Dakar — The Economic Commission for Africa organised, Saturday 25 March in Dakar (Senegal) in partnership with the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), the African Union Commission and UN Habitat an Expert Group Meeting on "The New Urban Agenda and Demographic Dividend: Investing in Africa's Youth".

Participants with a diversity of backgrounds, including government representatives, high level UN officials, academics, private sector, civil society but also youth representatives took part in the debate.

Africa's youth population reached 226 million in 2015 and is expected to rise to 830 million by 2050, which makes it the youngest region in the world. It is also the continent with the fastest urbanization rate, as experts expect its urban population to increase threefold over the next fifty years.

"The unpresented rate of urbanisation in Africa has brought great challenges in form of inadequate urban structures such as housing, water, sanitation, transportation, electricity. It has also led to urban poverty and rising inequality", warned Frederick Musiiwa Makamure Shava, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council and Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe to the United Nations.

Africa's growing youth population and fast urbanisation are two phenomena with deep implications on the region's economy and growth. They also mutually influence each other as demographic growth has a substantial impact on urban planning while the quality of urbanisation determines the wellbeing of populations. Urbanization has a growing influence on development and economic trends in Africa while the continent's development is mainly taking place in urban areas, said OSAA Director David Mehdi Hamam.

If well managed, both trends could allow Africa to take advantage of its demographic dividend to achieve structural transformation and consolidate its development.

If not, they could become an obstacle to economic development as poorly designed urbanisation could become a significant source of poverty and inequality. It could lead to a stronger informal sector and higher marginalisation, which, in turn, could cause a rise in social conflicts and even threaten the economic, social and environmental stability of countries.

"Youths that are educated but excluded and disgruntled are susceptible to make societies insecure", warned Khabele Matlosa, Director of Political affairs at the African Union Commission. To prevent this from happening various options were discussed including the development of good quality jobs, or the design of sustainable investment policies in education, health or good governance.

"The history of industrialised countries has shown that urbanization and industrialization can be two great engines of economic growth. Cities can be drivers of economic growths and means to combat poverty and strengthen social cohesion", said Musiiwa Makamure Shava, who strongly encouraged African governments to keep involving youths in shaping the urban agenda of the continent and make sustainable urbanisation a priority.

"Africa is undergoing a three-level transition, which is taking place at the urban, demographic and economic levels", said Yatma Guèye, Private office director at the Senegalese ministry of Urban renewal, habitat and living conditions, who stressed the existence of strong links between youth, urbanisation and economic growth: "Cities are not only places where development happens, they are engines of development; and youths are their mechanics", he said.

"We need more studies on how cities can generate more wealth. African cities must now be green, intelligent and be sufficiently attractive to dissuade youths from going abroad", said Atepa Group CEO Pierre Goudiaby Atépa.

Cities could invest in infrastructures and activities to get youths engaged and help them find a sense of belonging in cities, said David André, Mayor of the city of Victoria (Seychelles).

For her part, ECA's Director of social development Takyiwaa Manuh pointed out that the latest ECA flagship publication, the 2017 Economic Report on Africa ("Urbanization and Industrialization for Africa's Transformation") recognizes the crucial role of youths in the urban-industry nexus. As Africa continues to stride towards an inclusive, sustainable future, we must transform cities and youths into assets rather than liabilities, she said.