Can Technology Unlock Youth Political Agency? | The Futures Summit

Why It Matters

Empowering youth through co‑designed digital platforms can reshape policy‑making and safeguard democratic processes in emerging economies.

Summary

The CSIS Future Summit panel examined how digital tools can expand political agency for young people, especially in the Global South. Panelists—Saji Prellis of Search for Common Ground, Pauline Dunabu of UNDP, and Cynthia Bamalu of Yaga Africa—defined civic tech versus gov‑tech, emphasizing that true participation requires co‑creation rather than symbolic polls.

Key insights highlighted that civic platforms can gather data, map community challenges, and close feedback loops, allowing youth to influence decisions directly. UNDP cited participatory‑mapping apps, accountability dashboards, and AI‑driven monitoring tools like e‑monitor plus, which have been deployed in Zambia, Honduras, DRC, and Pakistan to track disinformation and hate speech during elections.

Panelists stressed the need for media‑literacy, AI literacy, and youth‑led design to mitigate risks of harassment, misinformation, and algorithmic bias. Cynthia argued that peer‑to‑peer education and involving young people in platform design are essential for building trust and ensuring equitable access to digital participation.

The discussion concluded that institutional mandates—such as UN Security Council Resolution 2250—now recognize youth as partners in peace and governance. When governments adopt two‑way engagement models and invest in co‑design, digital tools can become bridges that amplify youth voices, improve service delivery, and strengthen democratic resilience.

Original Description

In global governance and development, what are the impacts of moving youth from beneficiaries of policy to agents of change? How can technology catalyze their agency?

This session will explore how development efforts can help youth leverage digital tools to enhance trust and address polarization. By moving beyond passive participation toward co-designed, anticipatory governance, the panel will examine the role of civic technology-driven collective dialogue and digital peacebuilding in amplifying youth voices. This discussion aims to identify the necessary investments and partnerships required to ensure that the next generation can make a measurable, transformative impact on global governance.

The Futures Summit: A New Era of Development Cooperation

This panel discussion is part of CSIS's flagship development conference taking place over several days of in-person and virtual convening. From April 10-17, the CSIS Futures Summit will explore how best to navigate and advance this new era of cooperation, paying close attention to the shifts in global leadership, new models and partnerships, and what should come next.

For the full agenda, visit the CSIS Futures Summit.

The CSIS Futures Summit is made possible through generous support from Chevron Inc. (Founding sponsor), ADM, Cisco, and the Embassy of Denmark in Washington D.C.

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