FEMNET | Meaningful Engagement for Transformative Action (META)

The Meaningful Engagement – Transformative Action (META) for Structured Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Dialogue in Kenya is a joint initiative by African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), the Coalition for Sustainable Development (SDGs Kenya Forum) and Stitching Women Engage for a Common Future International (WECF) with support from the European Union Delegation (EUD) in Kenya. The action is designed to enhance Kenyan civil society organizations’ capacity for accountability, good governance, and inclusive development, and provide institutional platforms for their active involvement in EU-Kenya cooperation between 2024-2027. In specific, the action seeks to;

Improve and strengthen structured, inclusive and regular dialogue between Kenyan civil society actors, local authorities and the EU, facilitating meaningful and sustained engagement.
Enhance the skills, knowledge, and resources of Kenyan civil society actors including youth and women rights organizations to address common development priorities and promote effective governance.
Increase information sharing, joint planning, and implementation of initiatives among Kenyan civil society actors to maximize the impact of EU-Kenya cooperation.

The action contains two main components: The Inclusive Dialogue Mechanism and the European Union Youth Sounding Board

The Inclusive Dialogue Mechanism

Event Title: EU - Kenya CSO Forum

Reviewed EU- High Level CSO Forum poster 2025-4.1.2 - 6

View Concept Note

View Agenda

The Inclusive Dialogue Mechanism is a central component of META that aims to coordinate and foster periodic dialogue between Kenyan Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the European Union Delegation to Kenya (EUD). The dialogue mechanism focuses on the priority areas of the EU’s cooperation with Kenya. Members of the Inclusive Dialogue Mechanism are organized into three working groups.

Green Transition
Global Gateway (Human -Centered Digitalization)
Governance, Peace, and Security

Additionally, the mechanism addresses cross-cutting themes:

Women and Youth Engagement
CSOs Enabling Environment and Human Rights (eg. PBO Act).

Each group has the flexibility to narrow down the discussions to more specific priorities within their working groups. For example, under the Governance, Peace and Security, the working group can choose to focus on transparency and accountability for the first year.

The Inclusive Dialogue Mechanism is guided by the EU roadmap for engagement with civil society in Kenya for the period 2022-2025. This roadmap seeks to initiate a formalized, structured dialogue between the EU and Kenyan civil society to ensure a coherent approach to EU engagement with CSOs. The structured dialogue aims to:

Allow CSOs to strengthen their capacities and meaningfully contribute to the design and monitoring of EU’s initiatives
Enable more coordinated engagement between the EU and its member states
Promote enhanced cooperation between Kenyan & EU CSOs
Monitor and regularly report on the realization of the EU roadmap for engagement with CSOs

EU Youth Sounding Board - Kenya

The European Union Youth Sounding Board Kenya (YSB) is a team of bold, visionary, and action-driven leaders shaking up the status quo and ensuring youth voices shape policies, spark action, and drive real change in EU-Kenya partnerships.

Selected from across Kenya, these 15 dynamic innovative leaders between 18- 30 years are passionate about youth engagement, policy influencing and transformative action. They’re bringing fresh ideas, bold perspectives, and unstoppable energy to shape decisions that impact young people’s lives.

Guided by the EU Youth Action Plan (2022-2027), the YSB works under three powerful pillars:
🔹 Partnership to Engage – increasing young people’s voices in policy and decision-making
🔹 Partnership to Empower – fighting inequalities and providing young people with the skills and tools they need to thrive
🔹Partnership to Connect – fostering opportunities for young people to network and exchange with their peers worldwide

Through structured dialogues and youth-led initiatives, they’re ensuring that young people are seen, included, and leading the way in shaping Kenya’s development.

Curious to know who they are? Check out their profiles below and see how they’re amplifying youth priorities areas in Kenya and beyond.

🌐 EU – YSB Kenya Members

💡 Engage, Empower and Connect #YouthDrivenChangeKe #EUYSBKenya.

Articles and Publications - Blogs and Articles

My Experience in Addis Ababa: A Journey of Sisterhood, Climate Justice & African Solidarity

By _Mirriam Nafula - Kenya - African Feminist Climate Champion From my rural community of Bungoma in Kenya [...]

Youth Voices at ARFSD12: Turning Presence into Policy Influence

Tulinde Future yetu Initiative A reflective conference blog from Addis Ababa on women’s land rights, food sovereignty, climate-smart [...]

From Ambition to Action: Will Africa Achieve the SDGs Before 2030?

By Eunice Ngina Muema Vice Chair – National Steering Committee (META) Development Practitioner | Youth & Market Systems [...]

Youth Leaders to EU: Kenya’s Democracy Needs Young People at the Center

By Mercy Chelangat I was honored to attend a recent youth engagement meeting at the European Union Delegation [...]

