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UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa

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UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa

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Working for a sustained and effective United Nations and global engagement towards the achievement of the and the 2063 Agenda of the African Union in .

08/14/2026

Africa is entering a defining decade — one where agency is rising.

Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa Ahunna Eziakonwa delivered the keynote address at the policy seminar on “Global Africa in The Evolving Geopolitics,” organized by the University of Pretoria's Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship (CAS) in South Africa.

Her address, titled "Africa in a Post-Aid World: From the Economics of Survival to the Architecture of Inclusive Prosperity," highlighted that for 60 years, aid shaped perceptions about .

The global economy is being redesigned, and i.ts new architecture will run through Africa.

Africa has comparative advantages and sits at the centre of almost every contested resource.

▶️ Roughly 30% of the world's mineral reserves.
▶️ 60% of its uncultivated arable land.
▶️ The youngest population on earth.
▶️ Most of the world's net labour-force growth for decades to come.
▶️ The minerals of the energy transition.
▶️ The food for a warming planet.
▶️ The consumers of the coming century.
▶️ The workers of every ageing economy.

The question is what will Africa allow the world to have, and on what terms?

The task of this generation is to build, and to own, the architecture through which the continent's wealth can finally serve its people, and through which Africa takes its place, not as a supplicant in the global order, but as one of its architects.

08/13/2026

12 August is International .

Africa is the youngest continent on earth. Three numbers frame Africa's youth story this International Youth Day:

➡️ 18.7 - the continent's median age, the youngest in the world and more than 12 years below the next youngest region.
➡️ 850 million - young Africans projected by 2050, when one in four people on earth is expected to be African.
➡️ $2 billion - raised in start-up funding in 2021, most of it reaching founders under 35.

But the real value of a young population is not its size. It is what that generation is equipped to do. Secondary school completion among young Africans rose from 27% in 2000 to 44% in 2020, and African founders raised $2 billion in start-up funding in 2021.

A demographic dividend is not automatic. It is earned - through deliberate investment in education, entrepreneurship and employment policy.

By 2035, more young Africans will enter the workforce each year than the rest of the world combined.

That is the scale of what is coming. Between 10 and 12 million young Africans already join the labour market annually.

But the real value of a demographic dividend is not just in the numbers. It is in the policy built around them. Countries across the continent are developing national youth employment strategies, and OSAA's review of progress between 2020 and 2022 points to where that work can go furthest - turning strategies on paper into programmes young people can actually reach.The generation is arriving either way. The question is what it arrives into.

📙 Read OSAA's publication Unlocking Africa's Youth Potential: Empowering The Next Generation
🔗 https://www.un.org/osaa/en/content/unlocking-africas-youth-potential-empowering-next-generation

08/13/2026

Today, as we mark International 2026, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, advocates for more meaningful youth participation in shaping policies that contribute to and the continent's future.

This year’s theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” reminds us that although young people grow up in diverse realities, their hopes are remarkably similar.

In Africa, as the world's youngest continent, young people hold the key to the continent’s prosperity. They are already driving innovation and shaping solutions to the continent's challenges.

But it's important to create the conditions they need to thrive. This means:

➡️ Investing time, effort and resources to inspire the next generation of African leaders.
➡️ Engaging and creating platforms that allow young people to lead, influence policy, and shape Africa’s development trajectory.
➡️ And young people participating meaningfully, knowing that their voice and contributions matter.

The opportunities created for youth today will define the Africa of tomorrow.

Together, we can build a future where every young person reaches their full potential and co‑creates .

08/13/2026

This week began on a high note, with an inspiring meeting between the Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa and her team at the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa.

Despite our diversity, we share a common passion for a better Africa.

We're really excited and look forward to what we will accomplish together as we contribute to building .

08/10/2026

On 12 August, we mark International on the theme: "Different Contexts, Common Aspirations."

Africa's greatest wealth is its human resources and a vibrant, creative and resourceful youth population.

As the world's youngest continent, Africa's youth hold the key to its prosperity, and young people are already contributing to its progress.

Every day, they drive innovation and shape solutions to the challenges of our time. Their ideas and determination are essential to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and sustainable future.

Our responsibility is to invest in 's youths so they can thrive in their context and build .

08/07/2026

On 5 August, Ahunna Eziakonwa, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa, met with Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, and members of her team to discuss shared priorities and opportunities for collaboration.

The meeting focused on advancing a more balanced and positive narrative about Africa, one that moves beyond stereotypes and highlights the continent's , dynamic youth population, growing opportunities, and strong potential. The discussion underscored that global perceptions of Africa significantly influence how the continent is valued, financed, and positioned in international discourse.

A key area of focus was youth engagement. Recognizing Africa's young people as central to the continent's governance, stability, and development, both leaders emphasized the importance of investing in youth and engaging them through the platforms and spaces they actively use.

The conversation also highlighted the critical role of partnerships. Leveraging the UN's unique convening power, both offices reaffirmed the importance of working closely with Resident Coordinators, United Nations Information Centres, and partners across and beyond the UN system to strengthen local storytelling and advocacy in support of Africa's development agenda.

Building on existing collaboration through platforms such as UN Information Centres and Africa Renewal, the two entities committed to further strengthening their partnership to amplify African stories, voices, achievements, and opportunities.

08/03/2026

🔊 Just published!

The UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa's latest policy papers are out.

1️⃣ No Sovereignty without Scholarship: Making African Knowledge Central to Policy

The policy paper argues that Africa’s future will be shaped not only by its resources, but by its ideas. It highlights the critical role of African in advancing sovereign decision-making, stronger institutions, and .

📖 https://bit.ly/4pV2Cjm

2️⃣ Beyond Capital: Rethinking the Role of Africa's Multilateral Development Banks

The policy paper argues that Africa's is not just about raising more money. It’s about transforming how , , and work together to drive long-term prosperity.

📖 bit.ly/450lHqK

08/02/2026

A warm welcome to Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, the newly appointed Special Adviser on Africa.

Your deep regional , commitment to inclusive , and long record of principled come at a pivotal moment for the continent.

Your vision and experience will be invaluable in promoting innovation, strengthening partnerships, amplifying African priorities, and advancing transformative solutions across the region.

We look forward to the energy, insight, and strategic direction you bring to the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa.

We are excited to work together to advance Africa's priorities and help build .

Congratulations, and welcome.

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