Pathways to Resilience: Africa’s Youth & Transformation

Background

Africa has the world’s youngest population, with over 60 percent below the age of 25.  A projected doubling of the population by mid-century would make the continent home to one in three of the world’s youth (15-24 years) and one in four of young adults (25-34).  Young Africans, therefore, will significantly determine Africa’s growth trajectory and its overall impact on the global economy. This large cohort of young people offer a critical opportunity for engagement and economic transformation if their talents and skills are developed and channeled into productive employment. Conversely, chronic and pervasive unemployment and/or underemployment among such a youthful labor force could lead to disillusionment and social unrest.

In this dialogue session, we will hear from African youth as well as researchers and stakeholders in different sectors that support young people to achieve their dreams. We will also discuss the opportunities available with the African Youth Transformation Platform (AYTP), a program established jointly by the AAP and MSU’s Global Youth Advancement Network (GYAN) for youth, researchers, stakeholders from the public, private sector and civil society, and other strategic partners.  The goal of the AYTP is, to elevate youth voices, facilitate research and capacity building programs and build bridges needed to advance the lives of African youth.  The outcomes of this dialogue will feed into the body of knowledge that AAP has generated through its current youth focused work, while supporting ongoing national and continental conversations on the “youth question” in Africa.

We will close the dialogue with the official launch of the AAP/GYAN African Youth Transformation Platform and encourage stakeholders to reach out to AAP to co-create future programming in the areas of youth resilience, advocacy, civic leadership, workforce development, health and social well-being.

Agenda

• 8:00AM – Welcome Remarks and Introductions
  Moderator: Chinwe Effiong, Assistant Dean for Global Youth Advancement
  Panel discussion (10 min presentations)
• 8:10AM – Youth and The Future of Africa
  Elizabeth Mwambulukutu, Regional
  Communications Manager, WaterAid East Africa
• 8:20AM – Strategic Partnerships for Youth Empowerment
  Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director and CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation
• 8:30AM – Strengthening Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Africa: The Role of African Higher Education Institutions
  Anastacia Mamabolo, Associate Professor, University of Pretoria
• 8:40AM – Q&A Session
  Jose Jackson-Malete, Co-Director, AAP MSU Campus

Launch of the AAP/GYAN African Youth Transformation Platform

• 9:15AM – Key Activities of the African Youth Transformation Platform
  Amy Jamison, Co-Director, AAP- MSU Campus
  Kwame Yeboah, Senior Program Officer, GYAN
• 9:25AM – Official Launch of the African Youth Transformation Platform
  Richard Mkandawire, Africa Director, AAP