ASSESSING THE ROLE OF YOUTH-LED ORGANIZATIONS IN PROMOTING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY LEVEL GOVERNANCE PROCESSES. A CASE STUDY AT YOUTH FORUM FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION (YOFONAT).

This study assessed the role of youth-led organizations in promoting youth participation in community-level governance, using the Youth Forum for National Transformation (YOFONAT) in Mtandile, Lilongwe, as a case study. Despite Malawi’s National Youth Policy (2023) mandating at least 30% youth representation in governance structures, actual participation remains low, with the Youth Participation Index (2021) indicating that youths occupy only 4.7% of parliamentary seats and 11.7% of council wards. Guided by Arnstein’s Ladder of Citizen Participation, the study adopted a qualitative case study design to explore strategies, challenges, perceptions, and impacts of youth-led initiatives. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 12 purposively selected participants comprising YOFONAT leaders and youth members. Thematic analysis revealed that YOFONAT employs hybrid advocacy strategies, including digital activism, coalition building with civil society organizations, direct policy lobbying, and capacity-building workshops to enhance youth engagement in governance. However, the organization faces persistent structural barriers such as limited funding, institutional resistance, and internalized discouragement among youth, which constrain sustainability and influence. Findings further showed that community leaders often perceive youth as lacking technical capacity, although attitudes are gradually shifting through sustained engagement. Importantly, YOFONAT has facilitated youth access to formal governance spaces, including policy consultations and parliamentary platforms, indicating a
transition from tokenistic participation toward partnership. The study concludes that youth-led organizations play a critical bridging role between national policy commitments and grassroots
governance realities. It recommends institutionalizing youth participation through legally mandated youth committees, quota systems, sustained funding mechanisms, and intergenerational dialogue platforms to promote inclusive and meaningful youth engagement in governance processes