In 2014, Youth Lab, in partnership with the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA), developed a manual aimed at training elected public officials with a curriculum on youth sensitive budgeting. Young people represent a large segment of the population across the continent and although this should be reflected in the vision, budgeting and development planning of any country, this is not often the case. 

Therefore, it is important that policymakers, political actors, business communities and young people themselves, understand the dynamics associated with youth related issues. A focus on budgeting is a focus on the distribution of resources and access to power, and is critically important for the State to perform its developmental functions and for young people to better understand what is available to them and how best to mobilise around available resources.

EISA and Youth Lab trained public officials in South Africa, Botswana and Lesotho using this curriculum.