Executive Summary
Young people constitute the largest generation in history and are at the forefront of addressing some of the world’s most pressing global challenges, including climate change, social inequality, unemployment, civic disengagement, and digital transformation. Despite their potential, youth voices often remain underrepresented in decision-making processes at local, national, and global levels.
This proposal seeks funding to implement a Youth Voices and Leadership for Global Impact (YVL-GI) initiative designed to empower young people aged 15–30 with leadership skills, platforms for civic engagement, and opportunities to actively participate in shaping policies and solutions addressing global challenges. The project will strengthen youth-led advocacy, enhance leadership capacity, promote inclusive participation, and foster cross-sector collaboration.
Through training, mentorship, policy dialogues, community action projects, and digital engagement, the initiative will equip youth—especially women, marginalized groups, and rural youth—with the tools and confidence needed to become change-makers in their communities. The project will be implemented over 24 months and directly benefit 3,000 young people, while indirectly reaching over 50,000 community members.
Problem Statement
Global challenges such as climate change, economic inequality, conflict, public health crises, and technological disruption disproportionately affect young people. Yet, youth are often excluded from policy formulation, governance structures, and development planning. This disconnect results in solutions that fail to reflect youth perspectives and lived experiences.
Key challenges include:
- Limited access to leadership and civic education opportunities
- Insufficient platforms for youth participation in governance and policymaking
- Lack of mentorship and institutional support for youth-led initiatives
- Marginalization of young women, refugees, persons with disabilities, and rural youth
- Weak linkage between youth innovation and policy influence
Without deliberate investment in youth leadership, societies risk missing innovative, inclusive, and sustainable solutions to global challenges. Empowering youth as leaders is not optional—it is essential for long-term global stability and development.
Project Goal and Objectives
Overall Goal
To amplify youth voices and strengthen youth leadership in addressing global challenges through inclusive participation, capacity building, and policy engagement.
Specific Objectives
- To build leadership, advocacy, and problem-solving skills among young people.
- To create inclusive platforms for youth participation in decision-making processes.
- To support youth-led community action projects addressing local manifestations of global challenges.
- To strengthen collaboration between youth, civil society, governments, and the private sector.
- To promote gender equality and inclusion in youth leadership initiatives.
Target Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
- Youth aged 15–30, including:
- Young women and girls
- Youth from marginalized and underserved communities
- Youth with disabilities
- Refugees and internally displaced youth
Secondary Beneficiaries
- Community members benefiting from youth-led initiatives
- Local governments and institutions engaging with youth perspectives
- Civil society organizations working on youth development
Project Activities and Methodology
- Activity 1: Youth Leadership and Advocacy Training
- Activity 2: Youth Mentorship and Coaching Program
- Pairing youth participants with experienced mentors
- Regular coaching sessions focusing on leadership development and project implementation
- Peer-to-peer learning exchanges
- Activity 3: Youth Policy Dialogues and Forums
- Local and national youth forums engaging policymakers
- Youth-led discussions on global challenges and policy solutions
- Development of youth policy briefs and recommendations
- Activity 4: Youth-Led Community Action Grants
- Small grants awarded to youth groups to implement community projects
- Focus areas: climate action, social inclusion, education, public health, digital innovation
- Technical support provided throughout project implementation
- Activity 5: Digital Engagement and Storytelling
- Online platform showcasing youth stories, solutions, and advocacy campaigns
- Social media campaigns to amplify youth voices
- Virtual dialogues and global youth exchanges
Expected Results and Outcomes
Outputs
- 3,000 youth trained in leadership and advocacy
- 100 youth-led community projects implemented
- 20 youth policy dialogues conducted
- 50 mentorship pairs established
- 1 digital platform for youth engagement launched
Outcomes
- Increased youth participation in governance and decision-making
- Enhanced leadership confidence and civic skills among youth
- Stronger youth-government and youth-civil society collaboration
- Tangible community-level solutions to global challenges
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL)
The project will adopt a results-based MEL framework, including:
- Baseline and endline surveys
- Regular progress reports and activity tracking
- Qualitative interviews and case studies
- Youth-led reflection sessions and learning workshops
Data collected will inform adaptive management and ensure accountability to stakeholders and donors.
Sustainability and Exit Strategy
Sustainability will be ensured through:
- Building local youth leadership structures and networks
- Strengthening partnerships with institutions and policymakers
- Integrating youth platforms into existing governance mechanisms
- Supporting youth organizations to access future funding
Youth leaders trained through the project will continue to serve as mentors and advocates beyond the project period.
Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
The project will apply a gender-responsive and inclusive approach by:
- Ensuring at least 50% participation of young women
- Providing accessible formats for youth with disabilities
- Prioritizing marginalized and underrepresented groups
- Promoting safe and inclusive spaces for youth expression
Budget Summary (Indicative)
- Training & Capacity Building – XXXXXX
- Mentorship & Coaching – XXXXX
- Youth Action Grants – XXXXXX
- Digital Platform & Communications – XXXXX
- Project Management & Administration – XXXXX
- Total – XXXXXX
Conclusion
Investing in youth leadership is an investment in a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future. By empowering young people with skills, platforms, and opportunities to lead, this project will ensure that youth are not only beneficiaries of development but active drivers of global solutions. The Youth Voices and Leadership in Addressing Global Challenges initiative represents a strategic, scalable, and impactful approach to building the next generation of leaders.
