Research and Policy Analysis Corner

🌍 SB 64 | Bonn, Germany 🇩🇪

The ongoing UN Climate Change negotiations (SB 64) in Bonn are a critical platform for advancing discussions on adaptation, climate finance, support for communities most vulnerable to climate change, etc. As the primary preparatory meeting ahead of COP31, the outcomes of these negotiations will help shape the agenda, priorities and decisions that countries will take forward to the next Conference of the Parties.

Our Lead, Careen Samatemba, is attending SB 64 as an NGO Observer, engaging with key discussions and gaining insights into the policy processes shaping international climate action. Her participation reflects our commitment to ensuring that young people are not only informed about global policy processes but are also actively represented within them.

At the Youth Research and Policy Analysis Corner, we believe that meaningful youth participation is essential for effective and inclusive climate governance. Young people must have a seat at the table where decisions about their future are being made.

The conversations taking place in Bonn today will help shape the climate policies of tomorrow and youth voices must be part of that journey.

Today, as we commemorate African Freedom Day, we are reminded that freedom is not only political it is also intellectual, cultural, and historical.

To understand where Africa is going, we must first understand where we come from.

History is more than dates, events, and textbooks. History is identity. It is memory. It is the foundation upon which societies build values, governance systems, economies, and visions for the future. When young people understand their histories, cultures, and backgrounds, they become better equipped to understand the inequalities, conflicts, systems, and opportunities shaping the world today.

Many of the realities we experience across Africa from economic structures and borders to governance challenges, cultural shifts, and global perceptions are deeply connected to historical processes. The past continues to echo in our present.

Research continues to show that historical consciousness and cultural identity play a critical role in shaping young people’s sense of belonging, confidence, civic participation, and worldview. A study on youth and historical consciousness found that understanding history helps young people develop identity, social awareness, and a stronger understanding of their place in society. Another longitudinal study on youth identity development showed that cultural and national identification contribute significantly to social belonging and personal development.

This is why African youth must not disconnect from their roots in the pursuit of modernity. Progress does not require abandoning identity. In fact, sustainable progress is strengthened by knowing who we are.

As young Africans, we must:
• Learn our histories beyond colonial narratives.
• Preserve and celebrate our languages and cultures.
• Engage critically with Africa’s past and present.
• Document our stories and experiences for future generations.
• Recognize that understanding history is essential for shaping better policies, stronger institutions, and a more conscious society.

Africa’s freedom journey did not end with independence movements. It continues in classrooms, communities, research spaces, and in the minds of young people who choose to understand, question, and preserve the African story.

A people who understand their history are better positioned to shape their future.

Happy African Freedom Day.
Research and Policy Analysis Corner

The Future is Young. Are We Listening?
By 2030, African youth are projected to make up 42% of the global youth population, according to the United Nations and partners.

Let that sink in.
That means in every 10 young people globally, around 4 could be African.

This is not just a statistic, it is a defining reality that will shape our economies, governance systems and global development agenda and this is why there is urgent need for meaningful youth participation.

Remember, youth participation is not a favor.
It is a strategic investment in our collective future.

Youth Voices in Action: Beyond Tokenism
Young people are invited into rooms but are they really heard?

We’re listening.

As part of our research on meaningful youth participation, we want to hear from YOU.

What does meaningful participation mean to you?

👉 CTA: Comment | share | answer

Youth voices matter everywhere and meaningful youth participation knows no borders

As we celebrate Youth Day, the Research and Policy Analysis Corner wants to honor young people in Zambia and beyond who are working tirelessly to ensure that youth participation is meaningful not symbolic.

We want to highlight the engagement of Careen Samatemba , who recently participated in a panel discussion on youth participation in civil society, government, and beyond at the VENRO offices in Germany. Through her contributions, Careen is actively working to ensure that youth participation is impactful both in Germany and in Zambia, demonstrating how young people’s voices can shape decision-making across borders.

The discussion was part of the Education 2026 Working Group, convened by the Globale Bildungskampagne and the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ). It brought together civil society, political actors, and academics to explore how young people can meaningfully engage in shaping policies and programs.

Careen’s engagement reminds us that meaningful youth participation requires support, resources, and structures that allow young voices, especially from marginalized groups to influence decisions and create real change.

On this Youth Day, we celebrate Careen and all young people showing that youth leadership knows no borders.

Happy Youth Day!