The Women and Youth in Democracy Civic Engagement (WYDE) initiative, funded by the European Union, strives to enhance the participation, empowerment, and inclusion of women and youth in democratic processes globally. With a focus on fostering active citizenship and strengthening democratic institutions, the sub-programme WYDE Civic Participation led by the European Partnership for Democracy and its member organisations aims to create opportunities for meaningful engagement and advocacy at national, regional, and global levels.
WYDE Cluster 2 – Youth AHEAD (Action for Holistic Electoral Approach for Democracy): Led by EPD-member Democracy Reporting International (DRI) and supported by a consortium of partners, including EPD-members EDGE, Election Watch EU, and European Exchange, WYDE Cluster 2 is one of five thematic clusters of WYDE Civic Participation and focuses on empowering youth to actively participate in electoral processes and democratic accountability efforts. Through initiatives such as domestic election observation, advocacy for electoral reform, and capacity-building activities, Youth AHEAD aims to equip young people with the necessary skills and knowledge to advocate for inclusive and transparent democratic governance. By engaging youth-led civil society organizations and fostering collaboration with local and regional stakeholders, Cluster 2 seeks to amplify youth voices and promote a culture of democratic engagement across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.