África

Enfoque regional

The Africa region spans North, West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. While the continent is rich in cultural heritage, natural resources, resilience, and innovation, many children, adolescents, and youth face systemic and intersecting challenges that hinder their development, safety, and wellbeing.

Across the region, many girls and young women remain vulnerable to discrimination and gender-based violence rooted in long-standing cultural and social norms. Harmful practices such as child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM)—prevalent in North, Central, West, and East Africa—and female genital cutting (FGC)—particularly widespread in West and East Africa—continue to threaten their rights and futures. These practices can rob girls of their childhood, compromise their physical and mental health, and deny them access to education, safety, and personal agency.

In addition, both girls and boys are increasingly exposed to modern threats, including substance abuse, drug addiction, and gambling. These issues, affecting both urban and rural communities, are driven by growing inequality, poverty, inadequate access to social and mental health services, and the lack of safe, inclusive environments for youth to thrive.

Climate change further compounds these challenges. Extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and climate-induced displacement are disrupting livelihoods, food security, and access to education—especially in already vulnerable communities. Children and young people, particularly those living in rural areas or as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs), are disproportionately affected.

Over the years, our work in the Africa region has evolved to become more community-led, inclusive, and intersectional. We intentionally center the voices, leadership, and lived experiences of young people—especially girls, refugee youth, and those from marginalized communities—in our programming and advocacy efforts. Through sustained partnerships with local organizations and grassroots movements, we co-create long-term, culturally relevant solutions that tackle the root causes of injustice, promote healing, and support children and youth to grow with dignity and hope.

With your support, our community-based partners can continue building a continent where every child, adolescent, and young person can thrive—free from violence, fear, and inequality—and grow into powerful agents of change for Africa’s future.

Learn more about our current initiatives below: