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IYF and the World Bank Group Launch Youth in Action: Network to Advance Youth Civic Engagement in Brazil
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) and the World Bank Group’s Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance (CIVIC) have launched the Youth in Action: Network, a new initiative designed to strengthen youth civic engagement in Brazil by connecting youth-led organizations with public institutions, development actors, and policy processes.
Established under the CIVIC Youth – Brazil Engagement Program, the Network aims to create stronger pathways for young people and youth-serving organizations to contribute to development efforts and public decision-making. By supporting collaboration, knowledge exchange, and youth leadership, the initiative seeks to ensure that community-based solutions help inform policies and investments that affect young people across Brazil.
Across the country, youth-led organizations are advancing innovative solutions related to employment, entrepreneurship, climate action, digital inclusion, education, health, and social development. These organizations often serve as trusted local partners, helping connect young people to opportunities and resources while responding to the unique needs of their communities.
Despite their impact, many youth-led initiatives remain disconnected from the systems that shape public policy and development investments. As a result, valuable local knowledge and youth perspectives do not always reach the spaces where decisions are made.
The Youth in Action: Network was created to help bridge that gap.
Drawing on IYF’s expertise in youth engagement and youth employment, the Network will serve as a platform for peer learning, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among young social entrepreneurs and youth leaders from across Brazil. Participants will have opportunities to strengthen partnerships, share promising practices, and engage with development actors working to address national and local priorities.
Through facilitated exchanges and alignment with participatory processes such as Brazil’s Plano Plurianual (PPA) and Brasil Participativo, the initiative aims to help youth-led and youth-serving organizations translate community-driven ideas into policy-relevant contributions and stronger development outcomes.
The goal is to move youth participation beyond occasional consultation and toward structured co-creation. By strengthening connections between youth leaders, civil society organizations, and development institutions, the Network supports more meaningful youth engagement in the design, financing, and implementation of public policies and development programs.
The launch of Youth in Action: Network reflects a shared commitment by IYF and the World Bank Group to invest in youth leadership and demonstrate how meaningful youth engagement can strengthen development outcomes. As the initiative grows, it will serve as a platform for collaboration, learning, and community-led development across Brazil.