YOTA is privileged to be a local partner to the USAID Youth Excel, a global program that is empowering young people to use data and learnings to improve their own cross-sectoral positive youth development initiatives. In doing so, youth accountability advocates are synthesising data and learning, and are engaging with decision-makers, shaping and advancing data-informed development policies, agendas, and programs.

In September 2023, YOTA hosted the program’s first Youth Engagement Summit in Accra, bringing together USAID staff, youth champions and allies, and young leaders and representatives of local youth-led organisations throughout Africa and globally. The convening enabled these Youth Excel partners to network, learn, and share how young leaders are engaging locally and globally, and how they are using data and digital tools to create positive change in communities and countries.

Through the USAID Youth Excel Program, YOTA is conducting youth-led Implementation Research within its current program focused on connecting talents to markets and boosting formal employment for youth. In addition, YOTA is supporting awareness creation, interest and buy-in of Youth Excel’s approaches and tools within the broader international Youth Development community. Also, YOTA benefits from Youth Excel through capacity strengthening to accomplish performance improvement goals aligned with organizational and program priorities.