The Global Alliance for Youth Political Action is a growing network of organizations throughout the world focused on supporting and promoting youth civic and political engagement. The Alliance currently comprises Accountability Lab, Community of Democracies, Democracy Moves, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, People Powered, and Restless Development. Our primary goals are to coordinate our collective efforts to advocate for increased resources and support to young people leading political change efforts around the world.

The Alliance recently released a report, endorsed by the majority of its member organizations, “Walking the Walk”, which uses survey-research and interview findings to push back against the false narratives of youth apathy and democratic disaffection. The reality is more nuanced. Although young people distrust formal political institutions and have doubts about democracy's ability to deliver, the report reveals high levels of political activism and young people's intense desire to influence positive change through new modes of organizing. The challenge is bridging the divide between young people and formal democratic decision-making processes.