Global Leadership and Education Advancing Development (LEAD) Initiative

Our Vision for Change

Young people contribute creative ideas, radical solutions, and generative energy to some of the world’s biggest development challenges. USAID aims to support a new generation of young people, who are empowered and equipped to tackle the world’s biggest development challenges and promote peaceful, prosperous, just, and democratic societies. While many young people are motivated to take collective action in their communities, they often find their voices discounted by those in power. Our priority is to connect and support young people with peers and allies, to help advocate and act for positive change.

Global LEAD Supports Young Changemakers

USAID’s Global LEAD initiative aims to mobilize one million young leaders to guide their countries’ progress on human rights, climate action, fair governance, job skills, global health, and violence prevention, among other key challenges. The initiative partners with young leaders, higher education institutions, civil society, and others to support young changemakers to:

• Improve education: Training on civics curriculum, media literacy training, and debate programs.
• Increase engagement in civic and political issues: Programs on service-learning, volunteerism, and voter registration.
• Strengthen leadership skills and opportunities: Leadership training, capacity building of youth-led organizations, and membership in collective leadership groups.