Harambee Participates in Kenya Pan-African. Harambee recently participated in a major Pan-African Youth Programming Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, reaffirming its commitment to improving youth employment, education, and skills development across Africa. The summit brought together policymakers, researchers, development organizations, and youth leaders to discuss innovative ways of empowering young people and ensuring their voices shape future development initiatives.
This event highlighted the importance of collaboration between African countries to address youth unemployment and create more inclusive opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and meaningful employment.
Harambee Participates in Kenya Youth Programming Summit
Harambee took part in the Youth Shaping Africa’s Present and Future: Insights from Youth Programming Across the Continent Summit, a continental event focused on strengthening youth programming and ensuring young people actively contribute to decisions that affect their future.
The summit encouraged governments, non-profit organizations, researchers, and youth advocates to work together in designing programmes that respond to the real needs of Africa’s growing youth population.
About Harambee
Harambee is a South African organization dedicated to reducing youth unemployment by connecting young people with education, skills development, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship pathways.
Through research, partnerships, and innovative employment solutions, Harambee works with businesses, government agencies, and development organizations to create sustainable career opportunities for unemployed youth.
Its mission is to help young people transition successfully into the world of work while strengthening South Africa’s labour market.
What Was the Pan-African Youth Programming Summit?
The Youth Shaping Africa’s Present and Future Summit brought together experts and organizations from across Africa to exchange knowledge, research findings, and best practices related to youth development.
The event was organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Participants explored innovative strategies for improving youth-focused programmes and creating stronger systems that support education, employment, leadership, and social development.
When and Where Was the Summit Held?
The summit took place from 14 July to 17 July 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Over four days, delegates from various African countries participated in discussions, workshops, and collaborative sessions aimed at improving youth development across the continent.
Harambee Role at the Summit
Harambee was represented by Victoria Duncan, the organization’s Head of Research.
She participated in discussions that examined how youth programmes can become more inclusive, responsive, and effective by involving young people directly in planning and decision-making processes.
Her participation reflected Harambee’s ongoing commitment to evidence-based research and collaborative solutions for youth employment.
Key Themes Discussed
Several important topics were explored throughout the summit.
Strengthening Youth Programming
Participants discussed ways to improve youth programmes so they better address education, employment, and entrepreneurship challenges facing African youth.
Youth Participation in Decision-Making
Delegates emphasized that young people should not simply participate in programmes but should also influence policies, programme design, and implementation.
Futures and Systems Thinking
Experts explored how governments and organizations can use long-term planning approaches to develop sustainable youth employment strategies.
Policy and Funding
The summit examined how improved funding models and stronger public policies can support successful youth development programmes across Africa.
Knowledge Sharing
Organizations shared successful projects, research findings, and practical experiences that could be adapted in different African countries.
Why Youth Participation Matters
One of the summit’s strongest messages was that effective youth programmes should be created with young people rather than for young people.
When youth actively contribute to planning and decision-making, programmes are more likely to:
- Address real community challenges.
- Improve employment outcomes.
- Increase programme participation.
- Build leadership skills.
- Promote innovation.
- Strengthen social inclusion.
Meaningful youth engagement creates solutions that better reflect the lived experiences of young Africans.
Victoria Duncan Reflections
Following the summit, Victoria Duncan described the experience as an important opportunity for learning and collaboration.
She noted that interacting with participants from different African countries highlighted both the common challenges facing youth and the unique circumstances within South Africa.
According to Duncan, sharing experiences across borders helps organizations improve their own programmes while learning from successful initiatives implemented elsewhere on the continent.
Importance of Continental Collaboration
Youth unemployment remains one of Africa’s biggest development challenges.
The summit demonstrated that organizations across the continent can achieve greater impact by working together through:
- Research collaboration
- Policy development
- Knowledge sharing
- Skills development
- Employment partnerships
- Innovation networks
By learning from one another, African countries can create stronger systems that support young people’s long-term success.
Harambee Commitment to Youth Employment
Harambee believes that solving youth unemployment requires collaboration between governments, employers, educational institutions, researchers, and young people themselves.
The organization continues to invest in programmes that:
- Connect youth with employment opportunities.
- Improve workplace readiness.
- Support entrepreneurship.
- Expand access to skills training.
- Strengthen partnerships across Africa.
- Promote inclusive economic growth.
Its participation in the Nairobi summit reinforces its dedication to building better employment systems for Africa’s future workforce.
Benefits of the Summit
Participating organizations gained several important benefits from the event.
These included:
- Cross-country knowledge sharing.
- Stronger regional partnerships.
- Exposure to innovative youth development models.
- Research collaboration opportunities.
- Improved understanding of youth employment challenges.
- New ideas for programme design and implementation.
Such collaborations contribute to more effective youth policies and long-term economic development across Africa.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Harambee?
Harambee is a South African organization that helps young people access education, skills development, and employment opportunities while working to reduce youth unemployment.
Where was the Youth Programming Summit held?
The summit was held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 to 17 July 2026.
Who represented Harambee at the summit?
Harambee was represented by Victoria Duncan, the organization’s Head of Research.
What was the main purpose of the summit?
The summit focused on improving youth programming across Africa by encouraging collaboration, research, policy innovation, and meaningful youth participation.
Why is youth participation important?
Involving young people in planning and decision-making helps ensure that programmes address their real needs and create better education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Who organized the summit?
The event was convened by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Conclusion
Harambee’s participation in the Pan-African Youth Programming Summit in Nairobi demonstrates its ongoing commitment to advancing youth employment and development across Africa. By collaborating with organizations, researchers, and policymakers from different countries, Harambee continues to promote innovative solutions that empower young people and strengthen employment systems. The summit reinforced the importance of youth-led decision-making, regional partnerships, and sustainable development strategies that will help shape Africa’s future for generations to come.
