Empowering Youth Researchers: Highlights from the AU-EU Partnership Foundation Training Workshop

From February 17 to 21, 2025, our Consortium Partner, Restless Development, hosted in Uganda a transformative Foundation Training Workshop for youth researchers, a key initiative under the Continental Youth-Led Research Project and within the framework of the AU-EU Youth Lab programme activities. This workshop was critical in equipping young African researchers with the skills to drive youth-led accountability, advocacy, and policy influence within the African Union-European Union (AU-EU) partnership.

The Continental Youth-Led Research Project aimed to prioritize youth voices in knowledge production, ensuring their challenges, needs, and aspirations were well represented in policy discussions. By leading research efforts, young Africans contributed valuable insights that could shape continental advocacy strategies and inform intergenerational dialogue. The training workshop was designed to empower these youth researchers with the expertise to conduct independent research, analyze data, and document best practices. This approach ensured that the findings truly reflected the realities of young people across Africa.

Throughout the five-day activity, participants engaged in intensive sessions focused on strengthening their research skills. They received research design and management training, equipping them with the knowledge needed to create and oversee independent research projects. They also learned how to develop effective reporting systems to ensure their findings accurately captured the experiences and challenges of youth-led initiatives. The workshop provided tools for data analysis and documentation of best practices, enabling young researchers to assess and share successful strategies that could be replicated in different regions. Additionally, the event encouraged collaboration and networking among participants, creating a support system for inclusive and participatory research.

The workshop combined theoretical discussions with practical exercises, ensuring participants gained hands-on experience in different research methodologies. A key focus was setting the research framework helping them define objectives, purpose, and scope. They also practiced designing practical research questions that aligned with youth-led initiatives. Training in data collection methods, including surveys, interviews, and focus groups, allowed them to develop comprehensive approaches to gathering valuable information. By the end of the workshop, participants had developed structured research frameworks, formulated targeted research questions, and prepared data collection plans that would guide their work moving forward. These concrete outputs laid the foundation for evidence-based advocacy, positioning youth researchers as key contributors to policy discussions within the AU-EU framework.

The workshop included thirty-five participants and marked an important step toward youth-driven advocacy and policy engagement by strengthening youth researchers’ capacity. The insights gathered from these research projects will be a powerful tool in shaping youth-focused policies within the AU-EU partnership. This initiative reaffirmed the significance of centering youth leadership in decision-making processes, ensuring that young Africans actively contribute to shaping their future.