Date: September 24, 2026

Location: 14A Washington Mews, New York, NY, 10003

Time: 6:00 pm

Overview: Africa is entering a decisive demographic phase: by 2063, its population is projected to approach 3 billion, with young people remaining central to the continent’s development trajectory. Agenda 2063 provides the strategic framework for converting this demographic scale into inclusive growth, productive employment and shared prosperity. Realising this potential will require sustained investment in quality education and market-relevant skills, health and family planning, entrepreneurship, job-intensive industries and intra-African trade. It will also require stronger mechanisms to align continental priorities with the expertise, innovation, networks and capital of Africans on the continent and across the global diaspora. Coordinated action across these areas is essential to transform population growth into a sustainable demographic dividend and accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063.

AUDA-NEPAD is the Premier Development Agency and implementing arm for the African Union’s Agenda 2063:: The Africa We Want, development strategy. AUDA-NEPAD drives the Energize Africa initiative which recognises that Africa’s youth and women must be at the core of Africa’s economic growth and inclusive development strategies. Energize Africa is about harnessing the youths’ creativity and innovativeness into the continent’s economic growth and development drive, whilst expanding income opportunities for the youth – through creation of jobs, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Energize Africa’s focus is on young professionals to enhance public sector efficiency, innovation hubs to stimulate solution-focused research and development and entrepreneurship opportunities for Africa’s youthful populations for improved socio-economic well-being.

This event is co-sponsored by AUDA-NEPAD, NYU Africa House, NYU School of Global Public Health, African Graduate Students Association, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network.