On October 22–23, 2025, the Southern African Youth Forum (SAYoF) participated in the pivotal Y-Act -Partners meeting convened by AMREF,and various partners. This gathering took place at the picturesque Swahili Beach Hotel in Diani, Coastal Kenya, and brought together influential stakeholders in Africa’s tobacco control landscape, creating a strategic platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
The meeting featured a diverse array of organizations dedicated to advancing tobacco control initiatives, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Development Gateway (DG), Gates Foundation, Management Sciences for Health (MSH), African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), the Government of Kenya, and Y-ACT. The agenda was carefully crafted to foster in-depth discussions and actionable insights, balancing plenary updates with breakout sessions designed for cross-country learning and coordinated action planning.
SAYoF, representing youth interests in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, plays a crucial role in addressing youth-related issues, particularly in health advocacy. As a regional partner receiving capacity strengthening, the SAYoF Health Cluster actively engages in tobacco control advocacy, striving to amplify the voices of young people in policy discussions and health promotion campaigns.
During the meeting, SAYoF contributed to the dialogue by sharing evidence-based reflections on the impact of the capacity-strengthening initiative. A highlight of the meeting was a dedicated segment led by sub-grantees from Y-ACT, focusing on institutional strengthening. This segment provided valuable data-driven insights into the capacity-building journey of organizations like SAYoF, detailing both the progress made and the challenges encountered since joining the initiative supported by AMREF. The interactive joint work sessions allowed participants to engage in collaborative problem-solving, fostering an environment where operational knowledge could be shared and best practices identified. SAYoF’s experiences and insights contributed to a richer understanding of the youth-led advocacy landscape and its potential for driving meaningful change.
SAYoF is currently implementing an initiative titled “SADC Youth Call for Tobacco Control,” engaging policymakers such as SADC structures, national governments, parliament, and youth leaders to take action on tobacco in the region. SAYoF has initiated the development of a framework for the SADC Model Law for Tobacco Control, and a position paper has been developed and presented to SADC-PF.
The Partners meeting served as a crucial moment for stakeholders to realign their strategies and strengthen partnerships in the fight against tobacco use across Africa. As SAYoF Health Cluster continues to advocate for youth empowerment and health advocacy, the insights gained from this meeting will inform future initiatives and collaborative efforts within the SADC region.
SAYoF’s participation in the Partners meeting not only highlights the organization’s commitment to capacity strengthening and tobacco control advocacy but also emphasizes the critical role of youth in shaping health policies that affect their lives. The collaborative spirit of the meeting promises to enhance impact in the region, paving the way for healthier futures for young people across Africa.
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