Our Work

Welcome to our Programs page! Here at NAYO, we are proud to showcase our impactful initiatives, Each program is designed to empower our community and foster positive change. Explore how our efforts are making a difference and join us in our mission!

Tasimuka

The Tasimuka Youth Entrepreneurship (Tasimuka) activity is an inclusive and youth-led economic empowerment initiative under the Local Works Zimbabwe Youth Program. The activity is alive to the reality that youth economic empowerment is impacted by multi-dimensional and intersectional challenges and attempts to address these through integrated interventions organized along three pillars (1) The environment–influencing the policy, business, political, and economic environment for business, (2) The entrepreneur – facilitating entrepreneurial skills, accompaniment, expertise and access to resources, and (3) The coordination –of diverse stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem towards a shared understanding of challenges, opportunities and solutions. The Tasimuka Activity feeds into USAID Zimbabwe’s youth Employment and Economic Empowerment (EEE) portfolio under the Economic Growth Office. This includes the Local Works Zimbabwe Youth Program (LWZYP) and the Empowering Young Persons with Disabilities through Economic Inclusion (EMPOWER) activity. The project’s youth employment and entrepreneurship activities aim to facilitate a platform for young men and women to explore options for developing a cohesive support ecosystem that can assist, prepare, empower, and provide economic and social opportunities for Zimbabwean youth. The thrust of the Tasimuka Youth Entrepreneurship Activity is anchor on the Zimbabwe National Development Strategy, fiscal policies and the world United Nations SDGs.

ZICOMO

The Zimbabwe Constitutional Movement (ZICOMO) is a transformative initiative designed to empower citizens, strengthen civil society, and promote constitutionalism across Zimbabwe. This five-year program, funded by USAID, aims to bridge the gap between the country's progressive 2013 Constitution and its practical implementation. ZICOMO envisions a Zimbabwe where all citizens are fully aware of their constitutional rights and responsibilities, actively participating in governance processes, and holding duty-bearers accountable for democratic reforms. It seeks to foster collaboration between civil society, citizens, and policymakers to uphold constitutional principles and build a just, equitable society

CIVACTS

The CivActs Project in Chitungwiza is a transformative initiative to address Good Governance challenges at the local level. Established to ensure that community rights are realized and governmental duties are fulfilled, the project fosters a platform for meaningful dialogue, transparency, and co-creation of solutions between service providers and residents. Through a series of well-coordinated activities such as community listening meetings, feedback sessions, surveys, radio programs, and online newsletters, CivActs has successfully engaged thousands of participants and reached millions via social media channels. The project specifically targets the broken trust between service providers and residents, addressing issues related to the provision of essential services like clinics, water, sewage reticulation, and residential land. CivActs aims to rebuild trust, alleviate resource pressure, and support sustainable development in Chitungwiza by promoting accountability and proactive service delivery.

Leave No Youth Behind Campaign

The #LeaveNoYouthBehind Campaign is a non-partisan initiative spearheaded by the National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO) to empower young people to actively participate in Zimbabwe’s national processes, particularly electoral and governance activities. This campaign, built on the five pillars: Go Educate, Go Mobilize, Go Register, Go Vote, and Go Demand, aims to position young people as champions of national development by encouraging them to exercise their democratic right to vote, as enshrined in the Zimbabwean Constitution

CATALYZING YOUTH AGENCY THROUGH THE SADC YOUTH PARLIAMENT

Implemented by the National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO) in collaboration with the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF), Tanzania Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (TANGO), and Open SpaceZw, supported generously by the European Union through its Women & Youth in Democracy (WYDE), the project seeks to contribute to the effective participation of youth in Southern Africa and to strengthen their involvement in democratic processes through active, meaningful, and innovative ways. The project uses the Youth Development Model (YDM), a tool designed by SAYoF. By focusing on capacity building, civic engagement, and policy advocacy, the project aligns with the broader goals of regional integration and development in Southern Africa, as well as the SADC’s vision of a region characterized by sustainable development, peace, and security, with youth actively shaping their own future.

HIVOS URBAN FUTURES

The Urban Futures Project, a groundbreaking initiative by Hivos and the Botnar Foundation, is revolutionizing urban food systems for inclusivity and climate resilience. Set in motion in Mutare, Zimbabwe, the project is driven by a dynamic consortium comprising Green Governance Trust, National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO), and Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA). Through a multi-stakeholder approach involving local authorities, youth organizations, and various experts, the project is creating pathways for young people to voice their priorities, influence decision-making, and drive positive change in the food sector. By fostering cross-sectoral learning and implementing best practices, the project aims to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 11 (Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)

CSO PARTICIPATION IN THE GPEDC 4TH MONITORING ROUND

The Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) fourth (4th) monitoring exercise is a voluntary and multi-stakeholder process that includes all the actors involved in development. NAYO serves as the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Focal Point, together with the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NANGO). The monitoring exercise is led by national Governments of partner countries (typically by a ministry of planning, finance, or foreign affairs). It brings together bilateral and multilateral partners, trade unions, the private sector, civil society, philanthropies, and other development actors to discuss, share information, and reflect on progress and results. Results are reflected upon based on the GPEDC monitoring framework. At the country level, the exercise is organized in five phases. Phases 1-3 concern preparation and data collection. Zimbabwe is currently at this phase of the process. Phases 4-5 focus on an action-oriented process that can help institutionalize effectiveness through concrete actions and dialogue based on the monitoring results that emerge from the data collected.

#ClaimYourWaterRights Campaign

The campaign works with Youth Water and Climate Justice Hubs in the dormitory town of Chitungwiza covering the 25 Wards to catalyze youth-led local actions to defend the right to water and sanitation, advance accountability for water rights based on the Town Master Plan developed by the Chitungwiza Local Authority and community engagement of local leaders (both Members of Parliament and Councillors) to improve water accessibility and availability. Human rights offer a legal framework for holding governments accountable. As rights holders, people can engage in the denial of these rights. As duty-bearers, governments must respect, protect, and fulfil human rights – the project builds and strengthens this relationship and interaction. The project champions section 77 of the Zimbabwean Constitution on the Right to Water and leverages the Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality (AAAQ) Framework to advance the right to water Availability, Accessibility, Acceptability, and Quality. The campaign is driven by data, evidence, and the agency of locals.