Exploring different tools and programmes which seek to improve youth involvement in municipalities
COMPACT Presentation
IEC Presentation
HSRC Presentation
More information and resources
SACN Youth Engagement Toolkit
https://www.sacities.net/publication/sacn-youth-engagement-toolkit/
ASRI’s Municipal Oversight & Accountability Programme
HSRC’s e-Participation project
On 10 April 2025, the COMPACT project hosted a webinar on the topic of Enhancing Youth Participation in Local Government in South Africa, with inputs on different tools and programmes which seek to improve youth involvement in local government in South Africa. COMPACT is a partnership between the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and Integrity Action (IA), together with 12 partner local municipalities across 6 provinces. The COMPACT project aims to enhance public participation in municipal planning processes to be meaningful and contribute to service delivery which better meets the socioeconomic needs of all citizens, especially low-income residents.
Action research conducted by COMPACT across the 12 municipalities between 2022 and 2024 highlighted the need to prioritise youth participation in local government. Young people are discouraged with municipalities and face numerous challenges within their communities, including high levels of unemployment and poverty. Importantly, the decisions taken by municipalities have a substantial impact on the lives of young people, who have a unique perspective on development issues.
