Youth Landscape and Learning Platform (YLLP)

We know many might ask, What is the Youth Landscape and Learning Platform (YLLP), and why are we only getting to hear about it just now? Well, the truth is you might have interacted  with or benefitted from it in one way or another without even realising it! It’s pretty fascinating, right? So, let’s dive in and explore what YLLP is all about.

Essentially, the YLLP is a comprehensive platform that brings together knowledge, resources, and expertise to support youth development. It’s a joint effort between USAID’s YouthPower/Youth Excel activity and the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). By working together, we are supporting the USAID/Malawi Mission’s goal of promoting youth empowerment and development, as outlined in their Development Objective 2 (DO2).

Timveni has been co-implementing the YLLP since 2023, facilitating learning, coordinating activities and managing a 12-member Youth Cohort Group (YCG) that provides advisory support to USAID Mission interventions. Following a successful one year of implementation, Timveni has received a new sub-award worth 421,000 USD to co-implement the activity.

Our key highlight in 2024 is the Nzeru Zathu Learning Summit that we co-hosted alongside our Partners; the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the USAID Mission in Malawi, IREX and Wona Collective. The summit was well attended, converging over 250 participants in the Youth Development space to share findings from the Youth Landscape Analysis (YLA Report) and support meaningful youth participation in development.

The YLA uncovered common themes across various sectors including health, education, democracy, rights and governance and other aspects of social-economic development. Some key findings for the study include:

• The need for youth programs to target the targetable.
• A high percentage of the youth in Malawi feel stuck in idleness and waithood.
• Many young people experience a sense of voicelessness and choicelessness.
• Youth experience a sense of voicelessness and choicelessness.

We were thrilled to witness participants sharing valuable insights and best practices, and most importantly, making concrete commitments to action. They left the event with a clear plan, equipped with practical strategies and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to ensure that young people are meaningfully engaged at every stage of the development. As Timveni we will keep facilitating similar engagement until young people are satisfied that they are fully engaged.