ECOWAS Hosts Youth Conference to Define Elements for a New Youth Policy and Unified Regional Vision.
By Raymond Enoch
In a landmark effort to reshape youth engagement in West Africa, the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC) is currently hosting a pivotal three-day Regional Youth Conference from July 1 to 3, 2025, in Saly, Senegal. Themed “Engaging ECOWAS for a New Vision on Youth,” the conference aims to chart a strategic path for the future of youth inclusion, empowerment, and leadership across the region.
Held as part of the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebrations, the conference brings together hundreds of young leaders, policymakers, civil society actors, and regional partners to co-create a new regional youth policy framework that reflects the evolving realities and aspirations of West African youth aged 15 to 35.
The event is being organized in collaboration with three key ECOWAS institutions: the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), and enjoys critical support from international development partners including the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The conference represents the culmination of an ambitious series of youth forums and national consultations held earlier this year in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Benin. These pilot initiatives offered young people an open platform to express their ideas, concerns, and priorities around education, health, employment, peacebuilding, climate change, and good governance.
“This conference is not just a celebration—it is a commitment, a process of reimagining youth participation and ensuring the voice of young West Africans is at the core of regional development strategies,” said a senior ECOWAS official during the opening ceremony.
Saly: A Strategic Venue for Youth Engagement
Saly, a well-known hub for international meetings and youth engagement on the Senegalese coast, provides a symbolic backdrop for this transformative dialogue. The venue has been purposefully chosen to inspire dynamic discussions and to offer a tranquil yet vibrant space for reflection and innovation.
Panels and working sessions are structured to encourage intergenerational dialogue between youth and key stakeholders in government, regional institutions, and development partners. Topics include inclusive governance, youth entrepreneurship, digital innovation, health and wellbeing, and regional peace and security.
WAHO brings its expertise on adolescent health and sexual and reproductive rights into the youth agenda, while GIABA contributes crucial insights on youth protection from economic crimes and illicit financial practices. GIZ/BMZ and UNFPA, as strategic international partners, provide technical and financial support to promote youth development as a cross-cutting priority in West Africa.
Speaking on the importance of regional cooperation, a UNFPA representative noted: “Youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow; they are the change-makers of today. This partnership is about unlocking that potential and institutionalizing youth voices in policy-making.”
As the conference enters its final day, participants are expected to adopt a set of key recommendations that will inform the ECOWAS Youth Charter and lay the groundwork for a new Regional Youth Policy. The outcomes will guide future programming and investments, ensuring that young people are not passive beneficiaries but active architects of regional integration and development.
The conference also features exhibitions, cultural showcases, and digital storytelling platforms highlighting youth-led innovation and resilience.
With the theme echoing loudly through the sessions—“Engaging ECOWAS for a New Vision on Youth”—the Regional Youth Conference in Saly marks a defining moment in West Africa’s journey toward more inclusive, participatory governance and long-term peace and prosperity.
As ECOWAS commemorates 50 years of regional solidarity, this event underscores a powerful message: the future of West Africa will be built with its youth, not just for them.
