Addis Ababa, Ethiopia —Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has called for stronger policies, partnerships and investment to scale up youth-led climate innovations across Africa.
He made the call at a dialogue on “Scaling Youth-Led Solutions for Resilient Food Systems, Climate Action and Green Prosperity in Africa” in Addis Ababa, where he stressed the need to move beyond recognising young people as beneficiaries of climate action.
According to Nana Dr. Amoah, African youth should be recognised as innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, negotiators and leaders who are already contributing to the continent’s climate resilience and sustainable development.
“Africa’s greatest asset is not only its natural resources but also its young people, whose innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership are already transforming our food systems and strengthening resilience across the continent.”
He said the challenge was no longer to demonstrate whether youth-led solutions could work, but to create the enabling conditions required to take successful innovations from local initiatives to national and continental scale.
Investment needed to scale youth innovations
Nana Dr. Amoah called for stronger partnerships among governments, development institutions, investors, researchers and youth organisations to provide the financing, technical support and policy environment needed to expand youth-led solutions.
His call aligns with broader efforts by African institutions to connect young innovators with investors and development partners. The African Union Commission has previously reported strong demand for support from youth- and women-led climate innovators, with thousands of applications received for its Africa Climate Action Innovation Hub.
The AGN Chair has also identified youth engagement as a priority of his tenure, stressing the importance of preparing young Africans to become the next generation of climate negotiators and leaders.
Youth central to resilient food systems
The dialogue placed particular emphasis on the contribution of young Africans to resilient food systems, climate adaptation and green economic development.
Across the continent, young people are developing solutions in areas including climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, waste management, water access and climate-resilient infrastructure. However, limited access to finance, markets, technology and institutional support continues to constrain the expansion of many promising initiatives.
Nana Dr. Amoah said Africa must therefore create systems that allow young innovators to move beyond pilot projects and reach communities at scale.
Linking youth action to Africa’s climate diplomacy
The call also comes as African countries strengthen their common position ahead of major global climate negotiations, including COP31 and COP32.
The AGN coordinates Africa’s negotiating positions under the UN climate process on issues including adaptation, climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building. Ghana assumed the AGN chairmanship for the 2026–2027 period, placing the country at the centre of Africa’s climate diplomacy.
Nana Dr. Amoah has previously emphasised that Africa’s climate diplomacy must remain connected to the continent’s development priorities, including energy security, industrialisation and access to finance.
He said youth-led solutions must consequently remain central to Africa’s pursuit of climate resilience and green prosperity.
The dialogue reinforced calls for an Africa where young people are not merely consulted on climate policies but are given the resources, platforms and decision-making opportunities to shape and implement them.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
