LocationsInvesting in Africa’s Future: Youth Perspectives Ahead of the AU–EU Summit
November 20, 2025
As leaders of the African Union and the European Union prepare to meet in Luanda for the AU–EU Summit, discussions on cooperation, economic transformation, and human development take on renewed urgency.
With Africa’s demographic transition underway and young people representing the majority of its population, the Summit will help shape the conditions under which the next generation will learn, participate and lead.
In this context, UNDP and UNICEF promoted the Youth Policy Dialogue “Investing in Africa’s Future” in Luanda, bringing together young leaders, development partners and institutions to reflect on the systemic investments needed to expand opportunities for children, youth and young women.
A dialogue that offered a structured space for perspectives that are often underrepresented in policy discussions, particularly on issues such as access to education, persistent gender barriers and the additional obstacles faced by young people with disabilities.
Young people are not a symbolic constituency. We are an engine of creativity, innovation and resilience. But unlocking this potential requires intentional, measurable investments.Elena Acebes, Ex-AfYWL
Women’s leadership also emerged as a central theme across interventions. In a message shared with participants, Angolan AfYWL alumna Elena Acebes reminded participants that leadership does not begin with a job title, but with the environments in which girls grow.
“If we want young women to lead, we must transform the foundational conditions that shape their earliest experiences. It begins when a girl feels protected, when she feels valued and empowered to use her voice without fear.”
Adja Sy, also a former fellow, highlighted how meaningful opportunities can shape both confidence and agency. "During the fellowship, we become development actors and were immersed in spaces where real decisions are made. When you're trusted with responsibilities that matter, you begin to see yourself not as someone preparing for leadership, but as someone already leading.”, she described reflecting on her fellowship in Addis Ababa.
Both perspectives pointed to a broader truth echoed throughout the dialogue: young people thrive when surrounded by strong ecosystems, mentors, networks and institutions that believe in their capacity to lead.
Building on this idea, Joachim Valot, founder of CYTO, shared how programmes like timbuktoo, the pan-African innovation initiative supported by UNDP, help young innovators move from ideas to implementation by connecting them to financing, technical guidance and continental networks. His experience illustrated how targeted investments can translate youth potential into solutions with real economic and social impact.
Joachin talks about his experience on the Timbuktoo program
Valot emphasized that the strength of initiatives like Timbuktoo lies not only in funding, but in creative spaces for young Africans to learn from one another: “No one is better placed to understand African problems than young Africans themselves, and nothing is more valuable than giving the space to connect, collaborate, and build solutions together.”
Across the room, the message was consistent: Africa’s young people are ready to contribute to the continent’s transformation. Ensuring they have access to quality education, safe environments, innovation ecosystems and leadership opportunities will be essential to building the inclusive and prosperous future of the continent.
The dialogue addressed access to education, persistent gender barriers, and additional obstacles faced by young people with disabilities.