Supporting the Design and Implementation of Youth-Led Research Projects - Guidance Note

“The act of conducting research, regardless of the topic, can have positive impacts on youth and their relationships in the community.”

This note offers guidance on implementing a youth-led research project, which is described as "a powerful tool for youth empowerment and engagement, and for inquiry contributing to improved understanding of community issues.”  It is based on the experiences of Search for Common Ground (SFCG) working on youth-led research (YLR) initiatives in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Burundi, and Tanzania. The intention of this document is to assist practitioners in recognising the multiple values of youth-led research as a programme approach, assess the appropriateness of the approach in relation to project needs, and to identify key considerations to help guide the design and implementation of new projects.

As explained in the document, “There is growing momentum to involve young people in building peace following  the unanimous passage of the United Nations Security Council Resolution for Youth, Peace and Security (Resolution 2250) in December 2015. However, many peacebuilding programs are designed by adult researchers who diagnose the problem and then design programs involving youth – often with little or no engagement by young people. By excluding young people from the research and design processes, peace practitioners risk developing programs that do not effectively empower young people as the agents of change that they are, but instead perpetuate their dependency as beneficiaries.”

Following on from a discussion that explains in more detail what YLR involves, the guidance note looks at the following:  

When is Youth-Led Research the Right Approach? - This section looks at the value of a youth led approach, and offers a list of questions that can help practitioner assess the appropriateness of the approach.

What are the Benefits of Youth-Led Research? - The following benefits are discussed using examples from projects in Africa:

• Improved Skills and Confidence
• Improved Relationships between Youth and Elders
• Improved Relationships among Youth
• Foundation for Youth Leadership and Advocacy
• Access to Community and Marginalized Populations

Key Considerations for Youth-Led Research - As explained in the guidance note, youth-led research is an empowering and valuable participatory approach, but it also requires a special set of considerations. Young people have capacities and lived experiences that are different than professionally trained researchers and adults. Participation must be balanced against protection for young people, in accordance with their age and competencies. Issues to consider are:

• Conflict Sensitivity and “Do No Harm”
• Adult Supported and Technically Advised
• Age
• Trauma Exposure and the need to supporting youth researchers.  

Ethical Standards - There are specific ethical standards for research involving children and youth. Some of the specific ethical considerations for youth-led research are discussed in this section. The project team should reflect, discuss, and find proper solutions to these ethical standards before starting a new youth-led research project. Youth researchers should also receive training on ethical standards before conducting the research.  Issues to consider are:

• Benefits and Potential Harm
• Informed Consent
• Payment and Compensation

Lessons Learned in Designing and Implementing Youth-Led Research Projects - This section offers some tips, tricks, and advice to keep in mind when designing or implementing a youth-led research project based on lessons learned by staff who have completed similar projects. These include planning and budgeting, establishing community buy-in, building research teams, managing the research process, and providing continued support and avenues for action. 

Click here for a 2-page document on Youth-Led Research.

For more in-depth information on the quantitative research and interview methodology SFCG  employs for youth-led research, explore the Listening and Learning Toolkit.