About the Event
Africa’s youth represent a significant asset, but many young entrepreneurs face challenges in accessing finance, markets, and technology to participate in value-chains and engage in cross-border trade. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) creating new opportunities for intra-African trade and regional integration to foster economic growth, it is essential to capacitate youth-led enterprises to participate in RVCs and engage in cross-border trade.
This high-level dialogue will convene policymakers, development partners, private-sector leaders, youth entrepreneurs, and regional institutions to identify practical ways to integrate youth-led enterprises into regional value chains, expand trade opportunities, and drive job creation. The session will emphasize actionable outcomes through partnerships, policy recommendations, and implementation commitments.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, 11 June 2026
Time: 16:15 – 18:15 (Eastern African Time)
Venue: Room CR2, UN Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Format: Entrepreneur Testimonials, High-Level Panel Discussion, Interactive Q&A, and Action-Oriented Dialogue
Organisers: ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA) in collaboration with the ECA Regional Integration and Trade Division, International Labour Organisation (ILO), and Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF).
Key Discussion Areas
Access to Finance
Explore innovative financing, trade finance mechanisms, and investment opportunities to help youth-led enterprises participate effectively in regional and continental markets.
Market Access
Examine strategies to strengthen participation in regional value chains, improve standards compliance, and connect young entrepreneurs to broader supply chains and export opportunities.
Trade Facilitation and Digital Borders
Identify reforms and investments to reduce trade costs, improve logistics, strengthen cross-border payment systems, and facilitate seamless intra-African trade.
Technology and E-Commerce
Show how digital platforms, innovation, fintech, and e-commerce can help youth-led businesses scale, access new markets, and compete effectively under AfCFTA.
- Concrete commitments from development partners, governments, and private sector stakeholders.
- Strengthened partnerships to support youth entrepreneurship and regional integration.
- Contributions to the Africa Development Impact Forum (ADIF) Action Brief and implementation roadmap.
Why Attend?
This dialogue provides a platform to engage with key stakeholders shaping Africa’s trade and development agenda, share experiences, identify opportunities, and contribute to practical solutions that empower youth-led enterprises to succeed in regional and continental markets under AfCFTA.
Join the conversation, help shape the future, and unlock opportunities for Africa’s youth.
Further information on the meeting and any other related matters should be addressed to:
ECA
1. Ms Bineswaree Bolaky (Session coordinator), Economic Affairs officer, ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa (SRO/SA). Email: bineswaree.bolaky@un.org.
ILO
2. Mr Andrew Allieu, Regional Economist, Regional Office for Africa, International Labour Organisation.
Email: allieu@ilo.org
Southern Africa Youth Forum
3. Mr Mischek Gondo, Regional Coordinator, Southern Africa Youth Forum.
Email: regionalcoordinator@sayof.org
4. Lavender Degre, Communications Officer, ECA Subregional Office for Southern Africa, Lusaka, Zambia
Email: lavender.degre@un.org