YouthConnekt Africa's Youth Advisory Council

YouthConnekt Africa (YCA) is a pan-African initiative dedicated to empowering young people across the continent. To strengthen its governance, enhance its legitimacy, and ensure its strategies and programs are youth-centric and impactful, YCA is establishing a Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This council will serve as an essential, independent voice, providing strategic advice and authentic youth perspectives directly to YCA's leadership.

📖 About YouthConnekt Africa's Youth Advisory Council

The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) aims to provide strategic advice, diverse youth perspectives, and relevant insights to the YCA Secretariat, represented by the Executive Director. This initiative will strengthen YCA's policies, programs, and overall impact across its 37 member countries. The YAC ensures that YCA's work remains relevant, responsive, and representative of the diverse needs and aspirations of African youth.

Roles and Responsibilities of the YAC

The YAC will fulfill its mandate through the following key roles and responsibilities:

• Strategic Guidance:

  • Offer youth perspectives on YCA’s roadmap and long-term vision.
  • Advise on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities affecting African youth, including socio-economic, political, technological, and environmental shifts.

• Program and Policy Input:

  • Review and provide constructive feedback on YCA programs, initiatives, and policy briefs.
  • Identify gaps or areas for improvement in existing YCA interventions from a youth lens.

• Advocacy and Representation:

  • Serve as official youth ambassadors for YCA, promoting its mission and advocating for youth empowerment priorities at national, regional, and international forums.
  • Bring forward specific youth concerns and recommendations from their respective countries or regions to YCA leadership.

• Accountability and Transparency:

  • Provide independent feedback on the perceived effectiveness, reach, and impact of YCA’s work.
  • Contribute to fostering a culture of transparency and continuous learning within YCA regarding youth engagement.

• Innovation and Partnerships:

  • Generate fresh ideas and creative approaches to address youth development challenges in Africa.
  • Support YCA in identifying potential new partnerships and collaborations with youth-led organizations, private sector entities, and other stakeholders.

• Mobilization and Engagement:

  • Support the mobilization of young people for YCA initiatives, campaigns, and events within their networks and countries.
  • Facilitate broader youth participation and consultation in YCA activities.

Note: The YAC serves strictly in an advisory capacity, offering valuable recommendations and insights. It does not carry executive or fiduciary responsibilities; final decision-making authority remains with the YCA Executive Director and the YCA Co-Chairs.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Composition and Membership

• Size: The YAC will consist of 10 members, ensuring broad representation while maintaining an effective working size.
• Representation:
  • Geographic Spread: Balanced representation across YCA’s five sub-regions of Africa (North, South, East, West, Central) and from a significant number of member countries.
  • Gender Balance: A minimum of 50% female representation.
  • Thematic Diversity: Members with experience and interest across YCA’s key pillars (e.g., entrepreneurship, civic engagement, climate action, trade policy, health, education, peace and security).
  • Inclusivity: Active efforts will be made to include youth from marginalized groups, including persons with disabilities, rural youth, indigenous youth, and internally displaced persons.
  • Age Diversity: Members will represent a range within the defined age bracket.

🎁 Benefits of YouthConnekt Africa's Youth Advisory Council

YCA commits to providing necessary administrative, logistical, and technical support to the YAC, including:

• Access to virtual meeting platforms.
• Relevant documents.
• Capacity-building opportunities.

✅ Requirements for Membership

To be eligible for the Youth Advisory Council, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Age: Members must be between 23 and 35 years old at the time of appointment.
• Nationality/Residency: Members must be citizens or permanent residents of a YCA member country.
• Language: Members should be proficient in at least one of YCA’s working languages (English or French).
• Term Limits: Each member shall serve a term of two (2) years, renewable once for a maximum of four (4) years, to ensure both continuity and fresh perspectives.

📅 Application Date and Process

Selection Process:

Members will be selected through a transparent and merit-based application process. Candidates must be recommended by reputable institutions or recognized individuals within the youth development sector. Recommendations should include:

1. Candidate’s name and contact information (email, phone, LinkedIn, etc.).
2. A brief statement of support.

Recommendations must be submitted to info@youthconnektafrica.org by August 28, 2025, at 5 PM CAT. The selection process will be overseen by a diverse YCA-appointed selection committee, as outlined in YCA’s YAC Establishment Guidelines.

Note: Each institution (partners and ministries) can recommend a maximum of three (3) people ONLY.

📌 Application Deadline

August 28, 2025

📧 Contact Information

For inquiries regarding the application process, please contact:

• Email: info@youthconnektafrica.org

🌟 Sponsor Organization

YouthConnekt Africa

• YCA commits to providing necessary administrative, logistical, and technical support to the YAC.
• Access to virtual meeting platforms.
• Relevant documents and capacity-building opportunities.