The YouthConnect Africa Hub aims to harness Africa's demographic dividend and create ten million sustainable jobs in emerging industries by 2030. This pan-African platform was launched in 2016 by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It aims to empower young people by improving their digital knowledge, experience and skills, while investing in their creativity, ideas and innovation.
Through long-term initiatives and strategies focused on addressing gender inequalities in education, employment, technology and leadership, the YouthConnekt Africa Hub connects incubation centers across the continent and facilitates access to markets, capital and partnership opportunities for young African entrepreneurs.
On the program: Testimonials, networking and workshops
Thousands of them will gather in the Kenyan capital Nairobi from December 8 to 12, for the 6th edition of the platform's annual meeting, the YouthConnekt Africa Summit. Organized by the Government of Kenya in partnership with UNDP, the Summit aims to highlight the leadership and ingenuity of young people in promoting African integration. The summit will feature high-level discussions, testimonials and networking opportunities, as well as entrepreneurial workshops, a trading floor and investor meetings.
"We bridge the gap between states by bringing together government officials and civil society leaders to share knowledge, exchange ideas on strategic areas, and implement policies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in line with the African Youth Charter," say its promoters. "We identify existing programs in line with our ambitions, and facilitate meetings to collaborate and achieve common goals. These programs also help to measure, monitor and track successful initiatives."
Among the goals are to help create five thousand African digital ambassadors and to digitally connect and empower one hundred million people across the continent. But also to enable young creators to interact with politicians and present their ideas to them.
"Discuss, debate... Define your future"
This summit will bring together many partners: government institutions, civil society, development agencies, academia... As well as many young people, the first beneficiaries and actors of the YouthConnekt Africa Hub platform.
For three days, participants will be invited to discuss issues related to the continent's digital development. "Discuss, debate... Define your future", say the organizers.