A groundbreaking five-year research programme, u’GOOD, has been launched to improve the lives of young people across the Global South by focusing on the relational nature of wellbeing — the idea that human flourishing is deeply rooted in relationships and community connections.

The programme has awarded grants to 23 research projects across nine countries, including Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Colombia, Ecuador, and Romania. Each project investigates critical issues facing youth in urban and peri-urban settings, from mental health and digitalisation to climate change and livelihoods.

Led by South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) in partnership with the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and funded primarily by Switzerland’s Fondation Botnar, u’GOOD prioritises active youth involvement and aims to place their voices at the heart of developing solutions.

“By focusing on how best to secure the futures of young people in the Global South, we are exploring how to secure the future of humanity. Ninety percent of the world’s citizens aged between 15 and 24 live in the Global South,” said Dr. Dorothy Ngila of the NRF.

This is the first major programme dedicated to relational wellbeing, looking beyond traditional measures of material success to emphasise social ties, cultural identity, and community belonging.

Researchers say the initiative not only addresses pressing challenges such as unemployment, climate distress, and digital inequality, but also creates a global community of practice to share insights and strategies for sustainable youth empowerment.