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Ph:DR: This 3rd edition of the CNT-Africa Conference will address the imperative to invest in exploiting the demographic dividend by investing in youth
The Sub-Regional Office for West Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (BSR-AO / ECA), in partnership with the CNT Network (National Transfer Accounts) – Africa via its Secretariat, the Regional Consortium for Research in Generational Economics (CREG), the Demographic Reference Bureau and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA: www.unfpa.org ) is organizing from September 6 to 8, 2023 in Somone, Senegal, the 3rd Edition of the CNT Conference (National Transfer Accounts) – AFRICA.
Placed under the theme “Demographic dividend, generational economy and sustainable development in Africa: Taking stock 5 years after the adoption of the African Union roadmap on the demographic dividend”the 2023 edition of the CNT Africa Conference has the main objective of creating a framework to address population and sustainable development issues in Africa in the context of multiple crises.
The CNT Africa Conference will be held in a context where Africa will have approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants in 2023, or nearly 18% of the total world population, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3 and an index total fertility rate of 4.15 births per woman, compared to 2.31 worldwide. Africa’s population is expected to reach 1.69 and 2.5 billion in 2030 and 2050 respectively (UNDESA, 2022).
Nearly 60 percent of Africa’s population is under the age of 25 (around 864.9 million), making the region the youngest continent in the world. This growth is attributed to high fertility associated with a decline in infant mortality (City Alliance, 2020. “Africa’s booming young population: potential or challenge?”).
Harnessing the demographic dividend by meeting the needs of this young population requires appropriate policies and investments in education, employment, health and inclusive governance structures. Such investments would have positive externalities on the development of countries.
In West Africa, for example, investing in youth empowerment can generate significant economic returns: a potential annual gain of $92.2 billion, which represents 6.4% of regional GDP at PPP ( CEA, 2021).
This 3rd edition of the CNT-Africa Conference will address the imperative to invest in exploiting the demographic dividend by investing in youth. Its specific objectives are to: conduct an in-depth review of progress made in the implementation of the 2017 AU roadmap on the demographic dividend; identify synergies and linkages between generational economics, the 2017 AU Roadmap on the Demographic Dividend and the 2030 Agenda, with a focus on issues relevant to Africa; assess the current situation with regard to demographic dynamics and development in Africa and its sub-regions; provide a platform for sharing experiences and stakeholders to brainstorm mechanisms to improve coordination and monitor national progress towards harnessing demographic dividends in their respective countries.
The meeting will bring together around 200 participants, including researchers and policy makers from across Africa and beyond. (Source: BSR-AO /CEA)
