AfECN Youth Champions Programme on Early Childhood Development and Climate Change

Children in 39 of the 49 African countries face extraordinarily high exposure and vulnerability to climate-related hazards, yet climate policies often overlook early childhood development (ECD), and ECD programmes do not consistently address climate risks. The AfECN Youth Champions Programme is a youth-led advocacy and evidence-generation initiative that helps bridge this gap. Running from August 2026 to September 2027, the inaugural cohort brings together 25 young advocates from Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Zambia and Zanzibar.

Working in five-person country groups, the Youth Champions build their knowledge of ECD and climate change, gather evidence with caregivers and communities on locally identified priorities, and turn their findings into advocacy for change in policies, budgets and accountability for young children.

[Read the programme brochure] to learn more about its structure, objectives and guiding principles.