Youth empowerment for a dynamic career Reflective action research in sub-Saharan Africa

The massive increase in youth population and unemployment has become a challenge for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This research exam how young people transition to adulthood can be impacted through dynamic education and career pathways and boost youth empowerment (YE). YE uses the four dimensions of power - ‘power to,’ ‘power within’, ‘power with’ and ‘power over’ – the conceptual framework for this research. It contributes to the understanding of deliberate YE through education and career pathways, and the collaboration of states and international agencies in development interventions. This research utilizes the reflective action research methodology to reflect on seven interventions in Ethiopia, Uganda and Zambia and evaluates the impact of the country’s development instruments on global policies and development agendas. This research finds that the practical application of the power dimensions are shown through acquiring and developing skills, competencies, and character traits (‘power to’) correlates to improving teaching material and methodology, which is influenced by recent content, tacit knowledge, and labour market information. The advancement of skills and competencies translate to thinking critically about oneself and the surrounding (‘power within’) and to utilising opportunities, participating, and collaborating with others (‘power with’) to improve ones education and career situation (‘power over’) and to influence policy and strategy implementation. Through this process, youth developed self-esteem, a voice to decide and act (‘power over’).