How can young people shape the policies that shape their future?
This question was at the heart of the 6th SADC Youth Forum in Harare last November. Over 300 young leaders from across Southern Africa gathered not only to speak, but to be heard. Their ideas and insights were captured through a simple but powerful digital tool: the Citizen Engagement Platform (CEP).
Imagine a centralized platform that is both African-owned and hosted, specifically designed to empower the African Union (AU) and its agencies to connect directly with citizens. Developed through a collaboration between i4policy, GIZ, and AUDA-NEPAD the CEP is a digital platform designed to support institutions, especially the African Union and its agencies, in engaging directly with citizens. It offers a structured, accessible space to consult communities, gather feedback, and co-create solutions.
Supporting Meaningful Engagement
Across the African Union, the CEP is helping make engagement processes more inclusive and transparent. One of its most active users has been the Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate (WGYD), which is committed to promoting development and meaningful youth participation.
With young people making up most of Africa’s population, their involvement in shaping policies is essential. The Directorate has used the CEP to support this goal; mobilizing youth around key initiatives, making participation easier and more accessible, and ensuring that engagement doesn’t stop at dialogue, but leads to action.
During African Youth Month, the platform was used to facilitate registration for training and workshops. For the launch of the AU Innovation Lab on International Youth Day, the CEP helped gather inputs from young participants through surveys and events. During regional gatherings like the SADC Youth Forum, the platform provided a space for capturing ideas and staying connected after the event.
“Contributing to the 1 Million Next Level Initiative’s youth empowerment goals, CEP has supported WGYD by developing a comprehensive Youth Organization Database. This platform, which has already registered over 1,500 organizations across Africa, will now serve as a central hub to enhance engagement and visibility for these youth innovations.”
— Joshua K. Quaye, Women, Gender & Youth Directorate, African Union Commission
As part of the 1 Million Next Level Initiative, the CEP now hosts a Youth Organization Database, a resource designed to enhance visibility and collaboration across the continent. The organizations listed aren’t just names on a page; they are active participants in shaping the future of governance, policy, and development.
Yesterday marked a monumental moment as we launched the AU Innovation Lab, the first continental policy lab! The lab seeks to fuel the success of the #1mNextLevel Initiative & advance #Agenda2063 through innovation and new approaches. pic.twitter.com/Ou41hC9asj
— African Union Youth Program (@AUYouthProgram) August 20, 2024
A Platform Designed for Co-creation
At its core, the CEP is about creating space for honest, structured dialogue. Institutions can host consultations, collect insights through surveys and polls, review documents with stakeholders, and manage public events, whether in person or online.
These features are by default guided by the ADDIS Framework, a decision-thinking methodology developed by i4Policy and shaped through collaborations in over 80 countries. The framework helps ensure that engagement processes are intentional, inclusive, and rooted in real community input.
Whether it’s used to gather feedback on draft policies, engage youth organizations, or host co-creation workshops, the CEP offers a flexible and evolving set of tools.
Key Priorities
As the platform continues to grow, two key priorities are guiding its next steps.
First, the team behind the CEP is working toward Digital Public Goods (DPG) certification, which would support the platform’s evolution as a trustworthy, open-source solution for public participation. This recognition would also help open doors to new partnerships and long-term support.
Second, there is a growing emphasis on community-led development. The platform is being opened up further for local developers, civic tech communities, and citizens to co-create tools that meet their needs. This collaborative approach helps ensure the CEP remains responsive to the diverse contexts and challenges across the continent.
These efforts reflect a broader transition, from top-down governance to more adaptive, participatory approaches that center the lived realities of the people affected by policy decisions.
Let’s Build Together
The Citizen Engagement Platform is still evolving, and its success depends on the people and institutions who use it. Whether you’re working in government, civil society, technology, or community organizing, we welcome your insights and participation.
If you’re interested in partnering, contributing, or learning more, we’d love to hear from you.
📧 Contact us at: community@i4policy.org
