International Youth Day 2025: Empowering Africa’s Youth Through the AU-EU Partnership
On August 12, 2025, the United Nations headquarters in Nairobi was filled with a refreshing energy as young leaders, policymakers, and global partners gathered to celebrate International Youth Day (IYD). Under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” the event, co-hosted by UN-Habitat and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), highlighted the transformative power of youth in driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Actively participating on this global stage was the AU-EU Youth partnership, an instrument amplifying the voices of Africa’s youth to enable them to effectively shape the continent’s future.
Africa’s Youth Surge is Catalysing Change
Africa is the world’s youngest continent, and the World Economic Forum, among other renowned sources state that over 70% of its population is under 30. This “youth bulge” is a force of innovation, resilience, and creativity. From tackling climate change to fostering peace, African youth are not just beneficiaries of global policies but active architects of solutions. They are a driving force in establishing change and progress.
IYD 2025 underscored their role in translating the SDGs into tangible community impact, leveraging local knowledge to address global challenges like urban governance, digital innovation, and conflict prevention. With 65% of SDG targets tied to local and regional governance, young people’s engagement with local authorities is critical. The Nairobi event linked this reality to the AU 1 Million Next Level initiative, Pact for the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations, positioning youth as the bridge between policy and action. For Africa, where the stakes of inclusion stand highest, empowering youth is not optional—it is urgent.
The AU-EU Youth Partnership
An interesting feature of IYD 2025 was the AU-EU Youth partnership, launched in 2024 as part of the 3rd AU-EU Youth Dialogue cycle. This platform has quickly become a cornerstone of Africa-Europe cooperation, channelling youth energy into policy influence and grassroots action. As highlighted in the May 2025 AU-EU Ministerial Joint Communiqué, the partnership drives progress across four strategic pillars:
- Shared prosperity: Promoting youth employment, entrepreneurship, and decent work (SDG 8).
- Peace and security: Engaging youth in conflict prevention and peacebuilding (SDG 16).
- Migration and mobility: Facilitating academic exchanges and skills transfers (SDG 4).
- Green and digital transition: Harnessing youth innovation for climate action and digital leadership (SDGs 9, 13, 17).
The Lab’s presence in Nairobi wasn’t just symbolic—it was a call to action. By providing grants, advocacy tools, and platforms for youth-led organisations, the partnership empowers young Africans to turn ideas into impact. Working with the youth ensures that the continent’s youth bulge becomes a dividend, not a challenge.
Breakout Sessions to Brainstorm Solutions
The AU-EU Youth partnership’s breakout session, “Empowering Youth-Led SDGs Implementation,” was filled with more than 35 enthusiastic youth. It was a vibrant mix of inspiration and practicality, showcasing what intergenerational and intercontinental collaboration can achieve. The overall IYD 2025 sessions featured:
Lightning talks: Youth-led organizations from Africa and representatives from Europe shared diverse experiences around community-driven actions and advocacy campaigns.
Working groups: Young participants co-created solutions, tackling barriers to scaling local initiatives.
Networking: Youth networked with development experts, and shared their view-points and plans.
Grant support: Practical guidance on accessing funding and technical support for SDG projects (2024–2027) was shared, empowering organisations to act.
The sessions ended with a bold call to action, urging youth to participate and shape the 2025 AU-EU Summit and its Youth Forum. It was a roadmap for ensuring youth voices are loud enough to influence global decision-making.
Why Engaging Youth Matters for Africa
The AU-EU Youth partnership impact is particularly relevant in Africa, where the youth bulge presents both opportunities and challenges. By working together with local governments and facilitating innovation exchanges, the Lab transforms youth agency into systemic change. Its platforms break down barriers, connecting grassroots leaders with policymakers. For instance, a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) member and selected grant recipients engaged directly with stakeholders in Nairobi, ensuring local realities inform national, regional and global strategies.
Such engagements matter because Africa’s youth are not just the future, they are the present. With the next AU-EU Summit on the horizon, their role in shaping governance is critical. The AU-EU Youth partnership ensures that young Africans aren’t just heard but are driving the development agenda.
Youth Engagement
IYD 2025 is a reminder that Africa’s youth are ready to lead, equipped with the creativity and determination to localize the SDGs. The AU-EU Youth partnership is a testament of what is possible in communities when young people are given platforms, resources, and trust.
The challenge now lies with governments, institutions, and partners in matching this energy. Invest in skills, create enabling environments, and ensure youth voices shape policy. By 2030, with sustained support, Africa’s youth, through instruments like the AU-EU Youth partnership, will redefine what’s possible for the continent and beyond.
