The YouLead Africa Summit 2024 ended on a high note, having successfully brought together 300 young leaders from across Africa to discuss the future of Africa’s education. The More Women in Research manifesto was launched on the opening day (see video) and paved the way for intergenerational knowledge sharing.
By Elena Adamo and Vibeke Quaade
Since 2022, Danida Fellowship Centre has supported the summit through its partnership with MS TCDC under the Together for Impact initiative. This year it took place 4 – 7 November under the theme “Igniting the Potential of Africa’s Youthful Population: Reinstating Education as an Eminent Public Good”. Read the final report here
In our article YouLead 2024: Unlocking the Potential of Africa’s Youth, published ahead of the summit, we highlighted three key components of this year’s event that deserved particular attention: the EAC Youth Fellowship for aspiring African leaders, the Empowering Youth to Influence the SDG Implementation programme, and the launch of the More Women in Research manifesto.
YouLead Africa was originally launched in 2017, and this was the eighth summit. We are pleased to report that this year’s initiatives came together successfully. Here are some key insights from this year’s summit:
The EAC Youth Fellowship
Already before the summit officially started, a group of 30 young business and political leaders from eight East African Community (EAC) countries took part in an intensive two-week programme, the EAC Youth Fellowship. The programme had two main tracks, Youth-led Action in Climate Change, Digital, and Green Transitions, and Business and Regional Development exploring regional business protocols, the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA), and business development opportunities across the region.
The business development track
At the summit, participants showcased innovative ideas that addressed regional challenges. For instance, Gordon Victor from Uganda presented a solution for climate-smart farming: solar-powered water irrigation systems. This idea aims to transform the livelihood of vulnerable farmers in Northern Uganda by making farming easier, more sustainable and efficient.
