This is the session notes from the session on Day 1 (Tuesday, November 9, 2021) of the USAID YouthPower2 Symposium: What does "Decolonizing Development "Mean for Youth-Focused Research and Learning?

Main Topic Focus 
Power and power differentials. The session looked at the Youth Excel program and focused on implementation research to address this challenge.

Session Overview
Information is power. Research, assessments, information, data, findings, and recommendations are used to shape and guide many of the fundamental programmatic, policy, and resource allocation decisions in the development world. But who decides which types of research are credible? Who develops and determines research questions, designs methodologies, and analyzes data, and determines key findings? Who owns data and information, and who can access it? In this session, young leaders discuss how power differentials manifest in their day-to- day work. Also, how Youth Excel’s youth-focused research and learning approaches shift decision-making power to the leaders and organizations closest to the community and global problems we face today.

Session Overview
Silvya Kananu, Project Lead, IREX
Zaira Lainez, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Officer, Youth Excel, IREX
Diego Manrique, Knowledge Mobilization Officer, Youth Excel, IREX
Karen Carvajalino, Co-Founder and COO, The Biz Nation

READ THE FULL NOTE BELOW