CLEAR-FA Holds Event at gLOCAL 2023 On Challenges and Opportunities of Involving Youth in Policy Evaluations in Africa

According to data from the Population Division of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, nearly 80% of Africa's population is under the age of 35. The role of young people in the development and the future of the continent is therefore crucial. Indeed, with a young and dynamic population, Africa has enormous potential for innovation, economic growth, and social transformation. Young Africans also represent a source of energy and creativity, capable of changing the course of history.

In light of this and as part of gLOCAL Evaluation Week 2023, GEI Implementing Partner, the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Francophone Africa (CLEAR-FA) organized an online panel discussion focusing on the challenges and opportunities of involving children and youth in policy evaluations in Africa.

The panel was an opportunity to discuss the involvement of youth in evaluations, which can take place at various levels, ranging from so-called "about youth" evaluations to "by youth" evaluations. The panel sought to open up discussions on the subject and to promote the exchange and sharing of experiences. The panel also provided an opportunity to discuss skills, competencies, techniques, and strategies for successfully engaging children, adolescents, and young people in evaluation processes.

Summary of Discussion:

Several factors need to be considered by both sponsors and evaluators in order to achieve greater involvement of young people. One of these methods, Photo Voice, was presented at the panel. This is a qualitative approach to data collection based on the use of photography and text. Participants were able to discover this tool from the preparation of the data collection to the analysis and exploitation of the results. In addition, discussions during the panel focused on conducting participatory evaluations with youth in fragile contexts, through case studies of evaluations carried out in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria.

In short, this panel raised the need to involve children and youth in evaluations, the challenges involved, and the opportunities presented to the various stakeholders.

Photo courtesy of Grant Ellis/World Bank Flickr