Future Africa-Europe Dialogue on Financing Progress: Youth Championing New Paths

Youth-led protests across several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, revolved around debt, taxation, economic hardship, and governance issues. Largely organized through social media, demonstrations reflected growing frustration among young Africans with high unemployment, rising living costs, high debt and perceived government corruption.

The protests highlighted a significant generational shift in African politics, with tech-savvy youth emerging as a powerful force challenging established power structures and pushing for changes in economic policies and more responsive and transparent governance across the continent. Compared to older generations, African youth are more affected by the lack of jobs, are more concerned about corruption, and are likely to consider state institutions and leaders as corrupt and distrust them, as Afrobarometer data show.

They are less engaged in classical forms of political participation, like voting or joining a party, as they do not feel their voices will be heard. At the same time, European youth are concerned that public money is not flowing into the areas most important for their future.

In response to these trends, the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH will co-organize a pivotal event on Wednesday, 19th March 2025 in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia focused on financing the future and engaging the untapped potential of youth within the Africa-Europe partnership on this topic.

Building on existing financial governance initiatives, the event will focus on aspects where collaboration between Africa and Europe is key to transforming fiscal challenges into opportunities for youth, from combatting Illicit Financial Flows and leveraging remittances and investments to redesigning the International Financial Architecture. The objective is to bring in and include youth in discussions on financing for development as they are the ones whose lives will be most impacted by the decisions made today and who will be able to bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table in line with agenda 2063.

Strategically timed after the UNECA ministerial meeting (March 17–18), this dialogue provides a crucial platform for translating commitments into action. By prioritising youth innovation, we can collectively redefine Africa-Europe financial collaboration.

The discussion outcomes will feed into the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), scheduled for June 30 to July 3, 2025, in Spain, through participants, AEF and GIZ representation at the Conference.

• Detailed agenda to be shared soon.