10 July 2023
Restless Development is a non-profit global agency founded in 1985 that supports the collective power of young leaders to create a better world. It is independently registered and works in nine countries: India, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, the UK, the USA, Zambia and Zimbabwe bound together by our vision for youth power.
Restless Development is committed to creating an agency that paves the way for youth-led change and walks the talk on power shifting. Every year it trains, mentors, nurtures and connects thousands of young people to use their youth power and lead change. The agency is grounded in communities and works in partnership to ensure young people lead in their communities
What They Do.
The agency is feminist, inclusive, gender transformative and anti-racist in its work and aims to decolonise development. Restless Development takes a power-shifting approach and works to proactively shift power to ensure every young person is able to lead.
Restless Development’s 2022-2030 Youth Power Strategy guides its work with young people, partners, communities and governments. This work also includes responding to emergencies, health crises and digital rights. Restless Development’s current impact priority areas are:
In line with its strategy, Restless Development launched its Power Shifting Checklist to guide the work that they do and to help those that want to ensure all young people have the power to lead along with the Youth Power Principles to explain who they are at the core.
Where They Work.
Restless Development is led by nine hubs across the world. These hubs not only deliver projects but offer expertise, support and innovation for young people and partners around the world. The agency’s work is led by thousands of young people every year. Restless Development is proud of a global team of more than 200 people based in more than 13 countries.
The Restless Approach
Youth-led Change - Restless Development supports young people to lead change, providing opportunities, and helping build confidence, networks and skills to lead initiatives that have a lasting impact. The models include:
Youth Collective - Restless Development wants youth civil society to thrive and hosts the Youth Collective; a global community for youth-led organisations. As of April 2023, the Youth Collective has more than 4,000 member organisations in 185 countries around the world.
Restless experts - Restless Development provides advice and guidance to institutions, governments, partners and corporations, supporting them to develop strategies and approaches that include young perspectives.
It offers expertise to set up youth advisory panels, convene youth audits, and develops recommendations and youth strategies. It offers support with organisational change, ensuring meaningful youth engagement principles are embedded in organisational culture - from young members on steering committees and Boards to youth-designed and led programmes, activities and campaigns.
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