From 26 to 30 January 2026, Youthmakers Hub joined consortium partners Oxfam, Restless Development, Search for Common Ground, and ComDev Africa in Diani, Kenya, for the Annual Review Meeting of the AU–EU Youth Voices Lab – Power of the Collective programme. Members of the programme’s Youth Advisory Board also participated, making this a pivotal moment in the programme’s journey.

Year 2 of the AU–EU Youth Voices Lab marks a shift from design to delivery. The week-long gathering provided the space needed to reflect on progress and co-design the priorities that will guide Year 3 (2026–2027). Discussions focused on assessing how the programme is advancing youth engagement, advocacy influence, and collaboration across the AU–EU partnership.

Over five days, partners and Youth Advisory Board members collaborated through a mix of structured and interactive sessions. Joint reflection sessions assessed progress, challenges, and emerging opportunities. Co-design working groups developed the Year 3 Workplan, including actions, timelines, and operational procedures. The consortium also finalized its MEAL Framework to ensure alignment on planning, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and adaptation. Team-building activities and cultural exchanges reinforced trust, collective purpose, and connection among participants.

The Youth Advisory Board’s active participation was essential throughout the meeting. Their insights ensured that youth perspectives shaped every discussion and decision, reflecting the programme’s commitment to placing young people at the center of its governance.

For Youthmakers Hub, the meeting was an opportunity to present progress on its core responsibilities within the consortium: leading Communication, Dissemination, and Visibility, developing and improving the AU–EU Youth Voices Lab App, and supporting engagement activities with African Diaspora and European youth. The app, co-created with input from 10,000 young people, continues to serve as the programme’s digital platform for learning, participation, and community building across Africa and Europe.

The Annual Review Meeting generated a set of strategic outputs that will guide the programme into its next phase. These outcomes were made possible through the dedicated collaboration of the full consortium, working side by side with the Youth Advisory Board to ensure that young people remain at the heart of every decision. As the programme enters Year 3, the Diani meeting sets a clear course for the months ahead.