Africa’s demographic profile is notably youthful, with a median age of 19.7 in 2020, much younger than North America’s 38.6 and Europe’s 42.5. This dynamic youth population is seen as a crucial driver for societal progress and change. The United Nations’ Agenda 2030, adopted in 2015, underscores the value of young people’s leadership and diverse talents in shaping a better future. The upcoming UN Summit of the Future on September 22-23, 2024, will be a pivotal occasion where world leaders will adopt the Pact for the Future, including a Declaration on Future Generations. This summit will seek to integrate youth perspectives and innovative ideas to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. 

In a similar vein, for 30 years now, Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) has been a key element of Japan's long-standing commitment to fostering prosperity, resilient society, peace and stability in Africa through collaborative partnerships. 

In response to the increasing need for youth engagement and leveraging a platform with over three decades of history, the Africa Diaspora Network in Japan (ADNJ) and the Asia Africa Youth Nest (AAYN) are taking the lead in amplifying the voices of young people as key architects of the future. Supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV), these organizations are developing a policy recommendation and an Action Plan to strengthen connections, empower youth, and foster collaborative partnerships between young people in Africa and Japan.

During the TICAD Ministerial Meeting, this themed event will highlight the role of youth as catalysts for transformative change. Building on a series of Future Design Approach workshops involving youth from both regions, the event will provide a platform for inter-generational dialogue. This dialogue will contribute to the policy recommendations and action plan in preparation for TICAD9 in August 2025, facilitating constructive exchanges among Japanese and African youth, alongside senior representatives from academia, the private sector, entrepreneurial communities, and community-based organizations.