Youth represent a significant portion of the population and are critical socio-economic and political progress drivers. However, young people often face limited opportunities to engage in decision-making processes, particularly in development planning and policy formulation. To bridge this gap, Development Dialogues for Youth aims to create a structured platform for meaningful, inclusive conversations that amplify youth voices and perspectives while fostering actionable solutions to development challenges. With the targeted demographic technologically enabled, these kinds of conversations have provided platforms for capacity building, connecting youth and social actors to opportunities, and supporting informed collaboration and collective action for sustainable development within the youth ecosystem.
Q1 Event Overview: (Youth Action for 2025: Shaping Priorities and Fostering Development)
Proposed Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Time: 10 am - 12 pm WAT
Venue: Zoom
In a rapidly evolving landscape, young voices must be at the forefront of shaping future priorities and development strategies. As 2025 advances, young people face new challenges and opportunities, making it imperative to define key focus areas for youth engagement, empowerment, and leadership. Characterized by numerous challenges and new developments, 2025 is undoubtedly shaping how funders, the government, and other stakeholders are positioning interventions, initiatives, and programs for youths. With shifting economic realities, ongoing constitutional amendments, strengthened advocacy for women’s inclusion, and the implications of the USAID funding suspension, stakeholders, including funders and government bodies, are recalibrating their approaches to youth-focused interventions. The USAID suspension, in particular, raises critical questions about the sustainability of development programs, funding alternatives, and the role of local organizations in bridging emerging gaps.
Young people are at the forefront of the impact of these developments and would make meaningful contributions to shaping conversations, extracting strategies, and defining action plans that ensure their sustainability is prioritized. The Development Dialogue will provide the opportunity for youths across Africa to reflect, share ideas, co-create solutions, and interface with development experts and youth actors in shaping #theAfricaWeWant.
Guiding Questions
Given the complex socio-economic challenges we’re facing this year, what do you think should be the top three shared priorities for initiatives focused on African youth development? Mary Yvonne Ododah
How has your perspective on meaningful youth engagement shifted over time, and what concrete steps can organizations take to move beyond superficial inclusion and truly empower young people? Mary Yvonne Ododah
As the world changes rapidly, what emerging skills and competencies should young people focus on to stay relevant and drive meaningful change in 2025 and beyond? Amabelle Nwakanma
With the ongoing Nigerian constitutional amendments, the National Youth Confab, and other regional attempts to mainstream youth voices, how can we ensure meaningful youth participation and that young people’s priorities are genuinely reflected in national and regional development plans? Amabelle Nwakanma
The suspension of USAID funding has left major funding gaps. What alternative funding models should youth-led organisations explore to stay resilient, sustainable, and reduce dependence on external funding? All Panelists
How do we bridge the participation gap for rural youth, women, and other marginalized groups in Africa? Maxmillian Ambeba
What accountability mechanisms are necessary to ensure that youth are not just beneficiaries but actors and drivers in governance? Maxmillian Ambeba
How can (or how are) African youth leveraging tech, innovation, and advocacy to shape development at national and regional levels across Africa? (Call to Action) All Panelists
Event Objectives:
1. Identify Youth Priorities for 2025: Through discussions and collaborative sessions, youth participants will help define the pressing issues, goals, and priorities that matter most to them for 2025.
2. Explore Youth-Led Development Strategies: Speakers and participants will consider ways young people can lead initiatives, innovate solutions, and build alliances to foster positive change.
3. Engage Key Stakeholders: The event will bring together funders, government representatives, and development sector leaders to share insights on their work in 2024, priorities for 2025, and plans for supporting youth-driven development agendas and mobilizing resources.
4. Create a Roadmap for Youth Impact: By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer picture of steps and strategies for fostering impactful youth contributions in 2025.
5. Foster Collaboration: Participants and stakeholders will identify mutual areas of interest with other organizations and drive collaborative initiatives together.
Target Audience: 200 participants
Young leaders and activists
Representatives from youth-focused organizations
Government officials and policymakers
Funders and private sector representatives
Development sector enthusiasts.
Expected Outcomes:
Youth-Driven Priority List: A clear outline of top priorities for youth in 2025.
Collective Action: Organizations aligning on joint interventions for 2025.
Actionable Insights: Practical strategies and resources needed for youth to contribute to development in 2025.
Stakeholder Engagement: Strengthened networks among young people, funders, and government representatives for future collaboration.
Summary:
This event will provide a strategic platform for youth leaders, policymakers, funders, and development stakeholders to engage in forward-thinking discussions, refine interventions to suit the current realities, and identify opportunities for collaboration while putting youth at the center. The goal is to ensure that youth-led initiatives remain relevant, actionable, and positioned for sustainable impact in 2025 and beyond.