FIELD INSIGHTS | #Youth4Soil Kenya Data Drive: Using the Regreening App to engage young people in restoration

The Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) is a multistakeholder initiative addressing the world’s persistent challenges of declining soil health caused by climate change, the pressure to produce more from the land and unsustainable land usage.

These barriers are widening the skills gap that disproportionately affects young people, and further restricts youth participation in sustainable soil management and innovation, despite their immense potential to drive transformation in agri‐food systems.

The #Youth4Soil initiative under CA4SH has emerged as a dynamic platform to mobilize young farmers, pastoralists, researchers, and advocates around soil health, climate resilience, and sustainable land use.

Between 27 April and 10th May, 2026, #Youth4Soil engaged the cohort in Kenya in a data drive using the Regreening App to generate participatory, credible and standardized data while strengthening both scientific understanding and community action among youth.

Carried out under the Towards Ending Drought Emergencies (TWENDE) project, the data drive engaged local youth from the Mid Tana, Chyulu, and Sabarwawa landscapes, regions that are highly vulnerable to drought and land degradation.

By engaging directly in data collection, youth became active contributors to evidence‐based decision‐making rather than passive beneficiaries of external interventions.

The experiences documented in this brief highlight how the initiative empowered youth with skills, credibility and advocacy capacity, positioning them as agents of change. The initiative fostered stronger youth networks and enhanced confidence, while the lasting impact will be reflected in improved soil practices, informed policies, and resilient communities that can better withstand future shocks.