Harnessing Youth Leadership For Climate - Resilient Economies In Africa

Pan-African Youth Adaptation Forum, Kenya – September 2025

Introduction

Africa stands at a crossroads: it is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, yet it also holds the world’s youngest population. Nearly 70% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population is under 30, presenting a unique opportunity for climate adaptation and green growth.

Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, droughts, and extreme weather threaten agriculture, health, infrastructure, and livelihoods. Without urgent adaptation, Africa could lose 5–15% of its GDP per capita by 2050 (AfDB & UNECA, 2023). Yet, if empowered with finance, technology, and institutional support, youth can transform vulnerability into resilience, driving innovation in agriculture, energy, and green entrepreneurship.

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https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ijvPGke5Uo3pJ7SyCmx4KX-uSCePPJxc/view?usp=drive_link

Africa’s Climate Challenge

  • Agriculture at Risk: Employing 60% of Africa’s workforce, agriculture faces falling yields due to changing rainfall and droughts, worsening food insecurity.

  • Wider Impacts: Climate shocks ripple across health, education, migration, and security, deepening inequality.

  • Financing Gap: Africa needs USD 277 billion annually for adaptation, but receives only USD 44–50 billion. Youth-led initiatives access less than 10% of global climate finance due to barriers like strict eligibility rules and lack of collateral.

  • Policy Gaps: Youth involvement in adaptation frameworks (NAPs, NDCs) is often consultative, not institutionalized.

  • Capacity Gaps: Many young people, especially in rural areas, lack access to data, training, and digital technologies.

Kenya’s Adaptation Landscape

Kenya has emerged as a leader in climate action, with strong legal and institutional frameworks, including the Climate Change Act (2016, revised 2023) and the National Adaptation Plan (2015–2030). Key features include:

  • Devolved Adaptation: Counties integrate climate action into development plans, financing local priorities such as water harvesting and resilient agriculture.

  • Clean Energy Leadership: Over 80% of Kenya’s electricity comes from renewable sources like geothermal, solar, and wind.

  • Youth Engagement: Kenyan youth are piloting climate-smart agriculture, ecosystem restoration, and digital climate solutions. Innovation hubs in Nairobi and beyond showcase youth-led enterprises tackling adaptation.

However, gaps persist: financing remains limited, youth inclusion in decision-making is often tokenistic, and many young innovators face knowledge and technology access barriers.

Regional Comparison

  • Rwanda: Offers a promising model with the Green Fund (FONERWA), which directly supports youth innovation and enterprises.

  • South Africa: Benefits from strong research institutions and alignment with national plans but struggles with inequality.

  • Uganda, Ghana, Zambia: Have adaptation frameworks but face challenges with financing, policy implementation, and institutional capacity.

Across Africa, youth are recognized as stakeholders but are rarely institutionalized as decision-makers in adaptation governance.

Policy Recommendations

To unlock Africa’s youth potential for climate-resilient economies, the brief calls for:

  1. Institutionalizing Youth Participation – Embed youth in adaptation governance frameworks (NAPs, NDCs) with decision-making roles.

  2. Youth-Dedicated Climate Finance – Establish simplified financing windows, with capacity support, tailored for youth-led initiatives.

  3. Capacity Building and Green Jobs – Integrate adaptation into training programs, expand entrepreneurship support, and create green employment opportunities.

  4. Strengthening Regional Youth Networks – Resource the Youth Adaptation Network to amplify youth policy inputs and cross-country learning.

  5. Leveraging Technology and Data – Expand youth access to open climate data, early warning systems, and climate-smart technologies.

Conclusion

Africa’s future depends on youth-centered adaptation. Kenya shows what is possible with strong frameworks, renewable energy leadership, and community-driven initiatives. Yet, across the continent, financing, institutional participation, and capacity building remain urgent priorities.

Governments, development partners, and the private sector must act decisively to ensure Africa’s youth are not just consulted but empowered as leaders. By doing so, Africa can build economies that are not only climate-resilient but also inclusive, innovative, and sustainable for generations to come.