DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Elections and Governance Program

THE CHALLENGE

Youth Participation Gap

Africa’s youth hold significant potential to shape leadership across the continent, yet their participation in governance remains limited. This gap continues to affect leadership outcomes and public accountability.

PROGRAM RESPONSE

Advancing Youth Participation

The Elections and Governance Program provides a platform for young Africans to deliberate, debate, and engage on democracy, civic education, governance, and socio-economic challenges. It promotes meaningful youth participation in political and electoral processes, strengthening leadership choices and democratic accountability across Africa

By harnessing young people’s demographic influence, the Elections and Governance Program empowers youth to shape their vision for Africa. Given their numbers, young people can influence electoral outcomes and candidate quality. MINDS inspires active participation in elections and builds understanding of the causal relationship between governance and accountability.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE

Key Focus Areas

This programme supports active youth engagement in elections and governance through:

  • Capacity-building dialogues and Civic education.
  • Civic education
  • Platforms for intergenerational exchange.

IMPLEMENTATION

Program Activities

Youth participation in elections

Leadership awareness and accountability

Civic and political engagement

Digital and social mobilisation

Democratic values and good governance

THE IMPACT

490 Alumni Across Africa

2013

Annual Youth Dialogues

Accra, Ghana

2014

Youth Dialogues

Kigali, Rwanda

2014

Southern Africa Civic
Education Workshop

Johannesburg, South Africa

2015

North & East Africa Civic
Education Workshop

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2015

West Africa Civic
Education Workshop

Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

2015

Annual Youth Dialogue

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

2016

North & West Africa Civic
Education Workshop

Dakar, Senegal

2016

Southern & East Africa Civic
Education Workshop

Gaborone, Botswana

2017

Africa Train the Facilitator

Kigali, Rwanda

2018

Southern Africa Civic
Education Workshop

Johannesburg, South Africa

VOICES FROM OUR PROGRAM

What our alumni say

MINDS has shaped my understanding of belonging and purpose within our communities. It has shown me that true impact comes from contributing to the growth and prosperity of our own continent

Leila Kadouri

elections and governance program

We are no longer beggars of the world. We are the descendants of a great civilization.

Emna Chebbi

elections and governance program

Before MINDS, I mostly thought of leadership within the context of my own country. But through the program, I gained a deeper understanding of Africa’s interconnected challenges—and more importantly, its shared potential.

KIJANA BADIBANA PRINCE

elections and governance program

Being selected as a Mandela Centennial Scholar in 2018 to study at African Leadership University was a defining moment in my life. It expanded my horizon beyond my home country, allowing me to truly understand what it means to walk in the path of Madiba.

Mahalinoro Razafimanjato

elections and governance program

Joining , MINDS refined my approach from passionate advocacy to results-oriented political engagement. It provided the continental lens to view local challenges (like youth unemployment) as pan-African issues, requiring regional policy understanding.

Mariama Saine

elections and governance program

The MINDS Youth Dialogue gave me the chance to meet and connect with inspiring young people from all over Africa. It made me want to step up and support youth initiatives in my own country with the same passion and determination.

Mariama Saine

elections and governance program

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