The European Union and the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment have signed a €2.7 million agreement to strengthen youth civic participation, policy engagement, and sustainable entrepreneurship across six regions of Ghana.
The EU-Ghana Youth Empowerment Programme – Spark Change-Makers Project, which is expected to span three years, will be implemented by SOS Children’s Villages in Ghana in partnership with Songtaba and Social Innovation Africa to execute the objectives of the initiative.
The programme will support 300 youth-led civil society organisations, 500 young social entrepreneurs, 90 emerging youth leaders, 60 media houses, and 10 social media influencers. It is aimed at strengthening youth participation, innovation, and contribution towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Implemented under the flagship EU-Ghana Youth Empowerment Programme, the project focuses on empowering young people to achieve SDGs 1, 5, and 8, which relate to ending poverty, achieving gender equality, and promoting decent work and economic growth.
The programme will be rolled out across six regions, including Ashanti, Greater Accra, Western North, Volta, Northern, and Upper East regions. These areas were selected based on their diverse youth demographics and their relevance to civic engagement and job creation.
With a total funding of €2.7 million, the European Union is financing €2.6 million of the project, which will run from 1 June 2026 to 4 June 2029. The initiative is expected to improve the capacity of youth-led and youth-focused CSOs to mobilise resources, engage in advocacy, and participate in policy dialogue, while also strengthening Ghana’s social enterprise ecosystem and expanding opportunities for young people.


