Africa’s Panel of the Future amplified youth priorities at a High-Level Town Hall
Africa’s Panel of the Future members participated at a High-Level Intergenerational Youth Town Hall at the 2 day Shape Africa Summit, 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 20230 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 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. She remarks that, “Platforms such as the Youth Town Hall are an opportunity for African leaders and policy makers to collaborate intergenerationally to find solutions to today’s 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 inter generational dialogue, build strategic partnerships and champion African youth priorities in order to increase opportunities for meaningful youth inclusion.”
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 thad 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 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 of discussed includes leadership, education, climate change, peace and security, entrepreneurship and governance. Both the African Union and the United Nations recognizes 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.
