







Youth should care. The main reason is because we’re paying, but not heard. Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with over 60% of its population under the age of 25. Yet despite being the majority, young people are among the most heavily taxed, especially through consumption taxes such as VAT on airtime, mobile money, transport, and everyday goods.
This November, young people from across the world come together to explore an urgent connection that few are talking about: how the UN Climate Conference (COP 30) in Belém and the UN negotiations for a Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation in Nairobi are part of the same story.
Beyond formal education, investment is needed to support child-centered eco-learning programs and community outreach initiatives that raise awareness and empower youth with the knowledge and skills necessary for climate action. Utilizing digital platforms, radio programs, and visual materials in local languages will further expand the reach of climate literacy, ensuring no young person is left behind in understanding the climate crisis and their role in solving it.
As Batswana grapple with a BWP 22 billion budget deficit (9% of GDP in 2024), rising public debt of 27.4% of GDP, squeezing funds for youth-centric programs and youth unemployment at 43.86%, underscoring the urgency of prioritizing job creation and social services for the nation’s youth-dominated population (70% under 35), the FfD4 presents an opportunity for Batswana to redefine global rules on sovereign debt, a critical issue for Botswana as diamond revenue volatility strains public finances.
C’est dans cette optique que le Youth for Tax Justice Network (YTJN) propose le Concours Panafricain de Jeunes en Arts Créatifs, une initiative qui vise à mobiliser la créativité de la jeunesse africaine afin de stimuler des idées novatrices et une prise de conscience populaire sur des enjeux clés de la gouvernance économique tels que la dette souveraine, la ZLECAf, le financement climatique, la récupération d’actifs et la Convention-cadre des Nations Unies sur la coopération fiscale internationale.