The UK Department for International Development (DFID) has recently launched Youth Participation in Development: A Guide for Development Agencies and Policy Makers. The guide aims to show how young people can contribute to development in four areas: organisational development, policy and planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation. It draws together case studies, resources and practical ‘how to’ guidance from around the world.

As the fastest-growing region in the world, sub-Saharan Africa is confronting many of the greatest global health and development challenges. With a population of more than 840 million, and growing at the rate of 2.4 percent per year, sub-Saharan Africa will double in size in just 30 years. It is widely accepted that the future of sub-Saharan Africa rests to a great extent on the investments made in the education, health, and employment opportunities of its youth, and on how successfully its youth transition to a healthy and productive adulthood.