More than 1,000 young leaders and representatives from 118 NGOs across 43 African countries came together in Marrakech, Morocco, on 19 June 2025 for the first YES Africa Summit – an ambitious, continent-wide initiative aimed at empowering young people who are currently unemployed, out of school or lacking training opportunities.
Over two days, participants explored themes critical to the future of Africa’s youth, including informal education, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology, migration, civic engagement, and partnerships. The summit also featured a dynamic marketplace of ideas, where high-impact projects were presented and exchanged.
In a special video message, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier underscored the importance of the summit, which addresses one of Africa’s most pressing challenges: creating opportunities for young people seeking employment and education. “This issue reflects the shortcomings in our economies, education systems and social structures”, he said.
Paullier praised the creativity and commitment of African youth, who are transforming challenges into opportunities and building a more inclusive, sustainable future. He reaffirmed the United Nations' full commitment to supporting youth-driven solutions across the continent.
Speaking on behalf of the UN system in Morocco, UN Resident Coordinator Nathalie Fustier said the United Nations is proud to support this pan-African movement. “‘YES Africa’ reflects our shared values of inclusion and equal opportunity,” she noted.
Co-organized by the Jadara Foundation and the Pan-African Youth Union, with support from the Government of Morocco the United Nations System in the country, the summit brought attention to a significant issue: more than 70 million young Africans are currently without jobs, education, or training.
The event’s tangible outcomes included a social economy manifesto, a white book of recommendations, a guide to best practices, and a catalogue of innovative concepts and initiatives developed during the summit.
Support for the summit also came from the DCO Africa Regional Office and UNIC Rabat, within the framework of the joint DCO/DGC Africa regional communications plan for 2025, which emphasizes youth empowerment and active participation.
