How a Movement Began
2018
The Network of Youth for Climate Action (NYCA) was founded in 2018 by 54 passionate activists drawn from 5 African countries. The founders came together with a shared vision to amplify youth voices in climate action and sustainable development across Africa.
2019
In 2019, NYCA Africa began its on-the-ground work by launching community-based projects. These projects focused on engaging local communities, raising awareness, and empowering young people to lead environmental initiatives in their areas.
2020
The year 2020 marked a major policy milestone. NYCA officially launched the NYCA Africa Policies and Constitution. This framework was developed to guide the organization�s operations, governance, and advocacy efforts across different African nations.
2021
Building on this, in 2021 NYCA Africa introduced the Climate Adaptation Program. The program was designed to help vulnerable communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change through education, training, and local action plans
2022
NYCA Africa scaled its impact in 2022 by training 3,000 young people on Disaster Risk Reduction across 10 countries. This initiative equipped youth with skills to prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate-related disasters.
2023
In 2023, the organization expanded its partnerships by collaborating with another youth-led organization on the Growing Resilience Series. This series aimed to share knowledge, tools, and best practices for building resilient communities.
2024
A key structural achievement came in 2024 when NYCA was officially registered as a Pan-African Youth Group. This gave it formal recognition and a stronger platform to operate across the continent. That same year, NYCA also led an environmental restoration effort where 50,000 trees were planted on degraded lands to combat deforestation and land degradation.
2025
In 2025, NYCA Africa partnered with several other youth-led organizations to launch the sustainable Energy Waste to Resource initiative (SEWRI) Program. SEWRI focuses on empowering young people through education, entrepreneurship, and climate action.
2026
Looking ahead to 2026, NYCA has three major initiatives in progress:
- Partnership with the Pan African Youth Union- currently underway to strengthen continental youth collaboration.
- The Ghanaian Youth Summit on Environmental Sustainability and Green Jobs- aimed at creating opportunities for youth in the green economy.
- African Youth Summit on Agroecology and climate Acton- a platform to bring together young leaders to develop solutions for Africa�s climate challenges and thrive for food sovereignty.
From its humble beginnings with 54 activists, NYCA Africa has grown into a recognized Pan-African movement driving youth leadership,food & seed sovereignty, climate adaptation, and environmental sustainability across the continent.