On November 26 and 27, 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organized a national youth forum in Dakar. The event was themed "Engaging ECOWAS for a new vision on youth" and was chaired by Senegalese Minister for Youth, Sport and Culture, Mrs. Khady Diène Gaye, alongside Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs. The forum aimed to enhance inclusive dialogue, set strategic priorities, and prioritize youth in regional policies.
The conference gathered young leaders, representatives from youth organizations, policymakers, and experts to discuss challenges and opportunities for young people in areas such as employment, entrepreneurship, education, and vocational training. This initiative marks a significant step for ECOWAS as it seeks to promote a new vision for youth centered on regional integration, solidarity, and innovation.
The national youth conferences in Dakar follow similar events held in Cotonou and Accra with another planned soon in Abidjan. These are preludes to a regional conference scheduled for the first quarter of 2025 in Dakar.
These four national conferences form part of a pilot phase within a regional consultation program initiated by ECOWAS. The program is organized by the Community’s Youth and Sports Development Centre with technical coordination from the Senegalese think-tank Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale (IPAR). It aims to explore innovative ways to increase young people's involvement in decision-making processes.
Outcomes from these national meetings will be reviewed at the regional conference with the goal of redefining regional policy on youth and establishing concrete actions for implementation.
Alerts Sign-up