Sonke Gender Justice extends heartfelt appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands for its vital support of the Power to Youth programme. This strategic partnership, delivered in collaboration with Amref Flying Doctors and Rutgers, aims to amplify the voices and agency of adolescent girls and young women, AGYW across Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Senegal, and Uganda.
Launched in 2021 under the Ministry’s Strengthening Civil Society framework, PtY addresses harmful practices, sexual and gender-based violence, and unintended pregnancies, while promoting youth-led governance, expanded civic space, and gender-transformative approaches. Over its five-year course, the programme has centred the lived realities of AGYW in shaping lasting change.
Sonke has played a leading role in implementing PtY in Malawi and Uganda, contributing technical assistance, supporting innovation through human-centred design and strengthening advocacy efforts at community and national levels. With funding exceeding 3 million Euros between 2021 and 2023, Sonke has facilitated impactful grassroots programming, cross-country learning, and evidence generation. Central to PtY is a commitment to Southern leadership and meaningful youth participation. In each programme country, Country Management Teams, co-led by youth and adult organisations, oversee design, implementation and learning. This model ensures that young people are active decision-makers, not just participants. Sonke’s support has enabled youth-led organisations to engage in co-creation, influence policy, and lead transformative campaigns in their communities.
The PtY programme is reshaping what youth engagement means. In 2023, Sonke helped drive innovation by piloting digital tools, supporting national advocacy, and contributing to mid-term reviews and operational research. These efforts have reinforced youth leadership, increased institutional accountability, and catalysed community-level shifts in social norms. AGYW and male allies alike have been mobilised to challenge harmful practices and promote gender equality, while policymakers have been engaged to reflect youth voices in legislative and policy reform.
As PtY enters its final phase, Sonke and its partners remain committed to scaling innovation, deepening impact, and sustaining change. The legacy of the programme lies in its dedication to equity, inclusive governance, and transformative youth leadership.
We thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands for their bold investment in this movement. Together, through Power to You(th), we are creating a future where young women thrive, lead, and help shape just, inclusive societies.
