Browsing: youth

Youth in Climate Action

Africa’s youth charged to take lead in climate change conversation 

Countries
  • Youth leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers presented the Africa Youth Climate Assembly Declaration to Kenya’s President William Ruto, and African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina.
  • The declaration advocates for the accelerated establishment of a Global Green Bank and a New Global Financial Pact, aiming to prioritise young people and their interests in climate financing. 
  • During the Africa Youth Climate Assembly, a wide range of issues emerged including youth access to finance, Africa’s energy transition, the plight of millions displaced owing to the impacts of climate change and mobilisation of resources for sustainable development.

As the Africa Climate Summit draws to a close, a key highlight from the three-day summit is that Africa’s youth need to be more involved in the climate change conversation. 

This, as youth leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers presented the Africa Youth Climate Assembly Declaration to Kenya’s President, William Ruto, and African Development Bank Group President Akinwumi Adesina.…

Expensive loans

Kenya’s women, youth in agriculture to receive $20M boost

Countries
  • Women and youth in Kenya’s agricultural sector are set to benefit from new AfDB funding. 
  • Another $1.3 million has been set aside to support the youth and women entrepreneurs in Kenya’s agriculture value chains.
  • The funding was provided by the European Union in partnership with the AfDB.

Kenya’s women and youth in agriculture are set to benefit from fresh financing after the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved an equity investment of $19.65 million in the Africa Guarantee Fund (AGF).

Another $1.3 million will support the youth and women entrepreneurs engaged in the country’s agricultural value chains. The funding, approved on June 6, 2023, was provided by the European Union (EU) under its partnership with the AfDB.

“The approval is another milestone in the implementation of the partnership with the EU, which also signals the importance given to the role of women and youth in the agricultural sector in Kenya,” the …

teenagers of Africa

Why protecting African youth at all cost is imperative 

African Entrepreneurship

With almost 60 per cent of its people aged below 25 years, Africa is home to the world’s youngest population. This is an asset! It represents a huge workforce in waiting, one that must be nurtured and protected above and beyond. 

According to Dr. Githinji Gitahi, Global Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), AMREF Health Africa, now more than ever, youth are actively dismantling barriers to development and social justice through innovation and accountability in a way that only young people can. 

The challenges 

AMREF’s recently launched Health Africa Global Youth and Adolescent Strategy 2021-2022 shows that young people in Africa remain disproportionately left behind in health and social development, including having a higher risk of HIV infection, experiencing early and unwanted pregnancies, higher risk of maternal deaths among adolescents, increased incidences of mental health illness, and increased barriers to health care access.  

Even more crucial is the lack of information and …