Accra, Ghana – 8 May 2025 – YOTA – Youth Opportunity and Transformation in Africa in partnership with the Ford Foundation, successfully convened a high-level Regional Workshop on the Creation of National Youth Delegates Programmes in West Africa from 6–7 May 2025 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.
The two-day event brought together government representatives working in the climate change and environment sectors from Ghana, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Liberia. These stakeholders joined forces with young leaders and representatives from the Local Conferences of Youth (LCOY) and Youth Task Teams (YTT) drawn from across the region, including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia.
The workshop served as a pivotal moment in advancing institutional frameworks for meaningful youth participation in climate diplomacy, policy, and governance at both national and global levels. Through dynamic sessions, case study presentations, and country-level planning exercises, participants explored best practices from other regions, examined the state of youth representation in West Africa’s climate policy landscape, and designed actionable national roadmaps for establishing or scaling National Youth Delegate Programmes (NYDPs).
Opening remarks were delivered by YOTA and the Ministry of State for Climate Change and Sustainability of Ghana, emphasizing the urgent need for intergenerational equity in climate governance. The Ford Foundation also reaffirmed its support for inclusive and youth-driven climate solutions.
Speaking at the closing session, Eric Saforo, YOTA’s Skills and Innovation Lead, stated, “This gathering has laid a strong foundation for national-level action that will not only elevate youth voices but embed them within climate decision-making processes. The regional energy and commitment displayed here is exactly what Africa needs to drive transformational change.”
The workshop concluded with the presentation of country action plans, peer feedback, and strong commitments from country teams to continue collaboration, institutional engagement, and policy advocacy. Follow-up technical support and accountability mechanisms will be coordinated by YOTA and its regional partners.
This initiative forms part of the broader Africa Youth Partnership (AYP) project to institutionalize youth participation and strengthen the architecture of climate governance across the continent.
