YOUTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Mozambique is an emerging democracy with over 50% of its population under the age of 18. This includes Mozambique’s born free generation – those born since the country's first democratic multiparty presidential and legislative elections in 1994.  Mozambican youth are therefore a sizeable and critically important group of citizens that will inform and influence the future development of the country’s democracy and development, for better or worse. The 2014 election was the first time born-frees were able to vote.  However data from Afrobarometer shows that born frees were less likely to vote than those citizens that had experienced one-party politics and the previous authoritarian regime.  Evidence shows that born frees are disengaged in the political process; they tend not to be interested in public affairs, discuss politics, contact political leaders, vote, identify with political parties or affiliate into civic organizations. CPGD seeks to bring analysis, perspectives and policy recommendations on how this important topic can be tackled.