Southern Voice (SV) and Mashariki Research and Policy Centre (MRPC) convened a virtual consultative meeting on 24 February 2026 to deepen their shared commitment to Global South–led policy advocacy, including strengthening youth engagement in global governance.

The Southern Voice delegation compromised Ms. Zamiyat Abubakar, Senior Engagement Officer, and Ms. Valeria Colunga, Executive Strategy Officer, while the MRPC team was led by Chief Executive Officer, Brig. (Rtd) Dr. Robert Kabage.

Discussions focused on opportunities to amplify Global South perspectives through joint policy dialogues, collaborative research, and targeted capacity-building initiatives, including efforts to enhance youth inclusion in strategic leadership . The engagement also reaffirmed the importance of expanding linkages between MRPC and Southern Voice’s wider global network of member institutions.

Both institutions underscored the value of formalising institutional engagement to enhance research uptake, knowledge exchange, and policy impact. The envisioned collaboration aligns with broader global development priorities beyond the 2030 Agenda and seeks to deepen connections between the Greater Eastern Africa region and Southern Voice’s global membership base through MRPC’s regional foresight and policy networks.