Please find below the session notes from the session on Day 2 (Wednesday, November 10, 2021) of the USAID YouthPower2 Symposium about Youth Engagement with System Actors.

This session will promote youth engagement with system actors and learn from two examples and two young leaders. The session will explore the successes, challenges, and lessons learned from programs in Tunisia and Kenya. The Kenya panel will review how USAID’s strategies to promote youth engagement with system actors have evolved. Beginning in 2011 under the Yes Youth Can program, USAID supported developing village-level youth-led associations known as Bunges to a robust network of youth associations. Today, more than 1 million youth participate in Bunges that exist in 34 of 47 counties. Bunges engage with government actors on a broad range of issues, including education, youth employment, peacebuilding, voter education, financial services, entrepreneurship, and access to youth-friendly economic and social services have been effective advocates and partners in community development.