Advancing Youth-centred Digital Ecosystems In Africa In A Post-Covid-19 World
This publication is the first of two to explore the findings and insights from an online global consultation, held in July 2020, exploring young Africans’ use of digital technologies in different areas in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. More specifically, this paper discusses the topics of the first day of the consultation, when participants delved into youth activism and community engagement, and questioned which digital skills are needed for youth to meaningfully engage in shaping our digital societies.
Evidence across the globe has shown that the impact of Covid-19 on youth (aged 15–24 years old) lives and livelihoods has been profound and multidimensional (UNFPA, 2020b), ranging from constrained access to education and employment, adverse effects on mental health and the increased spread of misinformation and online polarisation. The use of digital technologies, including social media platforms, has accelerated, making a simple smartphone a new tool of empowerment; yet, over 70% of Africa’s youth is offline (AU, 2020).
Across the African continent, 80% of youth (aged 15–35 years) consider Wi-Fi as a fundamental human right (Ichikowitz Family Foundation, 2020). While the situation varies across African countries, a large proportion of of young people live in rural (IFAD, 2019) and hard-to-reach areas with no access to electricity. Therefore, narratives that praise technology as a solution to youth challenges do not hold true for everyone.
The global pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities, deepened young people’s intersecting vulnerabilities, such as for young women (Plan International, 2020a; Mpungose, 2020), young people with disabilities (Emirie et al., 2020; UNFPA, 2020a), youth migrants and LGBT youth (Ghoshal, 2020). New disparities have also emerged, making youth the biggest losers of the Covid-19 crisis. This is particularly the case for urban youth, who were highly reliant on the informal economy before lockdown measures were imposed (Amdeselassie et al., 2020a; Amdeselassie et al., 2020b; Chirisa et al., 2020).
Consequently, the pandemic has revealed the need to develop resilient and sustainable systems and economies that leverage digital technologies as a tool for youth empowerment. Despite these challenges, youth have been a positive force in their communities, and are leading the way in the Covid-19 response (OSAA, 2020; Pinet et al., 2020a).
Africa’s current generation of youth is characterised by its energy, determination and acquaintance with digital technologies. They are better placed to shape their continent’s transformation than generations of African youth before them (UNECA, 2014). However, without a conducive environment that includes skills building, young people will be unable to take full advantage of the opportunities the digital ecosystem has to offer in their region and beyond.
Digital technologies have the potential to make up for the major development setbacks caused by Covid-19, but programmes, interventions and digital development must be youth-inclusive to be both effective and sustainable.
The findings and analysis of this briefing paper are based on insights from an online global consultation held on 14 July 2020 on Platform4Dialogue. Over 130 participants contributed to series of online, text‑based discussions, exploring young Africans’ use of digital technologies in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. They delved into youth activism and community engagement and questioned which digital skills are needed for youth to meaningfully engage in shaping our digital societies. Participants were selected via purposive sampling, considering the basis of their experience working with youth and digital technologies or by virtue of being young people themselves.
Key findings
Covid-19 has had multidimensional impacts on young people’s lives and livelihoods. Digital technologies have enabled them to respond to these challenges through youth-led activism and community engagement. However, access, awareness and the quality of skills-building opportunities are unequal.
This paper looks at the multifaceted barriers driving the youth digital divide in Africa. Youth are subject to a double disadvantage: unequal or inadequate infrastructure and affordability. Poor infrastructure restricts youth access to the internet and affordability limits access to devices and data. These limitations restrict young people’s internet exposure, which they need to acquire basic digital skills. Greater investments and incentives to telecoms and the private sector are needed to provide opportunities for change.
Digital-enabled interventions and programmes aimed to equip youth with 21st-century skills should consider designs grounded in creative and participatory approaches, be tailored to young people’s local contexts, reflect their lived experiences and aspirations, and go beyond short-term outcomes. Special attention should be paid to vulnerable groups including young women, young people with disabilities, youth migrants and LGBT youth and their intersecting vulnerabilities and needs.
The Youth Café has cross-published this report in partnership with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
The Youth Café works with young men and women around Africa as a trailblazer in advancing youth-led approaches toward achieving sustainable development, social equity, innovative solutions, community resilience and transformative change. As a thought leader, The Youth Café has published 2000+ reports, and briefs, including hundreds of peer-reviewed publications on positive youth development.
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