EMPOWER+ – EMPOWERING RURAL YOUTH: ESTABLISHING AND STRENGTHENING
THE RURAL YOUTH PARLIAMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
ERASMUS-YOUTH-2025-CB-SSA Project Number: 101243075
Introduction:
The EMPOWER+ Project is a youth-focused Erasmus+ Capacity Building initiative designed to empower rural youth by establishing and strengthening the Rural Youth Parliament (RYP) across Sub-Saharan Africa through strategic EU-Africa partnerships, non-formal learning, mobility, and policy dialogue within 24 months (2026-2027).
This project aims to enhance youth participation in democratic processes through these participatory structures. The primary targets of this project are disadvantaged young people, youth leaders and youth organizations in rural communities who will gain the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to actively engage in local governance, contribute to sustainable rural development, and promote civic engagement and inclusion.
EMPOWER+ represents the first Capacity Building initiative for A Rocca / EProject Consult which is implemented in Nigeria by the System Strategy and Policy Labs (SSPL) as a member of the EMPOWER + Consortium. This marks a significant milestone in our mission to foster international cooperation and empower youth through education, innovation, and community participation.
Key Objectives:
The main goals of EMPOWER+ are:
• To promote active youth participation in democratic and community life.
• To transfer European best practices on youth engagement and policy dialogue to Sub-Saharan contexts.
• To build the capacities of local youth organizations in Africa, strengthening their ability to support youth-led initiatives.
• To create sustainable platforms for dialogue between young people, local authorities, and communities through Rural Youth Parliaments.
To foster inclusion, digital literacy, and green awareness among rural youth.
Empower+ Kick-off Meeting Shoots
Key Partners:
The EMPOWER+ is implemented by a consortium which strategically brings together eight (8) organizations from six (6) countries across Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa listed below:
Coordinator:
• GAL Napoca Porolissum (Romania)
Partners:
• CONNECTUS M.IKE (Greece)
• Associazione Artistica Culturale A Rocca (Italy)
• Union Nationale des Maisons Familiales Rurales de Madagascar (Madagascar)
• Fédération des Maisons Familiales Rurales de Maurice et Rodrigues (Mauritius)
• System Strategy and Policy Lab (Nigeria)
• Tlokweng District Council (Botswana)
• Joint Minds Consult (Botswana)
• Centres D’Entrainement Aux Methodes D’Education Active De Madagascar – CEMEA (Madagascar)
Epected Impact:
By the end of the project, EMPOWER+ aims to:
• Establish Rural Youth Parliaments in at least three African countries.
• Strengthen EU-Africa cooperation on youth participation and mobility.
• Empower over 100 young people and youth workers with leadership, advocacy, and digital skills.
• Create lasting frameworks for youth-led community development and inclusive decision-making.
Project Funding:
EMPOWER+ is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union under the call; ERASMUS-YOUTH-2025-CB-SSA – Capacity Building in the field of Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Do you have a Governance Evidence to Report?