The Future of Democracy in Kenya must be shaped with Youth, not for Youth” – Reflections from the EU Youth Dialogue on Democracy and Human Rights in Kenya

Brian Kithinji – EU YSB, Policy Action Initiative (brian@policyactioninitiative.org) On February 9 , I had the privilege of [...]

A Night of Food, Fun, and Human Rights Conversations – Dinner with the EU Special Representative for Human Rights, H.E. Kajsa Ollongren

Brian Kithinji – EU Youth Sounding Board, Policy Action Initiative Rarely do you get the opportunity to be [...]

At the Table: Youth Voices in a Conversation on Human Rights

On 11 February 2026, I had the honour of attending a dinner hosted by H.E. the Ambassador of [...]

EU Ambassador Launches 14 New Grassroots Partnerships under META Project, Deepening EU-Kenya Civil Society Cooperation for Transformative Action

The Annual High-Level EU – Kenya Civil Society Forum officially opened today at the Kenya School of Government,

Girls Don’t Belong in the Kitchen

By Pascaliah Nyaboke – EU-YSB Kenya “If you were part of nature today, what would you be and

From Memory to Justice: Reframing Reparations Through African Youth Voices

By Mutheu Mutuku, EU-YSB Kenya The concept of reparations is too often framed as a matter of historical

Bridging Voices at Kakamega

Poem By Mercy Chelangat; EU – YSB Kenya Beneath the sunlit Kakamega sky, Youth gathered with dreams that

UNreal, UNnerving, UNbelievable

UNreal, UNnerving, UNbelievable. By Pascaliah Oganda I used to think opportunities like these were reserved for a certain

For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment

By Pascaliah Nyaboke; EU – YSB Kenya “Endelea kuletea watu iyo human rights yako utatwangwa na uyo mzee

Seeing With New Eyes: My Journey as a Disabled Girl, Lady, Woman and Advocate

By Mercy Kavayi, Director, Resilience Hub – Disabled Women and Children of Kenya & Member of the EU

Beyond Numbers: Reimagining True Systemic Change for Gender Equality

By Maria Kwekwe Tsuma – EU YSB Kenya For ALL Women and Girls: Rethinking Our Approach to Gender

Report - Reports and Publications

Fostering Civic Engagement: Predictors of Youth Engagement in Electoral Processes in Kenya

Abstract In Kenya, youth constitute approximately 66.7% of the voting-age population, yet they remain significantly underrepresented in electoral [...]

Kenyan Youth Perspectives on the European Union and its Mission in Kenya

Executive Summary This research evaluated Kenyan youth perceptions towards the European Union (EU), with emphasis on their role, [...]

Challenges and Opportunities for Youth in Kenya’s Green Transition

Executive Summary Kenya’s transition to green mobility presents a unique opportunity to advance climate change mitigation, youth employment, [...]

From Participation to Partnership

Executive Summary From 9th to 17th March, the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), the SDGs Kenya [...]

EU-Youth Sounding Board Inputs to the Civil Society Roadmap (CSRM) 2025–2027

1. Background and Purpose This document presents consolidated Youth Sounding Board (YSB) inputs to inform the development of [...]

A Youth Lens on Global Gateway in Kenya

Why the Learning Circle Mattered Many young people in Kenya have seen the Global Gateway logo on EU-funded [...]

Joint Africa – Europe Civil Society Recommendations

African and European civil society organizations urge AU and EU Heads of State and Government to take full

Civil Society Voices and Perspectives in Strengthening an Inclusive and Just Green Transition in Kenya

On 5th June 2025 members of the Inclusive Dialogue Mechanism in the META action convened a Virtual EU-CSO

CSOs Recommendations on the Human Centred Digitalisation Phase II CSOs Recommendations on the Human Centred Digitalisation Phase

The Global Gateway (GG) initiative, launched by the European Union (EU) and Member States, represents a strategic commitment

Joint Communiqué on the Urgent Need to Accelerate the full Implementation of the Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Act in Kenya

We, the undersigned Civil Society Organizations, convened in Nairobi from 7th to 8th May 2025, for a PBO

Baringo Indigenous People’s Organization (BIPO)

A youth- and women-led organization rooted in the Endorois community of Baringo County, Kenya.

BIPO seeks to strengthen indigenous youth and women leadership in climate governance, sustainable livelihoods through agroecology & bridging the digital divide in ASAL regions by expanding digital literacy and civic engagement platforms.

Batian Cluster

A network of five (5) registered member organizations. Hosted by the Kenya Youth Development Education Support Association (KYDESA).

The Cluster seeks to strengthen collective impact through coordinated advocacy, knowledge-sharing and joint action by member organizations.

They operate in Nakuru, Kericho, Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia and Turkana counties.

