01
Organized Youth
Register and organize 150,000 youth across every ward and village of Mandera County.
Phase 01
Empowering Youth • Building Futures
The Future ofMandera is Young
Mandera Youth Assembly empowers young people through leadership, innovation, advocacy, and community engagement, creating opportunities that transform lives and strengthen communities.
Youths Reached
Constituencies Covered
Startegic Focus Areas
Executive Summary
Transforming Youth Potential IntoRegional Development Impact
The Mandera Youth Assembly (MYA) represents a new era of youth-led development in Northern Kenya. Established in April 2022, MYA is the first fully structured youth-serving institution in the Frontier Counties Development Council region, operating with democratic legitimacy, professional governance, and a long-term vision for sustainable youth empowerment.
Unlike conventional youth groups or project-based organizations, MYA functions as an institutionalized umbrella body with a democratically elected Youth Assembly, an independent Board of Directors, a professional Secretariat, and grassroots structures reaching every ward of Mandera County.
150K
Target Youth Members
30
Wards Represented
6
Constituencies Covered
12
Strategic Focus Areas
A Trusted Platform For Youth Development Investment
MYA serves as a one-stop platform for development partners, government agencies, private sector actors, philanthropies, and donors seeking a credible, accountable, and scalable vehicle for investing in youth development across Mandera County and the wider Horn of Africa region.
Our Theory of Change
Organized youth with structured pathways to livelihoods, leadership, innovation, and peacebuilding will transform Mandera from a narrative of marginalization into a beacon of youth-led development and regional prosperity.
Our Theory of Change
From Organized Youth to Youth-Led Transformation
Our theory of change connects organization, programmes, partnerships and accountable governance to structured pathways for livelihoods, peace, climate resilience, leadership and wellbeing.
The Foundation
02
Demand-Driven Programmes
Deliver programmes across twelve strategic focus areas responding to the realities facing Mandera youth.
Phase 02
03
Strategic Partnerships
Build sustainable partnerships with county and national government, development partners, private sector and community institutions.
Phase 03
04
Accountable Governance
Maintain a democratic, inclusive and accountable governance structure responsive to members.
Phase 04
Strategic Outcomes
Pathways to Livelihoods
Enterprise support, TVET certification, digital skills and livestock commercialization will reduce youth unemployment and create a new generation of youth entrepreneurs.
Outcome 01
Pathways to Peace
Peace ambassador programmes, inter-clan dialogues and early warning systems will reduce clan violence, prevent extremist recruitment and strengthen social cohesion.
Outcome 02
Pathways to Climate Resilience
Climate-smart agriculture, green jobs and water harvesting will enable youth to adapt to drought and other climate shocks while contributing to environmental restoration.
Outcome 03
Pathways to Leadership & Governance
Leadership academies, the Youth Parliament and public participation forums will increase youth representation in decision-making and ensure policies and budgets reflect youth priorities.
Outcome 04
Pathways to Health & Wellbeing
Mental health support, substance abuse prevention and reproductive health education will improve health outcomes and reduce risky behaviours.
Outcome 05
Long-Term Regional Impact
A beacon of youth-led development, peace and innovation across Northern Kenya and the Frontier Counties Development Council region.
MYA seeks to transform Mandera from a narrative of marginalization, insecurity and dependency into a model for pastoralist youth development across the Horn of Africa.
What Our Community Says
Halima Adan
Scholarship Beneficiary
"MYA guided me through the scholarship application process and connected me with mentors who encouraged me to pursue higher education."
July 22, 2026
Ahmed Noor
Peace Ambassador
"The Peace Ambassadors program equipped me with conflict resolution skills that are helping build stronger relationships within our community."
June 15, 2026
Fadumo Hassan
Youth Entrepreneur
"The business mentorship and networking opportunities provided by MYA helped me transform my idea into a sustainable enterprise."
May 30, 2026
Abdiwahab Yusuf
ICT Hub Participant
"Access to MYA's ICT Hub allowed me to develop digital skills, connect with opportunities, and begin my journey in technology."
April 18, 2026