CIVICUS Youth

CIVICUS Youth connects young changemakers, fosters meaningful youth inclusion, and gives them tools to grow as civil society innovators

Working with youth is required now more than ever. Youth in civil society face multiple obstacles in carrying out their work. An overwhelming portion of the funds available for development and activism in the Global South goes to long-established, Northern organisations. A majority of the youth-led organisations operate with limited funding, with 49% operating under USD 5,000 annually and only 11% over USD 100,000.¹

In addition to resourcing challenges, young activists are often seen as less credible than their older peers due to lack of experience and informal organising. CIVICUS Youth provides them a platform and the tools to be effective changemakers. We believe that a new narrative, where the youth is at the center and well supported, is possible.

CIVICUS Youth is a committed and diverse community making up 30% of CIVICUS Alliance, based in +150 countries, who collaborate, learn from each other, and strengthen youth action in civil society.

Strengthening the networks and the power of young people to organise, mobilise and take action.

Fostering safe and sustainable youth activism by promoting public dialogues on civil society restrictions,challenges and space for innovation.

Ensuring civil society is accessible, inclusive and accountable to youth, especially those who are consistently excluded from decision-making spaces.

1. UNOY Peacebuilders and SFCG (2017), Mapping a Sector: Bridging the Evidence Gap on Youth-Driven Peacebuilding, The Hague.

Youth Action Lab

Hub for testing new ways of working within civil society.

Goalkeepers Youth Action Accelerator

Using data to address the SDGs 1 - 6.

Youth Ambassador Programme

Global network of youth activists creating opportunities of peer-learning, exchange and collaboration.

Global Perspectives Lab

Co-creation space for youth activists' dialogues.

2019 Youth Assembly Belgrade, Serbia

2017 Youth Assembly Suva, Fiji

2016 Youth Assembly Bogotá, Colombia

2014 Rustlers Valley Youth Retreat, South Africa

2012 A New Social Contract Montreal, Canada

2007 Youth Assembly Glasgow, Scotland

Practical tools to take your youth activism to the next level

Here's what CIVICUS youth members want you to know

How youth-led initiatives practice constituent accountability

Dialogue to Protect Young People in CIVIC Space

Best practices in youth engagement in intergovernmental organisations

Youth unemployment in Sub-Saharan Africa is cancerous

Young people need to get informed

Youth Day 2018 Creative Symposium

Youth at the Forefront of Sustainability

Standing Up Against Gender-based Violence

Thoughts on youth participation in the post 2015 Agenda

CIVICUS Youth is all about collaboration, inspiration, and information-sharing. We work with people who can contribute their individual energies and perspectives, and we want your opinions and big ideas to make civil society stronger. Share your insights on meaningful youth inclusion in the CIVICUS Youth United! Facebook group.