Feminist For Peace, Rights & Justice Centre (FPRJC)

A feminist and women-led organization.

They exist to inspire and develop a generation of grassroots women to have a voice and ignite feminist leadership action for gender transformative change.

FPJRC will work with women leaders in Kibra to engage in civic education, strengthen data systems for tracking progress and accountability, support structured dialogues between community leaders and local government, and foster community-driven advocacy.

Kenya Network of Women and Girls with Disabilities

A network that works to promote the rights of women and girls with disabilities in all spheres of life.

The network will contribute to the META Action by ensuring that women and girls with disabilities in Mandera and Nairobi counties are meaningfully included in green transition dialogues and activities.

Kilifi Youth on the Move (KYOM)

A youth-led organization that empowers youths in Kilifi County to engage meaningfully in public policy processes, promote climate justice, and advance inclusive governance through research, advocacy, and multi-stakeholder dialogue.

KYOM project: Sauti Za Arabuko will strengthen inclusive civic engagement and environmental governance in Kilifi County by establishing a dialogue platform linking youth & women groups with government officials & EU representatives.

Kisumu Disability Support (KISDO)

KISDO works to build strategic alliances and partnerships with stakeholders to advance the socio-economic empowerment of persons with disabilities and their families through inclusive, community-based initiatives and evidence-based advocacy that influences policy and service delivery.

Their proposed initiative aims to enhance the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in the development planning and decision-making processes of Kisumu County.

Resource Center for Women and Girls

A girls and young women-led organization in Machakos county.

The organization holds spaces of critical consciousness, life-skills, solidarity + connect girls with community-level allies and mentors so that they can drive change in their own lives and those of their communities.

RCWG will enhance girls’ participation in peacebuilding and governance processes through research, girl-led indabas community dialogues, and engagement with county governments to foster accountability and challenge harmful norms.

Rural Empowerment Development Organization (REDO Kenya)

An umbrella grassroots organization aiming to connect and empower marginalized and minority community members through programs geared towards realization of improved service delivery in Bungoma County.

REDO’s project will contribute to strengthening civic engagement and governance through joint coordination and planning among CSOs in the county.

Tanafrik Initiative

A youth-led organization championing the rights and voices of vulnerable communities through advocacy programs, inclusive economic empowerment and innovative environmental restoration initiatives.

Tanafrik will promote sustainable peace, social cohesion, and community security in Tana River County through inclusive, participatory, and locally-led peacebuilding initiatives.

Timiza Youth Initiative (TYI)

A youth-led initiative that strengthens youth and women’s civic engagement in Kilifi County through policy advocacy, digital governance, and environmental sustainability.

TYI will enhance inclusive civic engagement, promote gender-responsive governance, and foster green resilience among marginalized communities in Kilifi County by convening structured community forums that facilitate dialogue between civil society organizations, youth, women’s groups, and county leadership

Tulinde Future Yetu Initiative (TFYI)

TFYI empowers youth in marginalized communities through transformative outreach, psychosocial support, digital inclusion, and civic engagement, fostering self-reliance, leadership, and peaceful coexistence.

The initiative will implement INUA-IG project in Kwale County by working with youth in rural areas—especially young women and youth with disabilities enhancing digital literacy, civic engagement, and inclusive dialogue platforms to strengthen their participation in governance and policy processes.

Vision of the Blind (VoB)

VoB promotes the socio-economic independence and full inclusion of persons with disabilities through advocacy, capacity building, and community engagement in Mombasa County.

The organization will implement a project in Mombasa County focused on enhancing digital literacy, strengthening civic education and policy advocacy skills among persons with disabilities—ultimately increasing access to public services, promoting self-reliance, and fostering inclusive participation in governance.

Women Volunteers For Peace (WOVOP) & Dreams Redefined

WOVOP, is a young women-led organization advancing health equity, resilience, and peace leadership among at-risk girls in Kisumu County.

Dreams Redefined also a young women-led org transforms the lives of girls and young women in rural and informal settlements in Kisumu County.

Both will implement the Beyond Bias Project to promote inclusive governance and gender-responsive policy advocacy in Kisumu County.

Youth Changers Kenya (YCK)

A youth led organization operating in Vihiga and Kakamega counties to reduce sexual violence and increase access to reproductive health through education, advocacy, and strategic partnership with adolescent girls and young women in rural and peri-urban areas in order to achieve a world free from all forms of violence.

YCK will collaborate with the EU Youth Sounding Board–Kenya to engage youth-led CBOs, amplify their lived experiences, and facilitate structured policy dialogues—creating opportunities for youth-led CBOs to gain visibility, and strengthened capacity to meaningfully engage in EU policy processes & spaces at county, national, and international levels.

Search Form

Meaningful Engagement for Transformative Action (META)