Fails
In many countries, “youth inclusion” takes the form of:
- occasional invitations to roundtables,
- project-based engagement,
- donor-funded youth programs,
- symbolic representation in conferences,
- advisory roles without decision-making power.
These gestures create visibility — but not influence.
Lift Africa’s stance is clear:
Visibility without authority is performance, not participation.
Meaningful participation requires:
- legal mandates
- institutional representation
- budgeted structures
- youth accountability frameworks
Without these, youth remain observers to decisions that shape their future — not contributors.
2. Youth Participation Is a Governance Issue — Not a Social Issue
Across the continent, youth engagement is housed within ministries of youth, social development programs, or civil society coalitions.
But youth participation is not simply a social development concern.
It is a governance requirement, because:
- youth comprise the largest demographic in Africa
- public policy disproportionately affects young people
- economic futures depend on youth inclusion
- governance systems lose legitimacy without youth engagement
Lift Africa argues for a shift in thinking:
Youth are not a sector — they are a constituency.
Their participation belongs in governance, not charity.
3. Structural Youth Participation Requires Legal Mandates
Symbolic participation is based on goodwill.
Structural participation is based on law.
Lift Africa’s institutional position is that youth must be included through:
- constitutional provisions
- legal frameworks on civic engagement
- quotas for youth representation in governance
- state and local youth councils with voting rights
- youth seats on economic and policy committees
- mandatory youth consultation in policy development
In other words:
Make youth participation a legal necessity — not a political favor.
4. Financing Youth Participation Is a Governance Obligation
Participation without financing is an empty promise.
Across Africa, youth-led organizations struggle because funding is:
- temporary
- donor-driven
- competitive
- inaccessible
- politically influenced
Lift Africa advocates for:
- national youth participation funds
- multi-year financing for youth-led CSOs
- budget lines for youth advisory bodies
- financing frameworks that outlive political cycles
- grants designed specifically for marginalized and rural youth
Participation becomes meaningful only when governments invest in it.
5. Youth Must Be Involved in Economic and Policy Planning
Youth unemployment, climate vulnerability, digital exclusion, and education-to-work transitions affect young people the most — yet youth are least represented in decision-making structures that govern these fields.
Lift Africa argues for youth seats in:
- national economic councils
- digital transformation committees
- climate change task forces
- education reform boards
- employment and innovation councils
Youth cannot shape systems they are excluded from.
6. Representation Without Accountability Is Not Participation
Even when young people have a seat at the table, their influence is often constrained because there are:
- no defined mandates
- no performance metrics
- no reporting obligations
- no feedback systems
- no accountability triggers
Meaningful participation requires:
- clear roles
- transparent expectations
- measurable outcomes
- consultative processes
- institutional accountability
Participation must be trackable — not performative.
7. Youth Participation Must Be Inclusive, Not Elite
One of the most glaring issues in youth involvement is that it often privileges:
- highly educated youth,
- urban youth,
- English-speaking youth,
- politically connected youth,
- NGO-affiliated youth.
This creates representation gaps and reinforces inequity.
Lift Africa advocates for mechanisms that ensure:
- rural youth representation
- representation of marginalized communities
- youth with disabilities
- young women and girls
- youth from low-income households
- non–English-speaking youth
- youth outside formal institutions
Youth participation that excludes the majority is not participation — it is selection.
8. Digital Governance Is Essential for Modern Youth Participation
Young people live in digital spaces, but governance systems often do not.
Lift Africa pushes for:
- digital participation platforms
- online policy consultation portals
- e-governance tools
- mobile-based youth feedback systems
- transparent digital monitoring of government commitments
Digital inclusion ensures:
youth in every village have a voice — not just those in capital cities.
9. A Governance Framework for Structural Youth Participation
Lift Africa proposes a governance architecture built on six pillars:
1. Legal Mandates
Youth participation must be embedded in law, not dependent on personalities.
2. Institutional Representation
Youth must have seats and voting power in decision-making bodies.
3. Financing
Participation must be funded consistently through national budgets.
4. Accountability Systems
Track government performance on youth inclusion.
5. Inclusive Participation
Ensure representation across geography, gender, disability, and class.
6. Digital Governance
Use technology to democratize participation.
This is what structural youth participation looks like.
Conclusion: Youth Deserve Power, Not Invitations
At the UNGA Youth Plenary, Lift Africa’s message was clear:
Youth participation is not a favor — it is a governance duty.
Young people are:
- the backbone of Africa’s economy
- the drivers of innovation
- the guardians of democracy
- the bridge between today and the future
Tokenism undermines governance.
Structural participation strengthens it.
Lift Africa’s institutional voice advocates for systems where:
- youth shape policies,
- youth influence governance,
- youth hold institutions accountable,
- youth are integrated — not showcased.
Participation must be structural, not symbolic.
Not invitations — institutions.
Not rhetoric — rights.
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