The impossible-possible mission of connecting the youngest continent
Africa is the youngest continent with over 200 million people aged between 15-24 in 2015 accounting for 19 percent of the global youth population (UNECA ,2015). By 2030, it is projected that the number of youth in Africa will have increased by 42 per cent. Despite this number, investment in the socio-economic empowerment and participation of young people in decision-making processes on the continent is limited. The majority of African youth continue to face a myriad of challenges not limited to unemployment, lack of skills, quality and relevant education and quality health care. Thus, a greater proportion of youth do not have the opportunity to fully develop their potential and contribute effectively to the development agenda on the continent.
The African Youth SDGs Summit series was started in 2017 in Ghana as an annual Pan-African country rotational initiative to mobilize and activate the power of young people to drive the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Africa. The maiden event attracted 425 participants from 25 countries tackling topics spanning across SDGs themes such as environment, gender, disabilities, economic and social development.
The African Youth SDGs Summit envisions a continent which is open to continuous dialogue with its vibrant youthful population. The future goal of the initiative is to ensure that this is not a one-time event but the start of larger movement and SDG Youth conversation in Africa.