Event Overview

In TICAD's first-ever youth-led three-day event "Youth TICAD 2025," 100 young people from Africa and Japan will declare action together as agents of transformation under the philosophy of 'Youth Agenda 2055: The Future We Want'.

This session will be held on the final day and trace the journey of more than a year and a half from the policy advocacy project that began in February 2024 to Youth TICAD 2025.

In addition to the official presentation of the policy recommendation document, through youth pitch sessions and intergenerational dialogue, we will discuss the possibilities of cross-regional and intergenerational co-creation, looking beyond TICAD9, and chart the course for the next actions toward the implementation phase of 'Youth Agenda 2055.'

Background

The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) was established in 1993 under the leadership of the Japanese government and has evolved as a multilateral platform for advancing cooperation between Africa and Japan. For TICAD, with its history of more than 30 years, to continue evolving toward the future, the participation and co-creation perspective of young people who will lead the next generation is essential.

In Africa, approximately 70% of the population is expected to be under 30 by 2050, while youth unemployment poses a serious challenge. Meanwhile, Japan faces a declining birthrate and aging population, with increasing social and economic burdens on young people. Against this backdrop of complementary challenges and strengths, youth from both regions are expected to unite based on "equal co-creation" rather than "one-way support" and explore new forms of cooperation.

The "TICAD 9 Youth Policy Proposal Project" was launched in February 2024, aiming to evolve the relationship between Africa and Japan from "one-way support" to "co-creation." UNDP, JICA, and UNV have played a role in connecting youth voices with domestic and international policymakers, accompanying and supporting this project. Reflecting this background, the role of youth has been emphasized more than ever in stakeholder meetings leading to TICAD9 and outcome documents from last year's TICAD Ministerial Meeting.

'Youth Agenda 2055: The Future We Want' was developed in this context as international goals depicting "the future 30 years from now that we want" as envisioned by young people from Japan and Africa. Developed primarily by the Africa Asia Youth Nest and Africa Diaspora Network Japan, these goals are based on TICAD's three pillars of economy, society, and peace and stability, while also reflecting youth perspectives such as "human connections" and "sustainability." Furthermore, they include challenges faced by today's youth, such as mental health, employment, education, environment, and multicultural coexistence, aiming to serve as guidelines for young people not only in Africa and Japan but worldwide to build a better future together.

Moving forward, "Youth TICAD 2025" was launched as the core event to transition the project from the formulation phase of Youth Agenda 2055 to the implementation phase.

"Youth TICAD 2025" is a gathering of 100 young people from across Africa and Japan, positioning themselves not merely as advocates but as protagonists driving transformation toward the "ideal future of 2055" and declaring action. This is the first youth-led summit in TICAD's history of more than 30 years.

Over three days, they conduct workshops and fieldwork where they visit companies and civic organizations around Yokohama City and hold an informal pitch contest based on their co-created action declarations. This initiative also marks a turning point for the "TICAD9 Youth Policy Proposal Project" that began in February 2024.

This session, "3rd Youth Drive," aims to officially present this document and demonstrate the power of youth solidarity and co-creation to the world. This event also provides a platform for young people from Japan and Africa to build connections and discuss concrete ways to collaborate in the implementation phase.

Youth TICAD 2025 Official Page: https://youthticad2025.org/

Youth TICAD 2025 Overview: "The Future Co-created by Africa and Japan as Envisioned by Youth ~ Launch of the First-Ever Youth Version of African Development Conference 'Youth TICAD 2025'"

Event Details

Title: 3rd Youth Drive: Bridging Policy with Action through Co-creation

Date and Time: Wednesday, August 20, 2025, 12:00-13:20 (Japan Standard Time)

Format: Hybrid

• In-person venue: PACIFICO Yokohama Exhibition Hall D
• Online streaming: Zoom

Languages: English, Japanese, French (simultaneous interpretation service available)

Co-organizers: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Volunteers (UNV), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Africa Asia Youth Nest (AAYN), Africa Diaspora Network Japan (ADNJ), Youth TICAD Committee

In Cooperation with:  

G7/G20 Youth Japan, International Youth Connect (IYC), Japan Youth Platform for Sustainability (JYPS), MPJ Youth Japan, Network of African Students in Japan (NASJA) 

Supporters: Japan Association of Corporate Executives, Toyota Tsusho Co., The Tokyo Club, University of Tokyo, City of Yokohama, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation

Participation Fee: Free

Registration Links:

• In-person participation: https://forms.gle/gqdxhU1MW6xTKUNt5
• Online participation: https://undp.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9grNEe-4Sk2yHMWJ-iJZHA

Program

Speaker Profiles