Forum participants pose for a photos
Background
The Youth Café, in partnership with four esteemed organizations—Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA), Committee Action for Health and Development (CAHED), Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) and Afrobarometer—convened the Global Democracy Coalition (GDC) Africa Forum 2025 on March 28, 2025, at Daystar University, Nairobi. This high-level forum brought together key stakeholders, including civil society organizations (CSOs), policymakers, youth movements and democracy advocates, from 14 African countries, to address pressing challenges at the intersection of democratic governance, human rights, and environmental justice.
Under the theme "Advancing Democratic Resilience at the Intersection of Human Rights and Environmental Justice," the forum provided a platform for critical discussions on corruption, electoral integrity, youth engagement, and climate governance. The deliberations underscored the urgency of combating corruption as a catalyst for democratic renewal and environmental resilience, highlighting systemic governance failures, barriers to youth participation, and the role of campaign financing in perpetuating political corruption.
The Youth Cafe staff at the Forum
The 1-day forum was designed to be a hybrid event, offering in-person and virtual participation options. The physical event was hosted at Daystar University, Nairobi Kenya, providing an opportunity for direct engagement and collaboration. The hybrid format enabled the inclusion of a broader audience, reaching participants regionally.
This report captures key discussions, insights, and recommendations from the forum, providing a roadmap for actionable reforms to strengthen democratic institutions, enhance accountability, and drive inclusive environmental governance across Africa.
STRUCTURE OF ACTIVITIES
The GDC Africa Forum 2025, held on March 28, 2025, at Daystar University, Nairobi, brought together civil society leaders, policymakers, youth advocates, and democracy champions to explore the intersection of democracy, human rights, and environmental justice. The forum was structured into keynote speeches, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and interactive sessions, fostering a high-level, solution-driven dialogue.
Forum speaker in action.
The forum began with welcome remarks from The Youth Café and its partners, emphasizing the urgent need to address corruption, youth exclusion, and environmental injustices in Africa’s governance landscape. Keynote speakers provided insights on strengthening democratic institutions, advancing human rights, and promoting environmental justice, setting the tone for the discussions ahead.
The first high-level panel discussion examined how corruption undermines democracy and weakens environmental resilience. Speakers highlighted the links between governance failures, climate inaction, and human rights violations, calling for stronger accountability mechanisms. Discussions focused on enhancing climate justice through transparent governance, reducing political corruption, and amplifying the role of civil society and youth in advocating for accountability.
An interactive World Café session allowed participants to engage in group discussions, each moderated by experts. Topics explored included strengthening democratic institutions, advancing environmental justice, and increasing youth participation in governance.
Activist giving an ignite speech.
Participants shared best practices, identified key challenges, and proposed actionable solutions. Each group later synthesized their takeaways and presented them in the plenary session.
The second panel focused on corruption as a major obstacle to democratic progress, with a special emphasis on campaign financing as a driver of political corruption. Discussions addressed the role of anti-corruption agencies, legal reforms, and electoral transparency in curbing financial misconduct in politics. Participants also explored strategies for ensuring fair electoral processes, strengthening accountability in government spending, and promoting ethical leadership.
A global panel discussion tackled the structural and systemic challenges preventing youth from engaging in political and governance processes. Key barriers highlighted included electoral injustices, political violence, misinformation, lack of civic education, and restrictive legal frameworks. The session underscored the need for bold youth advocacy, digital mobilization, and targeted policy reforms to create an enabling environment for young people to participate meaningfully in governance.
Panel speakers pose for a photo.
Throughout the day, online campaigns harnessed the power of social media and digital platforms to run awareness campaigns, encourage public discussions, and engage citizens in dialogue about democracy. The hashtags #GDCForum2025, #ThankYouDemocracy #AfricaGDCForum #AntiCorruption, #GoodGovernance #Accountability, #CivicEngagement, #Transparency, #EnvironmentalJustice and #HumanRights trended, amplifying the forum's impact.
Participants also had the opportunity to be interviewed by Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), Kenya Television Network (KTN), NTV Kenya and TV47 where they aired their views on youth governance in Africa and the necessary steps to ensure youth inclusion in all matters. We also conducted interviews with participants, gathering valuable feedback on their takeaways and thoughts on democracy in Africa.
In summary, The Global Democracy Coalition Africa Forum 2025 served as a powerful platform for dialogue and action, equipping participants with practical strategies to combat corruption, advocate for environmental justice, and strengthen democratic institutions. The insights generated during the forum will drive policy reforms and civic engagement efforts, ensuring that youth remain at the forefront of Africa’s democratic renewal.