YouthConnekt Africa is a continental initiative with the mission to empower young people by enhancing their knowledge, experiences, and skills while investing in their ideas, innovations, and initiatives to harness Africa’s demographic dividend. The YouthConnekt Africa is adopted and implemented by 33 African Member States. YouthConnekt Africa takes a platform approach to solving challenging development issues through ecosystem building, knowledge development and continental collaboration. YouthConnekt operates under the framework of the AU Youth Charter, Agenda 2063 and national development strategies to find new ways to address Youth development in line with national priorities
The YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2024, a joint initiative by YouthConnekt Africa and UNDP, aims to empower 300 youth owned enterprises across Africa by providing the necessary tools, resources, and support to enter and thrive in regional and global markets. The opportunity is open to young people from the following countries: Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Gabon, Guinee, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Building on the successful foundation laid since its inception, the program seeks to enhance Africa’s economic landscape by leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to create a vibrant marketplace for innovative “Made in Africa” products and services.
The primary objectives of the YouthConnekt Africa Export Accelerator 2024 are:
Identify and Support Export-Ready Enterprises: Select high-growth youth and women owned enterprises ready to expand into new markets.
Capacity Building for Export Readiness: Equip enterprises with the skills and knowledge required for successful market entry and growth.
Facilitate Market Access and Investment: Connect enterprises with investment opportunities and facilitate access to regional and global markets.
