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African Gen Zers to benefit from YouthConnekt summit

Last week, Rwanda hosted its annual YouthConnekt Africa summit. The continental initiative looks to empower young people by investing in their ideas, innovations, and initiatives.

The YouthConnekt Africa summit was initiated by the Rwandese government in 2012 to focus on improving youth employment, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement through tech innovation.

This year’s summit attracted thousands from over thirty African nations, private sectors, and non-governmental organisations such as the UNDP.

This year’s theme, β€œAccelerating investments in Youth: Resilient Youth, Resilient Africa” focused on health, trade, climate resilience and financing, technology, and skilling for the future.


What are the challenges facing young Africans?

YouthConnekt Africa aims to sustainably contribute to the achievement of Africa’s SDGs goals, the African Union 2063 agenda, and African Union Youth Charter.

According to the United Nations (UN), more than 60% of Africa’s population are under 24, making it the youngest continent on Earth. This puts the Gen Z population at the centre of new employment opportunities.

However, various challenges including a lack of proper education, employment opportunities, and business funding have limited their success.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought its own share of challenges. Loss of jobs and the rising cost of living has created tougher financial burdens for many families. Unemployment has led to youth exclusion from governance, decision making, and personal development, reducing the desire for independent success among many young Africans.

A lack of opportunities and funding to run for political positions has limited young Africans’ dreams of actually influencing government.

There are restrictions placed on Gen Zers via government constitutions, too.

This has encouraged a political system which does not favour the youth, but rather those already in power, and a lack of inclusivity for young people is impacting the growth of Africa’s economy.

During the summit, the Chair of National Youth Council of Rwanda, Alodie Iradukunda, acknowledged that climate change is an issue affecting many young families.

The change in weather patterns has left millions of families from the horn of Africa malnourished and hungry due to drought. In addition, hundreds of animals have died due to lack of pasture and water to feed on as more families have been displaced and depend highly on relief food for survival.

Iradukunda said, β€˜COP 27 should lay out concrete actions for assisting developing countries in getting climate finance required to boost climate actions.’ It is expected that the youths climate change concerns will be presented in Egypt to global leaders during the COP27 summit.

The northern parts of Kenya, Somalia, and Egypt are currently facing the worst drought in history. Children are the worst hit as thousands have been affected by school closures and food shortages.

The YouthConnekt summit highlighted these climate change conditions and an urgent call for climate financing was assured by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Chief of Staff and Director in the Executive Office, Michele Candotti.


The summit resolutions

With this year’s theme β€œAccelerating investments in Youth: Resilient Youth, Resilient Africa”, Gen Z has been provided a platform to curate their own events.

The host nation Rwanda has fully embraced new technology and innovative ideas. From the summit, 90% of the total innovative ideas came from young people.

During the pandemic, Gen Zers came up with innovative ideas and home-grown solutions inspiring unique creations with great potential to revolutionise development in tech-related spaces.

President Kagame of Rwanda assured the youth delegates of empowerment and pledged financial support with other leaders to lead on projects that can propel Africa’s development.

Let’s hope the future decisions and implementations favour Gen Z innovation.

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