SADC Youth Forum

The SADC Youth Forum is largest annual youth platform hosted before the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit to deliberate on critical issues affecting young people in the Southern Africa region, the forum is a solution-oriented platform to advance sustainable inclusion of youth and proffer solutions in line with Development Strategies formulated by Member states, SADC, Partners, United Nations, and the African Union.

“The region relies on you, the young people for solutions, … youth have a special role in safeguarding hard-won national and regional independence and territorial integrity, as well as economic development milestones, through patriotism and responsible civic engagement.” Executive Secretary of SADC H.E Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax during the 3rd SADC Youth Forum (Malawi).

The SADC Youth Forum seeks to contribute to youth development, sustainable inclusion, and empowerment of youth meaningfully and sustainably; through the proffering of innovative strategies and solution-oriented approaches in response to the challenges facing young people in the SADC Region. It is a platform to create ideas, map new ways to influence policy, and open space for youth leadership, innovation and development. The Forum brings youth voices together to shape policies, provide policy alternatives, increase sustainable participation, and take a transformative approach to decision-making as defined by the Youth Development Model (YDM). The SADC Youth Forum is composed of thematic-based sessions informed by SAYoF Clusters and key policy frameworks in the region.

Youth from the SADC Region, like the rest of Africa constitute more than 60 percent of the total population. They are important players in the development of the region and their demographic dividend must be harnessed Commissioner Professor H.E Josefa Sacko, Africa Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development during the 3 rd SADC Youth Forum.