YCAN

YCAN – Youth Climate Action Network is a 36-month Erasmus+ Capacity Building project that aims to strengthen the capacity of youth organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda to promote climate awareness and foster youth-led climate action. Through non-formal education, mobility opportunities, and cross-border cooperation, the project equips youth workers and organisations with the skills, tools, and methodologies needed to engage young people and support the design and implementation of local climate initiatives that respond to community needs.

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The Project

Project
YCAN - Youth Climate Action Network
Project number
ERASMUS-YOUTH-2025-CB-SSA 101246612
Type of project
Capacity Building for Youth
Programme
Erasmus+

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Context

Africa is one of the regions most affected by climate change despite contributing only a small share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Climate-related challenges are already impacting food security, livelihoods, natural resources, and economic development across the continent. At the same time, Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with more than 60% of its population under the age of 25. This demographic reality represents an extraordinary opportunity, as young people have the potential to become key actors in advancing climate resilience, sustainable development, and community-led innovation.

However, a significant gap exists between the potential contribution of young people and their actual influence on climate action. Despite their numbers and growing interest in environmental issues, many young people lack access to climate education, funding opportunities, decision-making spaces, and supportive networks. Youth organisations, which are essential for mobilising and empowering young people, often face limited capacities and resources to effectively engage youth and transform their ideas into concrete action. This challenge is particularly relevant in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, where climate vulnerability, youth unemployment, and limited opportunities for civic participation create additional barriers to meaningful engagement.

As a result, young people are frequently seen as beneficiaries of climate policies rather than active contributors to climate solutions. Unlocking their potential requires stronger youth organisations capable of providing knowledge, mentoring, mobility opportunities, and platforms for collaboration.

YCAN was designed to bridge this gap. By strengthening youth organisations through non-formal education, mobility, and cross-border cooperation, the project enables them to engage young people more effectively, foster climate leadership, and support the co-creation of locally driven climate initiatives. In doing so, YCAN aims to transform young people from passive stakeholders into active drivers of climate awareness, community action, and sustainable development.

Objectives

Overall Objective

To strengthen the capacity of youth organisations in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda to foster climate change awareness and support youth-led initiatives in local communities through non-formal education, mobility opportunities, and cross-border cooperation.

1. Enhance the climate literacy, facilitation, and mentoring capacities of youth workers and youth organisations through innovative non-formal education approaches and locally relevant learning resources.

2. Promote meaningful youth participation in climate-related decision-making processes by strengthening advocacy, leadership, and civic engagement competences.

3. Strengthen the capacity of youth organisations to support the design, implementation, and sustainability of youth-led climate initiatives, including project development and fundraising skills.

4. Foster intercultural learning, peer exchange, and collaboration among young people through mobility activities and international cooperation opportunities.

5. Strengthen networking, knowledge exchange, and long-term cooperation among African and European youth organisations.

6. Raise climate awareness and community engagement through youth-led initiatives, campaigns, and local actions addressing environmental challenges.

7. Facilitate dialogue and collaboration between young people, youth organisations, public authorities, and other relevant stakeholders to increase youth participation in climate governance.

Results

Together, these results will provide practical tools, methodologies, and collaborative networks that can be replicated, adapted, and scaled up beyond the project duration.

Comprehensive Climate Action Toolkit providing youth organisations and youth workers with practical training materials, non-formal learning methodologies, facilitation tools, and resources to promote climate awareness, advocacy, and youth-led initiatives. The toolkit will be freely accessible online and easily adaptable to different contexts.

Youth Climate Voices Report gathering young people’s perspectives, experiences, and recommendations on climate change, offering valuable insights for youth organisations, policymakers, and stakeholders.

Pre-Mobility Preparation Handbook compiling practical guidance, intercultural learning tools, and good practices to support youth organisations in planning and implementing international mobility activities.

Mentorship and Implementation Framework providing a transferable model for mentoring young people and supporting the development of local climate initiatives, enabling replication beyond the project partnership.

Youth-Led Climate Action Plans and Pitch Presentations showcasing community-based solutions designed by young people, serving as practical examples that can inspire and be adapted by other organisations.

YCAN Community Platform creating a sustainable digital space for networking, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and peer learning among African and European youth organisations and young climate leaders.

Project Activities

YCAN will be implemented through four interconnected phases designed to strengthen youth organisations and support youth-led climate action.

01. Training Development:

Through a co-creation process involving all partners, the project will identify local needs and opportunities and develop the core training
content, educational resources, and non-formal learning methodologies on climate change awareness and action. During this phase, the YCAN Community Platform will also be developed and launched to facilitate networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among youth organisations and young people.

02. Capacity Building:

Youth workers will participate in a blended learning programme combining online and in-person activities focused on climate change education, advocacy, youth participation, project development, fundraising, circular economy, green jobs, and digital communication. This phase will also establish a mentoring system, equipping youth workers with facilitation, mentoring, and leadership skills to become Climate Mentors capable of supporting and guiding young people in climate action initiatives.

03. Youth Mobility Activities:

A Youth Participatory Activity and three Youth Exchanges will bring together young people and youth workers from Africa and Europe to promote intercultural learning, peer exchange, and climate action. During these mobilities, trained youth workers will act as facilitators and mentors, leading non- formal learning activities and supporting young participants in developing ideas for local climate initiatives.

04. Youth-Led Initiatives:

Supported by their mentors, young participants will design and implement local climate initiatives responding to community needs. Follow-up mentoring and stakeholder engagement activities will help maximise the sustainability and impact of these actions.

Throughout the project, awareness campaigns and community-building activities will promote climate awareness, youth participation, and cross-border cooperation.

Partners

Gaia Education
Belgium
ALDA
France
Huys Link
Uganda
THE ETHIOPIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH SOCIAL AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ECC-SDCO
Ethiopia
Hope4Life
Uganda
The Youth Café
Kenya
Asociación Mundus
Spain
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

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