In January 2020, a couple of weeks before the launch of Voices Unite, Heavy Chef anchor Zinhle Novazi chatted to Jonathan Mundell, the CEO of In On Africa (IOA) and Founder of Voices Unite about the work IOA is doing with the Voices Unite project and what it took to bring the project together.  

Jonathan co-founded IOA in 2007 when he was just 25 years old, and the firm has become one of the leading research firms in Africa, with an on-the-ground presence in more than 30 African countries. The Voices Unite initiative was conceptualised by IOA in an effort to better understand the views and perspectives of young people to help guide the work being done to address challenges faced by African youth.

In this interview, Jonathan chats to Zinhle about: 

• The value of having the correct data from African youth about what is affecting them.
• How the lack of data and understanding of African youth can negatively impact our development.
• The importance of setting up systems for meaningful engagement with young people and bringing them to the decision-making table.
• The medium and long-terms plans for the Voices Unite project.

Watch the video above and let us know what you think below!