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Founded by young people in Jigjiga. Mandated for all of Ethiopia.
CAYO began in 2023, when young women and men from several sectors came together to give young people and women a platform of their own. This is how it has grown, and where it goes next.
How it began.
The founders shared one conviction: young people are not a problem to be managed. They are a nation’s most important resource.
The Concerned African Youth Organization (CAYO) was founded in Jigjiga in 2023 by like-minded young women and men who brought experience from different sectors into one youth-led organization.
Its first home is the Somali Region, where pastoral livelihoods, recurrent drought, displacement and uneven access to services shape daily life. Young people and women there hold much of the knowledge and energy for change, and too few of the platforms to use it. CAYO set out to build those platforms, starting with the people closest to it.
Our story so far.
Young women and men with their certificates at the Peace Ambassadors Fellowship ceremony with U-Report Ethiopia.
- 2023
Founded in Jigjiga. Young women and men from different sectors found CAYO and establish the annual CAYO Award for young leaders in Somali Regional State.
- 2024
Registered nationwide. CAYO registers as a local civil society organization under CSO Proclamation No. 1113/2019 (Registry No. 7335), with a mandate in every regional state and the city administrations of Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.
- 2025
Delivery with partners. 5 projects with 6 partners in 2025/26, on civil society strengthening, prevention of violence against women and girls, education access and youth peacebuilding.
- Today
A network and a movement. 13,000+ young people in the Fursadaha Dhalinyarada network and 400+ active volunteers in Jigjiga.
Since 2023
The CAYO Award.
CAYO established its award in its founding year. Every year since 2023, the CAYO Award has recognized young people in Somali Regional State for exceptional leadership, commitment and social impact.
It remains one of CAYO’s 6 flagship initiatives, alongside the Fursadaha Dhalinyarada network, CAYO Volunteers, the Peace Ambassadors Fellowship, Collaboration Over Competition and the Somali Region Peacebuilding Actors Network (SR-PAN).
Two winners with their CAYO Awards 2025 plaques.
Projects with national and international partners.
In 2025/26 CAYO ran 5 projects with 6 partners, from civil society strengthening to the prevention of violence against women and girls.
A capacity-building training for emerging civil society organizations, with CSRC and CAYO banners.
Ongoing to January 2027
Empowering Civil Society Groups for Social Justice and Resilience, Phase II
With Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Civil Society Resource Center (CSRC). Implemented by CSRC and CAYO.
Completed October 2026
Community-Led Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls and Harmful Traditional Practices
With the International Solidarity Foundation (ISF). Implemented by CAYO.
Completed
Empowering Civil Society Groups for Social Justice and Resilience, Phase I
With AFD and CSRC. Implemented by CSRC and CAYO.
Completed
Back2School with CAYO
With Ethio Telecom and Ugaaso Women Space Org. Implemented by CAYO.
Completed
Peace Ambassadors Fellowship Program
With U-Report Ethiopia. Implemented by CAYO.
A movement young people run.
Alongside its projects, CAYO has built platforms of its own that keep going between grants.
- 13,000+
Fursadaha Dhalinyarada
Young people in CAYO’s youth opportunities network, sharing jobs, training, mentorship and connections across the Somali Region on Telegram.
CAYO, 2026
- 400+
CAYO Volunteers
Active volunteers in Jigjiga, mobilized under the campaign Let’s Normalize Volunteerism.
CAYO, 2026
Platforms for others
Collaboration Over Competition links local civil society organizations, especially those led by youth and women, for partnership and shared resources.
SR-PAN brings peacebuilding actors together for coordination, knowledge exchange and joint advocacy.
Stages of growth, to 2030.
Our strategy, Youth in the Lead 2026–2030, grows CAYO from a youth movement in the Somali Region into a national platform for youth leadership.
2023 to 2026: Establish
Jigjiga and the Somali Region. Build the network, volunteers, partnerships and delivery record.
2027 to 2028: Consolidate and connect
Wider Somali Region zones and neighbouring areas such as Dire Dawa, Harari, Afar and eastern Oromia, with local youth-led co-leads and a liaison presence in Addis Ababa.
2029 to 2030: Extend
Further regions. Local youth-led co-leads take on day-to-day leadership of regional programmes.
Our entry rule. CAYO opens work in a new region together with a local youth-led partner, never ahead of one. Stages 2 and 3 depend on partners and funding.
The next chapter has room for you.
Funders, partners, volunteers, local organizations and peacebuilding actors all write it with us.