Young Africa Works Summit
Advancing Dignified and Fulfilling Work for Young People
Kigali, Rwanda. June 29, 2026
The Young Africa Works Summit was a day-long working session focused on accelerating progress to dignified and fulfilling work for young people across Africa.
The Summit centred the perspectives of young people and brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, financial institutions, educators, development institutions, and young entrepreneurs to examine what it will take to enable more young people to access stable and resilient livelihoods.
The Foundation shared what it has learned in implementing its Young Africa Works Strategy, including what has worked, where progress has been uneven, and where structural barriers remain. These insights were offered as inputs into a broader conversation.
Grounded in the perspectives and lived experiences of young people, the Summit was designed to foster meaningful cross-sector engagement, surface practical insights, and define clear, actionable steps to advance youth employment outcomes across Africa.
Watch The Highlights From the Young Africa Works Summit
Four Emerging Priorities From The Summit
Key Insights and Emerging Priorities for Collective Action
A framework for coordinated impact
Leaders from across Africa gathered to reflect on one central question: "What system shifts and collective action are needed to expand access to dignified and fulfilling work for young people in Africa?" This resulted in a clear message that coordinated systems change is needed to expand dignified work for young Africans.
Here’s What We’ve Learned In Seven Years.
Our Impact Brief provides an overview of dignified and fulfilling work, how we assess it, and what seven years of implementation have revealed about young people, the systems around them, and the conditions that make progress more likely to endure.
Read the lessons learnedThe Young Africa Works Summit Agenda
Read through the detailed agenda to learn more about the speakers and the sessions during the Summit.
