The 2026 YouthConnekt Africa Summit is set to build on nearly a decade of youth engagement across the continent, with organizers and partners saying the platform has grown into a powerful space for dialogue, policy influence and action.
Speaking on the summit’s long-standing impact, Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, the UN Resident Coordinator, said the UN system in Rwanda and beyond has supported YouthConnekt for years, helping young people take part in the initiative and sustain the connections that have grown from it. She noted that the platform has helped expand YouthConnekt country chapters to 39 countries, with UN agencies in many of them continuing to work with governments on youth priorities.
Sesay said the summit stands out because of its unique themes and its youth-led spirit. This year, she said, the focus on exploring African markets and other sub-themes adds fresh relevance, while keeping young people at the center of the conversation. “The youth have always been in charge in YouthConnekt,” she said, adding that they will remain in charge at the 2026 edition.
Sandrine Umutoni, Minister of State for Youth and Arts in Rwanda, said this year’s summit carries a different message under the theme “Shaping the Generational Mission.” She said young people attending the forum are being asked to reflect on what they believe their mission is for their generation, what they can do differently from the previous one, and how they plan to shape the future.
Umutoni said the summit will feature discussions across several sectors, including agriculture, sports, the creative economy, artificial intelligence and the relationship between citizens and governments. She said the aim is to prepare young Africans to take ownership of their future and lead the continent forward.
For Yann Gwet, Executive Director of the YouthConnekt Africa Hub and Summit, the organization remains one of a kind. He described it as a Rwandan homegrown initiative that has expanded into 39 countries and counting, making it a source of pride and soft power for Rwanda.
Gwet also said YouthConnekt’s strength lies in its structure, which brings together governments and youth organizations under one umbrella. He said that combination of grassroots energy and political proximity gives the platform the ability to deliver real results.
The 2026 summit is expected to continue that mission, positioning young Africans not just as participants, but as key drivers of the continent’s next chapter.
