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Africa’s Panel of the Future members participated at a High-Level Intergenerational Youth Town Hall at the 3-day Shape Africa Summit that took place from 14 to 16 November 2024, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The 2024 Shape Africa Summit, themed “Upskilling for Africa’s Development,” was convened this Africa Youth Month by the African Union Chairperson’s Special Envoy on Youth in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
The Special Envoy on Youth, H. E Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, whose term comes to an end in March 2025, has spearheaded the 12-member assembly of influential and dynamic young Africans whose influence is pivotal in championing youth priorities in the global multilateral system.
The Panel of the Future, supported by the United Nations Foundation and the Global Challenges, advocates for policies, partnerships, engagements, and participation of young people in transforming the African continent and ensuring a sustainable future.
The Panel headlined the Shape Africa Summit in the High-Level Intergenerational Dialogue titled ‘Multilateral Governance: Reigniting Youth Leadership for Today and the Future.’
The Town Hall explored the critical role of youth leadership in driving sustainable development as set by the African Union Agenda 2063 Aspiration 6, the United Nations 2030 SDGs, and more recently the Pact of the Future Actions.
The intergenerational exchanges focused on reimagining the caliber of youth leadership requisite for today and the future and how it can deliver results that cater to the current and future needs of African youth, institutions, nations, and global governance systems.
H. E Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, continues to echo the need to amplify African Youth Voices as a vital component in attaining the Pact of the Future Actions.
“Platforms such as the Youth Town Hall are an opportunity for African leaders and policymakers to collaborate intergenerationally to find solutions to today and future challenges. This diverse assembly is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at harnessing the potential of Africa’s youth to shape the future of global governance and cooperation, with objectives stemming from the need to empower young leaders, foster inclusive dialogue, enhance intergenerational dialogue, build strategic partnerships and champion African youth priorities to increase opportunities for meaningful youth inclusion,” Ms. Mpemba said.
From 10 countries, and diverse sectors, passions, and focus areas, the Panel of the Future fostered dynamic conversations that inspired change across the continent.
This was a pivotal moment that cascaded the meaningful outcomes and results of their engagements at the Summit of the Future and the United Nations General Assembly which they attended from the 24th to the 28th of September in New York. The Panel of the Future’s engagements included a Youth Town Hall at the SDG Media Zone in collaboration with the United Nations Communications Department and BBC News Africa.
At the Shape Africa Summit, the Panel of the Future exchanged with various Ministers, African Union Directors, institutions, and most importantly the youth they represent.
Key issues discussed include leadership, education, climate change, peace and security, entrepreneurship, and governance. Both the African Union and the United Nations recognize the pivotal role of African youth in reshaping and safeguarding the future. Therefore, their voices are instrumental in shaping policy, decision-making, reimagining global governance, and protecting Future Generations as stated in the Pact of the Future.
