PRB

“Africa’s development landscape is marked by a significant lack of representation from young professionals,” PRB Africa Director Aïssata Fall said at the Women’s Economic Empowerment Convening, hosted by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from September 23–25.

Fall’s remarks came during a discussion on the role of young advocates in the future of development in Africa, facilitated by PRB and joined by participants from ACED, ActionAid, Akina Mama wa Afrika, IDInsight, the International Center for Research on Women, and the CREG Center. While many organizations work with young people, they often involve them primarily as beneficiaries or targets, rather than empowering them as active professional technical assistants, Fall said.

This session sought an African perspective on young advocates’ employability in the development sector. Participants explored how to help young people access the development job market in Africa, highlighting their essential contribution and potential as key professionals driving change. They discussed the prerequisites for the effective integration of youth into the development labor market and how NGOs, through their professional role in technical assistance, can concretely contribute to the transition toward localization.

“By translating global agendas such as decent work and youth employability into our daily work, we can continue to contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development process,” Fall added.