From July 1 to July 3, 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will host its Regional Youth Forum in Saly Portudal, Senegal. The event is themed “Engaging ECOWAS for a new vision of youth” and aims to gather young leaders, representatives from youth organizations, political decision-makers, and regional and international experts. This forum will serve as a platform for discussing challenges and opportunities faced by young people in the ECOWAS region, with a focus on employment, entrepreneurship, education, and vocational training.
The conference is part of the fiftieth-anniversary celebrations of ECOWAS. It signifies an important step in the organization’s efforts to enhance youth participation in building a peaceful and prosperous West Africa. The initiative seeks to establish direct dialogue between young people and ECOWAS to align perspectives on regional issues affecting youth and develop solutions for their socio-economic development.
This meeting in Saly follows several pilot national consultations held in various West African capitals such as Cotonou (Benin), Accra (Ghana), Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire), and Dakar (Senegal). These consultations set the groundwork for a participatory process that this regional meeting aims to further.
Through this initiative, ECOWAS emphasizes its commitment to creating innovative strategies that strengthen youth involvement in governance at local, national, and regional levels. The conference reflects this vision by recognizing young people as key contributors to regional development. Coordinated by the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), the outcomes of this conference will contribute to developing a strategic roadmap aligned with ECOWAS Vision 2050 and establishing a new policy dedicated to youth.