Five years ago, Yoma, the Youth Agency Marketplace, was created with the purpose of ensuring that every young person, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive. As we mark International Youth Day (IYD) 2025 with the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, we celebrate Yoma’s remarkable journey. From its humble beginnings, Yoma quickly grew into a vibrant ecosystem, transforming lives across Africa and beyond. Supported by UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU), a global Public-Private-Youth partnership connecting young people to opportunities in employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact, Yoma has been at the forefront of youth empowerment for the past five years.
Today, Yoma has over 5.5 million engagements, with more than 700,000 young people across Africa accessing skilling, earning and impact opportunities through its ecosystem. Through this platform, youth are accessing scholarships, gaining skills, connecting to jobs and creating impact in their communities. Thousands of young people have already secured scholarships for three-year online degrees in Data/IT or Business.
“A major achievement of this project is the formal recognition of Youth Agency Marketplace as Nigeria’s national youth opportunities aggregator, connecting young people to skilling, innovation, and economic pathways.”
What sets Yoma apart is its core principle: it was designed by youth, for youth. Recognising that young people are best suited to shape solutions for their peers, Yoma was prototyped by young people themselves. This human-centred approach has helped to address two issues: fragmented and limited opportunities, thus ensuring marginalised youth are not left behind but are growing and succeeding.
"Developed by UNICEF, partners, and young Africans themselves, Yoma has grown into a global movement transforming lives through youth skills development, community engagement, and building real bridges to employment. It’s about more than just opportunities; it’s about empowering young people to control their own data and challenge outdated systems. As we celebrate Yoma’s fifth anniversary, I’m incredibly proud that it is now touching the lives of millions of young people across Africa and beyond. See the impact we’re making, our journey is just beginning."
Yoma has become much more than a digital platform. Young Kenyans are using it to map internet access in schools, contributing to education improvements and community development. Nigerian youth participated in birth registration drives, directly impacting the lives of millions of children. South African youth are monitoring water quality, supporting early disease detection, accessing jobs and skills. These actions demonstrate how local youth-led efforts can contribute profoundly to global progress, powered by the Youth for Change (Y4C) operating model, which is resulting in upskilled youth, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and significantly reducing programme costs. Yoma is building youth-led approaches that are stronger, more inclusive, and more sustainable.
Supporting Yoma’s efforts are key global partners such as SAP, Accenture, Rlabs, Umuzi, Goodwall, the Government of Canada, DIDx, IXO and Fondation Botnar, among others. These organisations provide technical expertise, innovation, and strategic support, helping Yoma reach more young people. Their contributions enable the platform to adopt emerging technologies and ensure sustainable, youth-centred solutions that align with the broader goals of inclusive development.
"Investing in young people is an investment in the future. As technological change accelerates, particularly in developing countries, young people must adapt to an increasingly complex and competitive job market. Societies that equip their youth with the right skills will drive sustained economic growth, innovation, and social stability. Conversely, without urgent action, millions of young people risk being left behind, deepening inequality and economic stagnation."
Innovations in Yoma such as YoID, a digital identity system that verifies and showcases youth skills and achievements, are helping young people make their talents visible and verifiable to potential employers and educational institutions. Over 234,000 young people have already created their YoIDs, and Yoma continues to integrate advanced technology to build secure, transparent pathways for youth to earn, exchange, and demonstrate their skills and progress.
In celebrating this milestone, we reflect on how Yoma represents the transformative power of local youth actions, creating ripple effects that extend well beyond borders. As the world advances towards 2030, UNICEF and partners remain committed to fostering environments where young voices influence policy, lead innovation, and inspire a global movement for sustainable development.
Join us on this journey. Explore inspiring youth-led stories and learn how you can support local youth initiatives at Yoma.world.
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