EU Youth Sounding Board Kenya Charts a Course for 2025: A Deep Dive into Strategic Planning and Youth Engagement
The European Union Youth Sounding Board (EU YSB) Kenya recently concluded a pivotal three-day planning meeting, setting the stage for a year of impactful youth engagement and advocacy. Held from February 18th –20th 2025, this strategic gathering brought together the EU – YSB members, EU representatives, and META Consortium partners to co-create their 2025 Annual Work Plan, peer learning, and delve into other EU-funded projects.
The meeting was a dynamic blend of in-depth presentations, interactive learning sessions, and group discussions, all aimed at empowering Kenyan youth to actively shape their future.
The first day kicked off with introductions and a “Speed Catch-Up” session, fostering connections among YSB members. Project presentations took center stage, with detailed overviews of “Sikiliza Sauti Yetu, Dunia Inaita!” and “Sheria ya Vijana.” These projects, focusing on climate action, youth participation in governance, and empowering youth in the green and digital transitions, respectively, highlighted the EU’s commitment to youth development in Kenya.
Michael Asudi from the Organization of African Youth (OAY) outlined exciting avenues for synergy between the EU YSB and these initiatives, including participation in climate advisory committees, joint campaign development, and engagement in youth forums and parliamentary simulations. A comprehensive matrix detailing these opportunities was developed, providing a clear roadmap for collaboration.
Learning sessions on disability inclusion, program monitoring, evaluation and learning, and strategic communication equipped YSB members with essential knowledge and skills. Wilson Kamau, a YSB member led a session on understanding disability inclusion, emphasizing the importance of inclusion and respectful etiquette. Barbara Alot from the EU Delegation to Kenya provided insights into Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks and strategic communication, highlighting the need for data-driven approaches and compelling storytelling.
Day two focused on defining the YSB’s mandate and setting strategic priorities. Jamila Sambuli from SDGs Kenya Forum provided context on the YSB’s role within the youth engagement ecosystem.
Esther Nyawira from FEMNET facilitated a session on setting SMART goals for 2025. The YSB members identified priority areas, including policy dialogue facilitation, cross-advisory boards collaboration, capacity strengthening, evidence generation on youth issues, intersectional youth representation, resource mobilization for youth initiatives, and accountability frameworks. The session culminated in a refined 2025 workplan.
A significant highlight was the session held at the EU Delegation, featuring discussions with EU Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Henriette Geiger. Topics ranged from governance issues to youth perceptions of EU relations in Kenya.
The final day focused on finalizing the YSB Annual Work Plan. Key agreements included thematic division of activities, capacity strengthening, strategic meeting schedules, field monitoring visits, and collaboration with other youth advisory boards.
A peer-to-peer learning session featuring experienced advisory group members provided valuable insights into successful strategies and challenges. The importance of mentorship, structured government engagement, and community outreach was emphasized.
Mercy Chelangat, a YSB member facilitated a session on wellness, highlighting the importance of self-care and resilience for human rights advocates. The meeting concluded with reflections on individual commitments and a framework for mutual accountability.
Many thanks to all members of the YSB who made this planning meeting a success.
