Recognizing the importance of digital innovation and the need for an enabling environment to tackle challenges facing the youth in Africa, the
African Telecommunications Union (ATU) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) partnered to run the
second edition of the annual ATU Africa Innovation Challenge under the banner “Best ecosystem practices in Africa enabling youth ICT innovation ”.
This challenge came at a time when the impact of COVID-19 on communities was becoming more and more visible. Youth was among the most vulnerable to this impact, facing challenges such as socioeconomic and workforce inclusion. According to the International Labour Organization, “Africa is home to nearly 363 million young people, and this is expected to double by 2050. The full potential of young Africans remains unrealized as unemployment, working poverty, informal employment and gender inequalities continue to be significant obstacles to young people accessing decent jobs.”
It is expected that 15 to 20 million educated youth will join the African workforce every year for the next three decades, compounding the existing problem. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected young people, with many finding themselves out of school, and excluded from economic and social life.
Many innovators — including young innovators — are looking to tackle these issues, but often the problem owners, solution owners and resource owners do not come together to scale up and share their success stories or good practices. Digital technologies can offer tremendous opportunities to address inequalities, but they need the support of an ecosystem and its stakeholders to achieve impact.
