Empowering Youth for Accountability

Africtivistes is a Pan-African network bringing together organisations and agents of change to strengthen democratic values, human rights, and good governance through the use of digital and new technologies. In Benin, Africtivistes CitizenLab strengthens the capacities of young civil society actors, fosters citizen participation, and drives innovative solutions to socio-political challenges.

Discover how Africtivistes CitizenLab empowered young leaders in Benin through training, digital innovation, and advocacy.  

Objectives of the project

• Build the capacity of young civil society actors to address socio-political challenges.
• Create a network of committed actors advocating for participatory democracy.
• Equip youth with the tools to drive innovative solutions and lead impactful advocacy campaigns.
• Promote the “Menu of Possible Commitments” to enhance civic engagement and government accountability.

Highlights

1. Capacity Building

• Trained 15 young activists, journalists, and bloggers in advocacy, multimedia content production, and civic engagement.
• Provided hands-on training for 75 young individuals to lead advocacy campaigns on participatory democracy.

2. Digital Innovation

• Developed an online platform managed by the Citizen Think Tank to address citizen demands.
• Produced multimedia content, including podcasts and videos, on civic engagement and participatory democracy.

3. Advocacy and Outreach

• Trained over 90 African change-makers and engaged them in supporting the Youth Democracy Cohort commitments.
• Organised communication and advocacy campaigns to sensitise the government about adopting the “Menu of Possible Commitments.”

4. Community Impact

• Educated 59 secondary and 50 primary school students on civic engagement through interactive sessions in public schools.
• Published the ACLB Magazine, showcasing the Menu of Possible Commitments and inspiring stories of youth leadership.

5. Media and Publications

• Produced radio podcasts, television segments, and articles in Beninese media to raise awareness of CitizenLab’s mission and activities.
• Published insightful articles and interviews on their website to amplify their impact.

Deliverables

• A team of 15 activists, journalists and bloggers trained on civic engagement and citizen participation, advocacy, writing techniques, and multimedia content production.
• 75 young individuals trained on civic engagement and citizen participation and equipped with knowledge on the Menu of Commitments and advocacy.
• Government sensitised about the Menu of Possible Commitments and adopting certain commitments.
• 25 young Beninese were trained on the content of the Menu of Possible Commitments and on civic engagement and youth participation in public and political debates. They commit to public action.
• Creation of a magazine, ACLB Magazine, which highlights the areas of the Menu of Possible Commitments and promotes young Beninese, examples in their community and at the national level of citizen participation and civic engagement.
• Two “1HAvecACLB” training sessions in two public primary schools in Benin to discuss the Menu of Possible Commitments and raise awareness among the younger generation on the notions of civic engagement and citizen participation.
• 59 secondary school students and 50 primary school students were informed about the content of the Menu of Possible Commitments and made aware of the concepts of citizen participation and civic engagement.
• Radio podcasts, television interventions, articles in Beninese media on the ACLB laboratory, its missions and actions.
• Articles and interviews published on the website.

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