Policies are crucial because they set clear rules and guidelines that steer decision-making and actions within governments and organizations. They ensure consistency, accountability, and transparency in applying regulations and managing resources. Beyond this, policies help prioritize goals, define responsibilities, and streamline efforts to achieve specific outcomes efficiently. 

In essence, well-crafted policies are the backbone of good governance, maintaining order and ensuring laws are effectively implemented for society’s benefit. However, a common challenge is the gap between policies and the public, often caused by technical jargon that can make policies feel inaccessible and alienating to many.

On April 26th, 2025, CivicHive, in partnership with Learn Politics, hosted the third edition of the Active Citizen Workshop. This year’s theme, “Analyzing Policies for Change: From Awareness to Action,” aimed to empower participants with practical skills to drive meaningful policy reform.

The workshop began with an insightful session by Victoria Oladipo, founder of Learn Politics, who demystified the policymaking and implementation process. She emphasized how policies shape society and highlighted the crucial role citizens play in influencing these processes.

Following this, Deji Akinpelu, co-founder of the Rethinking Cities Initiative (RCI), led a hands-on session on Policy Analysis. Participants learned how to break down policy documents, develop actionable recommendations, and identify key stakeholders, skills that laid the foundation for the group work that followed.

The final session on Policy Communication and Advocacy was led by Oluwatoyin Banjo, International Development Leader and Program Director at Ideation Hub Africa. Oluwatoyin underscored the importance of simplifying complex policies to clearly convey their value and urgency to diverse audiences.

The Importance of Youth Engagement in Policy

• Inclusive Decision-Making: Youth involvement ensures their perspectives shape relevant and sustainable policies.
• Empowerment: Engaging youth fosters a sense of ownership and encourages them to become agents of change.
• Skill Development: Participation helps young people build leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Future Preparedness: Hands-on experience in policy and community work prepares youth for future roles.
• Stronger Democracy: Youth engagement strengthens democratic processes and promotes forward-thinking policies that reflect younger generations’ needs.

Learn, Act, Engage

A real-life example of citizen influence on policy is the 2019 Amazon employee climate walkout in Seattle. Inspired by global youth-led climate strikes, over 900 employees protested against Amazon’s insufficient climate action, demanding the company stop supporting climate-denying politicians, end partnerships with fossil fuel companies, and commit to zero carbon emissions by 2030. While Amazon announced sustainability initiatives, employees felt these were inadequate. Their collective action pressured the company to strengthen its environmental commitments and set a precedent for corporate accountability (Han and Ahn, 2020). This event underscores how informed, organized citizens, especially youth, can push for policy change and hold powerful institutions accountable.

In this context, a key part of the event was a hands-on workshop where participants, divided into four groups, analyzed real policy documents. Using their newly gained skills, they crafted practical recommendations aimed at relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Each group then presented their proposals to facilitators, receiving valuable feedback that helped sharpen their advocacy strategies. This exercise empowered participants to move beyond theory, equipping them to influence real policy change with tangible impact.

Conclusion 

Involving youth in policy analysis and advocacy is not just about learning, it’s about shaping the future. This edition of the Active Citizen Hangout was designed to equip young people with the tools to understand complex policies, voice their perspectives, and drive meaningful change. When policies reflect the needs and ideas of diverse voices, especially youth, they become more inclusive, effective, and sustainable. As active citizens, it is our collective responsibility to stay informed, engage critically, and push for policies that build a just and equitable society. Together, through awareness and action, we can turn policy from a distant concept into a powerful force for positive transformation.

Reference

Han, H., & Ahn, S. W. (2020). Youth mobilization to stop global climate change: Narratives and impact. Sustainability, 12 (10), 4127.