Why young Africans are telling new stories about their migration and what this means

Young Africans are telling new stories about migration through art, storytelling, digital platforms, grassroots campaigns, and advocacy. These present migration as a driver of development, a source of cultural exchange, and an avenue for opportunities. Initiatives such as youth podcasts on mobility, photo exhibitions on migrant journeys, and youth-led research projects offer fresh perspectives that humanise migration and highlight the agency of migrants to the public sphere.

Overcoming Fear: How African Youth can redefine the narrative

I saw this in action when, in September 2025, I attended two events on migration that deeply renewed my perception of how things are shifting in Africa where I saw how young Africans are organising and getting more involved in migration policy.

Dominant policy narratives frame migration as a crisis focusing on irregular flows, trafficking, brain drain, or border insecurity shaped by external actors, such as the European Union, its member states, and regional organisations that frame migration through state-centric lenses focused on borders, control, and restriction.

Young Africans are telling new stories about migration that challenge these dominant narratives. Recognising the agency of youth and non-state actors in shaping the migration agenda means moving beyond traditional state-centric perspectives to a more inclusive understanding of migration dynamics in Africa.

Bridging the Gap: Youth at the Policy Table

Historically, youth participation in migration policy spaces has been limited. This is changing.  Young people are bringing their lived experiences and innovations to the policy space. Increasing youth participation in policy spaces can bridge the gap between international frameworks shaped by geopolitical considerations and the everyday realities of African migrants.

Youth participation and contributions are driving discussions around the implementation of regional commitments such as the African Union’s Free Movement Protocol (FMP) and steering consultative processes around the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD).

Youth, organised in networks such as the migration working group of the UNMGCY,  African Youth Commission on migration, African union youth migration dialogues have mainstreamed youth-sensitive recommendations into both the FMP and GFMD in Africa. Founded with a vision to inspire change, the migration moments with May campaign in Nigeria is another innovative example of youth engagement that uses YouTube and TikTok to translate migration policy messaging for youth, providing them with insights into the policy processes and identifying opportunities that allow them to navigate the complex and changing landscape of migration in Africa. These examples demonstrate the potential for youth to influence narratives and to create tangible impact at local, national, and continental levels.

Leveraging the power of partnerships for policy implementation

A rather obvious – but crucial – point is that policy dialogues are only meaningful if they translate into action. Non-state actors are increasingly holding national governments accountable for implementing the migration frameworks they sign onto. This involves monitoring progress, conducting shadow reports, and mobilising communities to demand change. In Ghana, the Coalition of Civil Society organisations (CSOs) on migration has advocated for the formulation of rights-based migration policies and led the drive to champion the ratification of the AU’s free movement protocol by Ghana. Similar advocacy coalitions exist across the continent and are driving change in perceptions and policies around migration. The persistence of these coalitions ensures that migration remains on the policy agenda beyond high-level summits.

Moving towards a people-centred migration future

To build on this momentum, African governments and international forums such as the GFMD should take three concrete steps:

1. Institutionalise youth participation is an urgent step that African governments need to take by:

• Creating advisory boards and consultative councils that give young people a voice in shaping migration policy.
• Partnering with youth-led organisations to counter misinformation and highlight migrants’ contributions
• Establishing transparent monitoring mechanisms that involve young people in tracking progress on regional and global migration commitments.

2. Invest in skills and mobility, expanding vocational training, scholarships, and safe intra-African migration pathways to drive youth employment. At the same time, these schemes should ensure the protection of migrants’ rights through stronger laws against xenophobia, equal access to services, and labour protections.
3. Elevate youth leadership to the global level by granting permanent spaces for young representatives to contribute directly to outcomes and recommendations. Dedicated funding windows should be created to support youth-led projects in migration research, advocacy, and service delivery. The GFMD can bridge the local and global by amplifying grassroots voices and connecting them with decision-makers. This strengthens the GFMD’s role in holding states accountable for their actions via peer-review mechanisms, which involve reporting not only to governments, but also to youth networks as part of the civil society mechanism.

Migration will continue to be a defining feature of Africa’s development journey. Ensuring that young Africans and non-state actors help shape its future is not just fair—it is essential for building inclusive, forward-looking, and humane migration policies.

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Amanda Bisong is a Policy Leader Fellow at the School of Transnational Governance.