Despite significant advancements, progress for youth remains uneven and slow across Africa. In Ghana, youth continue to face structural barriers, failures of governance, pervasive violence, and discriminatory social norms and stereotypes that deny or restrict their civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. These imbalances are denying youth their full potential and the enjoyment of their human rights, and they represent losses not only for themselves but also for everyone.

In response, YOTA brings together innovative and energetic development professionals to work with relevant stakeholders towards empowering youth both as agents and targets of sustainable development. In line with their Agenda for Youth Transformation, they are working to accelerate progress towards youth empowerment by playing a convening role, mobilising and advocating, and helping to garner resources.

As an ECOSOC-accredited NGO based in Ghana, YOTA is at the forefront of youth development policy, practice and research across various grassroots, national, regional and global spheres. For 20 years, they have provided tailored skills training for thousands of youth, leading to improvements in their leadership, financial literacy, entrepreneurship and life planning skills. Through their service delivery, they have provided education, skills training, and technical support to many young people and helped them transition to self and wage employment. Their research has contributed to filling the gap in youth data and the evidence base for public policy. And, they continue to use their national appeal and grassroots constituency, through their Voices of Youth Coalition, to advocate and campaign for youth-inclusive policies at all levels.