Africa’s 50Billion Dollar Question: Will We Invest in Our Youth?

By Tafadzwa Nyagano

Africa is at a pivotal moment. Recent global disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, to sharp declines in foreign aid, have exposed the continent’s structural vulnerabilities.

At the same time, Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with over 60% under the age of 25. As development aid shrinks by an estimated $50 billion annually and fiscal space tightens, investing in youth is not just urgent, but it’s essential.

Last year at the 2024 AVPA Conference held in Nairobi, this was the focus of the powerful session “The Youth Factor: Africa’s Path to Sustainable Jobs and Growth”. Panelists agreed: future-proofing Africa means equipping young people with skills, jobs, entrepreneurship pathways, and platforms for civic engagement.

Each year, 11 million young Africans enter the workforce, but only 3 million jobs exist. Yet across the continent, promising solutions are emerging.

The Challenge Fund for Youth Employment is creating thousands of jobs across 11 countries, with a strong focus on young women.

Acumen has deployed $169 million into social enterprises. Shortlist’s Futures Lab has connected thousands of youth with green economy jobs and remote work tools, proving that access, not location, is the true barrier.

Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works is making a significant impact, aiming to connect 30 million young people, 70% of them women, to dignified work by 2030, and already reaching over 1.27 million youth in Ethiopia alone. In Kenya, the program targets 7 million youth, focusing on agriculture, MSMEs, and the digital economy.

A green jobs report by Shortlist, FSD Africa, and ECG projects 3 million new green jobs by 2030, many of which require short-term, specialized training rather than traditional degrees. Agriculture, once overlooked by youth, is now being reimagined as a viable and innovative career path, offering potential for value addition and export.

At AVPA, we’re aligning capital with youth potential. Our Deal Share Platform helps channel investment into youth-led and youth-impacting enterprises. Through Deal Share Live, we provide curated, interactive sessions where high-potential ventures can connect directly with funders and ecosystem partners.

The upcoming Youth-Focused Deal Share Live—scheduled for 12th June 2025 at 3 PM EAT will spotlight youth-driven enterprises raising funding from $20,000 to $2 million, whether through debt, equity, or grants. Interested in attending – submit your application here.

Africa’s youth are not tomorrow’s leaders—they are today’s dealmakers and changemakers. With the right support, they can transform the continent. The time to invest is now.

The writer is the Chief Financial Officer, AVPA