Young Africans Redefine Development Through Participatory Research

By Blessings Kaunda…….

Across Africa, young people are moving beyond being subjects of research to becoming architects of change. Through innovative, community-based research, they are generating evidence, influencing policy, and demonstrating that the most effective solutions arise from those who live the challenges every day.

According to the African Union (AU), the continent is home to more than 400 million young people aged 15 to 35—making youth one of Africa’s greatest assets. The AU’s Agenda 2063 recognizes them as key drivers of development and transformation.

Yet, despite this recognition, many young Africans remain excluded from decision-making and research processes. Those experiencing poverty, limited educational opportunities, or social exclusion are too often treated as beneficiaries rather than contributors to development agendas.

Historically, research on marginalized youth has been led by external experts who may lack a deep understanding of the communities they study. This disconnect often leads to findings and policies that fail to capture lived realities on the ground.

One initiative changing this narrative is the African Youth Panel, a collaboration between Trust-Africa and the MasterCard Foundation. The project equips young people with Participatory Action Research (PAR) tools to identify barriers to dignified living and design local, evidence-based solutions.

The panel’s composition is notably inclusive—73% women, 67% from rural areas, 10.5% living with disabilities, 5.5% refugees, and 89% without university degrees, representing voices too often missing from policy tables.

Using focus group discussions conducted in local languages, participants gather insights from marketplaces, farms, and informal settlements, capturing the realities of everyday life at the grassroots level.

One such participant, Alain Nshimiyimana from Rwanda’s Huye District, is leveraging the initiative to combat drug abuse in his community. Equipped with a mobile device and the Kobo Collect App, Alain collects data and leads awareness programs that address substance abuse among youth.

“As someone who struggled with substance abuse, the African Youth Panel initiative came at the right time to give me a voice of impact,” Nshimiyimana said. “With the support I’ve received, I’m now furthering my studies and expanding my community work. I’ve been able to gather voices that are influencing real change in my community and beyond.”

According to Briggs Bomba, Programs Director at TrustAfrica, stories like Alain’s highlight what becomes possible when young people are trusted and supported to lead research.

“Participatory Action Research is democratizing knowledge creation and strengthening youth agency across Africa,” Bomba said. “When young people turn their experiences into evidence, they not only transform their own lives but also help reimagine development from the ground up.”

TrustAfrica’s Director added that this approach is reshaping how communities perceive youth participation across the continent.

“By putting research tools in the hands of young people, we’re unlocking a generation’s potential to drive lasting change. Their lived experiences are providing policymakers and development partners with fresh insight into what dignified living truly means.”

In Malawi, 20 young researchers are conducting similar work, gathering data in 20 districts to identify barriers to dignified work and co-create solutions.

As Africa experiences its most significant demographic shift in history, youth-led research has the potential to redefine how societies build inclusive and sustainable futures. Experts emphasize that this approach should be embedded in national policies and development frameworks.

Empowering young people as researchers is more than a development strategy, it is an investment in Africa’s most valuable resource.

Currently, Participatory Action Research under the African Youth Panel is active in ten countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.