YES Africa Summit Opens in Marrakech: Over 50 African Countries Gather to Advance Youth Empowerment
By Karima Rhanem, Senior Managing Editor
Marrakech, 19 June 2025 — The first edition of the YES Africa – Youth Empowerment Summit has opened in Marrakech, bringing together leaders from across the African continent to focus on the empowerment of youth who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). The event is organized by the Jadara Foundation, in partnership with the Pan-African Youth Union, with the support of the United Nations in Morocco and the Economic, Social and Environmental Council.
Hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco on 19 and 20 June at the Kenzi Rose Garden Hotel, the summit has drawn the participation of representatives from 54 African countries, over 118 civil society organizations, international financial institutions, and social impact investors.
Hamid Belafdil, President of the Jadara Foundation, stated that organizing the summit in Morocco, with the institutional support of the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, reflects the country’s concrete commitment to the royal vision of placing youth at the center of development strategies.
“This summit is not only a space for reflection, but a platform for action. We have designed an integrated training pathway, including a tailor-made online learning platform for African organizations, specialized capacity-building workshops, and individual mentoring programs to ensure the implementation of the knowledge acquired.”
He added that more than 45 trainers and experts have been mobilized to deliver hundreds of hours of training, with the objective of strengthening the impact of civil society organizations across Africa and launching new, sustainable empowerment initiatives.
The summit reflects the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to reinforce South–South cooperation and position Morocco as a committed actor in Africa’s development, particularly in the areas of youth inclusion and human capital.
During the opening session, Moumini Dialla, President of the Pan-African Youth Union, stated:
“More than 70 million young people in Africa are exposed to a risk of economic and social exclusion. YES Africa is a collective and responsible call to place these youth at the heart of public policy.”
He praised the Moroccan initiative as “a concrete example of African solutions rooted in co-construction and effectiveness.”
Several other speakers also underscored the importance of the summit’s agenda. Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, highlighted that the challenges facing African youth reflect structural gaps in economies, education systems, and social structures. In a video message, he praised the creativity and resilience of African youth and reaffirmed the UN’s support for youth-led solutions. He also noted that the summit is expected to generate concrete outcomes, including a manifesto for the social economy, a good practices guide, and new initiatives to inform policy.
Nathalie Fustier, UN Resident Coordinator in Morocco, stated that the United Nations is proud to support this pan-African movement, noting that YES Africa reflects shared values of inclusion and equal opportunity. She described the summit as a hopeful step toward enabling the 70 million NEET youth to become agents of change through quality education and capacity-building. She also highlighted Morocco’s role as a hub for solutions that are adaptable across the continent.
Kenza Abourmane, Director of Youth at the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, emphasized the Kingdom’s sustained efforts under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in supporting African youth. She outlined Morocco’s approach to South–South cooperation, which includes welcoming African students in Moroccan universities, vocational training aligned with local contexts, youth entrepreneurship support, and bilateral development partnerships. She also stressed the ministry’s role in implementing inclusive youth policies through targeted programs, creative spaces, and skill-building initiatives.
Former Senegalese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, welcomed Morocco’s initiatives and commitment to African youth. He called for greater youth inclusion in decision-making and emphasized the need to unlock the energy and potential of Africa’s younger generations.
Oumaïma Mhijir, Director General of the Jadara Foundation, noted that the summit crowns a long process of mobilization.
“What distinguishes YES Africa is the diversity of participants combined with a collective will: to make youth a key driver of Africa’s future.”
She added that “Morocco is today becoming a strategic platform for joint dialogue and action on key issues of social justice, economic inclusion, and investment in African human capital.”
The summit is expected to lead to the development of a strategic public policy document addressed to African decision-makers, including concrete and applicable recommendations. It will also include the signing of a joint official manifesto by organizers and participating organizations, affirming their collective commitment to sustainable action in favor of African youth.
More than 50 African countries have come together in Morocco to develop a roadmap for youth empowerment.
The event also marks the culmination of over two decades of field engagement by the Jadara Foundation, which has built a recognized model of educational and professional support. Since its founding in 2001, the foundation has supported 3,543 young people, including 795 currently in training, and reports a 96% employment integration rate. Additionally, 70% of its scholarship recipients are among the top of their academic cohorts, confirming the effectiveness of its educational model and reinforcing its role as a national reference in human capital development, in full alignment with the spirit of the YES Africa Summit.
