Our World, Our Future: African Youth at the Summit of the Future
Transforming Africa with Youth-Driven Solutions
Hybrid Side Event for Young Africans by Young Africans during the 2024 Summit of the Future
Friday, 20 September
- 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. New York time in Conference Room 7, United Nations Headquarters, New York and .
- 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. New York local time at the Millennium Hilton New York, One United Nations Plaza
African Youth Declaration on the Summit of the Future: English | French
Download the Concept Note: English
Download the DRAFT Programme: English
Media Advisory: English
Summary
This initiative is co-organized by a number of African Member States, the African Union, the Pan-African Youth Union, and the United Nations. It seeks to amplify Africa's Youth Voices in high-level global discussions, including the New York stage, fostering their role as architects of a prosperous and resilient future, particularly on the continent. By leveraging their potential, Africa’s youth will be instrumental in addressing critical challenges, advancing economic empowerment, and positioning Africa as a key player in shaping global policy frameworks. This forward-looking approach reinforces the importance of youth-driven innovation in shaping Africa’s long-term strategic development.
African youth, projected to comprise 42 per cent of the global youth population by 2030, represent a pivotal demographic for driving Africa’s development and influencing global priorities. This is particularly critical as the continent seeks to reclaim its rightful place at the global leadership table. Positioned at the intersection of innovation, technology, and policy, young Africans are uniquely equipped to catalyze transformative change. The 2024 Summit of the Future provides them with a strategic platform to assert their leadership in shaping a forward-looking agenda. It is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and could be harnessed to advance critical priorities in sustainable development, digital transformation, peace and security, and global governance.
Building on the African Youth Forum and the African Youth Declaration, this engagement also seeks to position youth as central actors to accelerate Africa’s growth. Through investments in education, technology, and institutional reform, young Africans are poised to lead the continent’s transition towards inclusive, sustainable development. The Summit’s outcomes, including the Pact for the Future, are expected to include youth-led policy recommendations that drive structural transformation and ensure Africa’s full participation in transforming global governance and multilateralism.