At Africa’s Voices, we believe that listening is a practice that transforms how development is understood and delivered. In 2025, this belief continued to guide our work as we created meaningful spaces for people across Africa to share their experiences, priorities, and aspirations.
This year, we engaged over 15,558 participants and analysed more than 55,265 relevant messages across Kenya and Somalia. These numbers represent real voices; voices of resilience in the face of climate shocks, voices calling for more inclusive governance, and voices demanding accountability, dignity, and opportunity. Through our work, these perspectives have directly informed policies, programmes, and partnerships, ensuring that decisions are grounded in lived realities.
Our collaboration with partners such as the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) demonstrated the value of people-generated evidence in complex and fragile contexts. In Somalia, our corridor-based engagement and Pulse Check initiatives provided timely insights into governance, economic participation, and humanitarian needs. These contributions strengthened political economy analysis and supported more responsive programming during a critical period of transition.
In Kenya, our work in Makueni County reaffirmed that communities are not passive beneficiaries of development, they are active agents of change. By combining interactive radio with SMS engagement, we enabled inclusive dialogue that brought forward the perspectives of youth, women, and persons with disabilities. The result was not only richer evidence, but also tangible shifts in how communities participate in and shape their own development.
Across all our initiatives, one message stands out clearly: people are ready to engage. However, meaningful participation requires intentional investment in inclusive platforms, accessible information, and accountable leadership. It also requires a commitment from institutions to listen and to act.
As Africa’s Voices, we are proud of our continued work to generate robust people-led evidence, amplify diverse perspectives, and ensure that insights reach wider audiences and influence change beyond traditional policy spaces.
As we look ahead, we continue to strengthen civic engagement, deepen inclusion, and expand our reach to ensure that even the most marginalised voices are heard. We will also invest in innovation, leveraging technology and media to listen at scale while maintaining the depth and quality of our analysis.
None of this work would be possible without the dedication of our team, the trust of the communities we engage, and the support of our partners. I extend my sincere gratitude to all who have contributed to this journey.
Africa’s future should be shaped by the voices of its people. In 2025, we took important steps toward that vision. In the years ahead, we remain committed to listening more deeply, engaging more broadly, and ensuring that every voice counts.
Read the the report by CLICKING HERE.
Samuel Kimeu,
Executive Director
info@africasvoices.org / samuel@africasvoices.org
