The Role of UNFPA in Youth Participation and Leadership in Ghana: A Case Study of the Young Leaders (YOLE) Fellowship Program

Abstract

Youth participation and leadership development is a growing area of research and practice in recent years. This study examined the role of UNFPA in youth participation and leadership in Ghana by case studying the young leaders (YoLe) fellowship program. The study examined the linkage between UNFPA’s YoLe Fellowship Program and young people’s ability to be leaders (youth leadership), participate in decision making (youth participation in decision making) and explored other benefits of UNFPA’s YoLe Fellowship Program to youth. The cross-sectional survey employed both the quantitative and qualitative research methodological approach. Results from the analysis showed that more females participated in the YoLe Fellowship Program compared to males. The minimum educational requirement for the program is the first degree. The results from the study further show that the respondents, on the whole, gained insight into leadership skills and have assumed various leadership positions during and after the program. Also, as a result of this Fellowship program, the majority of the beneficiaries participated in development-related or political discussions, initiated community interventions to cause societal change, partook in voluntary community projects and held various leadership positions. Other benefits associated with the Fellowship Program to youth include a balanced networking skill across the various age groups, profession and expertise, CV writing skills, developed good program facilitation skills and the use and handling of the camera. The study concludes that the UNFPA’s YoLe Fellowship Program has enhanced and ensured the participation of young people in various leadership positions at different levels, forms and places. Likewise, there has been an increase in the participation of young people in institutions at the community level. The study affirms that the UNFPA’s YoLe Fellowship program has been able to implement its core mandate by adequately providing resources (information, materials, education and training) to enable its participants to fully participate and learn. The study recommends that the governing body (UNFPA) expand its capacity to be able to admit more youth to the program. In such regard, fellowship training programs or training centers should be established in all the other regions of the country to train more youth. Also, the program should design a module for youth in junior and senior high schools since they equally will immensely benefit from the program at a younger age.