Research & Policy | United Diplomats of Africa (UDA)

Unlocking Continental Intelligence Through Dialogue: UDA Forums and Youth-Driven Policy Insight

By the Department of Research & Policy | United Diplomats of Africa (UDA)

As the United Diplomats of Africa (UDA) embarks on a bold new chapter with the launch of UDA Forums, the Department of Research and Policy proudly aligns its mission with this dynamic platform, designed to bridge regional experiences with data-informed diplomacy.

Informing Policy from the Ground Up

The essence of UDA Forums lies in participatory dialogue — not just as a form of expression, but as a strategic tool for continental intelligence-gathering. As a department, our role is to capture, analyze, and translate these insights into policy briefs, regional snapshots, and strategic reports that inform both our internal agenda and external partnerships.

Through structured engagement across UDA’s five regions — West, East, Central, Southern, and North Africa — UDA Forums offer a living dataset of youth opinion on pressing development, security, education, climate, and governance challenges. Each member submission contributes to a collective body of knowledge that reflects the evolving concerns and aspirations of African youth.

Data-Informed Diplomacy

Our goal is to move beyond anecdote and toward evidence-based representation. Whether it’s feedback on ECOWAS youth employment initiatives, commentary on digital access in East Africa, or analysis of education reform in the South, these regional conversations provide critical indicators for how diplomacy must evolve to reflect the continent’s youngest demographic.

The UDA Research & Policy Department will:

• Track thematic trends emerging from Forum responses;

• Compile regional insights reports for use in advocacy and institutional partnerships;

• Convene expert panels and briefings based on Forum data;

• Advise the Executive Council and Global Affairs Directorate on youth-aligned priorities.

Call to Action

We urge all UDA members, partners, and regional stakeholders to see UDA Forums as more than a digital space — it is a continental observatory, recording Africa’s future one insight at a time. Every voice matters, every narrative is valid, and every contribution has the potential to shape UDA’s diplomatic posture.

Let us work together to transform conversation into strategy — and strategy into lasting impact.

Department of Research & PolicyUnited Diplomats of Africa“Research is the language of action. Let the youth speak — and let the data lead.”