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EMPOWER+
Empowering Rural Youth: Establishing and Strengthening the Rural Youth Parliament in Sub-Saharan Africa
Project Name: EMPOWER+
Programme: Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Youth
Priorities: Empowering Youth and Strengthening Participation, Capacity Building of Youth Organizations, International Cooperation and Knowledge Transfer
Project ID: ERASMUS-YOUTH-2025-CB-SSA – 101243075
Website: Coming soon
Social media: Coming soon
Duration: 24 months
Topics: Green Transition and Sustainable Development, Inclusion and Diversity, Digital Transformation
Project Description
The EMPOWER+ project is aimed at fostering the development of rural youth parliaments in Sub-Saharan African countries, promoting youth participation in democratic processes, and ensuring that young people in rural areas are equipped with the skills and resources to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond. With partners from Europe and Africa, the project seeks to achieve objectives aligned with the EU Strategy, supporting non-formal learning and promoting engagement in rural development.
Project Consortium
Project Coordinator:
ASOCIATIA GRUPUL DE ACTIUNE LOCALANAPOCA POROLISSUM – Romania
Partners
- Connectus IKE – Greece
- A ROCCA – Italy
- CENTRES D’ENTRAINEMENT AUX METHODES D’EDUCATION ACTIVE DE MADAGASCAR – Madagascar
- Fédération des Maisons Familiales Rurales de Maurice et Rodrigues – Mauritius
- SYSTEM STRATEGY & POLICY LAB LTD – Nigeria
- Tlokweng District Council – Botswana
- JOSEPH MWELWA CONSULT PROPRIETARY LIMITED – Botswana
Project Results
WP1: Project Coordination, Management and Assessment
WP2: Youth Policy Framework
WP3: Youth Participation Activities (YPA)
WP4: Impact and Dissemination
Our role
Connectus plays a central role as the leader of the Youth Policy Framework work package (WP2), the main mission of which is to build the foundation for establishing Rural Youth Parliaments in Sub-Saharan Africa. We are responsible for developing a comprehensive policy framework, mapping existing youth participation resources, and identifying best practices that can support rural youth engagement. We also coordinate the creation of an online repository and an interactive digital platform that will connect young people, policymakers, and organizations from Europe and Africa.
Through these actions, Connectus ensures that the project has strong policy support, digital tools, and a sustainable structure to empower rural youth participation and democratic engagement.
Impact
The EMPOWER+ project aims to create a lasting impact by strengthening youth participation and democratic engagement in rural areas across Sub-Saharan Africa. By establishing Rural Youth Parliaments and connecting them with European partners, the project empowers young people to influence policies that affect their lives and communities. It promotes inclusion, digital transformation, and environmental awareness, ensuring that rural youth have the skills, knowledge, and confidence to become active citizens and agents of change.
In the long term, EMPOWER+ contributes to building more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable rural societies through cooperation between Africa and Europe.
