YouthConnekt Africa

What YouthConnekt Africa does

YouthConnekt Africa (YCA) is a pan-African non-profit initiative launched in 2017 in Kigali, Rwanda, under the leadership of H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and structured to accelerate the implementation of the African Union's Agenda 2063 by connecting African youth for socio-economic transformation. The initiative has been adopted by 39 African Member States and operates through national chapters led by respective Ministries of Youth Affairs, supported at the continental level by a lean 7-employee hub headquartered in Kigali.

YCA's core offerings include the YouthConnekt Africa Summit (an annual continental gathering averaging 6,000 attendees), the YCA Network of national chapters, an Opportunities Portal, the newly established Youth Advisory Council, and three program modules — Scale Initiatives (communities of practice), Policy Advocacy, and Impactful Programs (entrepreneurship, skills, civic engagement, employment). The underlying platform is not a proprietary technology stack: the website serves as an information and opportunity-listing surface, and there is no disclosed API, SDK, or AI component. The technology footprint is conventional — a WordPress-based website with active social channels on Instagram, X, and YouTube — rather than a differentiated technical product.

The organization is funded through strategic partnerships and donor support from the African Union Commission, UNDP, and the Mastercard Foundation, supplemented by engagement with private-sector and development partners. YCA does not operate a commercial revenue model: participation for African youth is free, there are no membership or program fees, and the stated long-term goals (creating 10 million jobs, skilling 25 million youth, connecting 100 million young Africans, and nurturing 1 million young leaders) are framed as development outcomes rather than revenue targets. Leadership is provided by Executive Director Yann Gwet, with a Youth Advisory Council of 10 rotating young leaders introduced in 2025 to formalize youth governance input.

Name

YouthConnekt Africa

Legal name

YouthConnekt Africa

Website

https://youthconnektafrica.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

YouthConnekt Africa is a pan-African non-profit initiative, founded in Rwanda in 2017 and now operating across 39 countries, that connects, empowers, and engages African youth through skills training, entrepreneurship support, policy advocacy, and an annual continental summit drawing 6,000+ attendees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Empowerment and Development Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Youth-to-Adult Transition & Life Skills (Independent Living, Soft Skills) (EDAAAFAN), Youth & Young Adult Workforce Programs (Out-of-School Youth) (EDAAAOAD)

Keywords

• Youth empowerment programs
• Skills development training
• Policy advocacy services
• Continental summit convening
• Entrepreneurship support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kigali

HQ country

Rwanda

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Partnership and Donor Funding: YouthConnekt Africa is funded through strategic partnerships and donor support from organizations including the African Union Commission, UNDP, and the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative does not operate a commercial revenue model.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

YouthConnekt Africa is a pan-African, non-profit youth empowerment initiative that connects, engages, and empowers African youth through leadership development, skills training, entrepreneurship support, and civic engagement programs. It delivers these through a network of national chapters in 39 African Member States led by respective Ministries of Youth Affairs, an annual continental summit convening approximately 6,000 young Africans, policy advocacy to drive youth-friendly national policies, and an online Opportunities Portal that links youth to jobs, funding, and professional connections.

Product overview

YouthConnekt Africa operates as a unified platform for continental youth empowerment rather than a modular software product. The core offering consists of the YCA Platform coordinating youth development activities, the annual YouthConnekt Africa Summit (Africa's largest youth gathering with 6,000+ attendees), and a Network of 39 national chapters. Supporting program modules include Scale Initiatives (communities of practice), Policy Advocacy, and Impactful Programs. The organization also maintains a Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for governance and an Opportunities Portal for youth connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• YouthConnekt Africa Summit The annual continental summit convening an average of 6,000 young Africans each year with policymakers, private sector leaders, development partners, and youth for masterclasses, workshops, pitching competitions, and high-level policy dialogues. It is Africa's largest youth gathering and is open to attendees via registration.
• YCA Network (National Chapters) A network of national chapters in 39 African Member States, each led by the respective Ministry of Youth Affairs, that implement country-level youth empowerment programs and can receive technical and capacity-building assistance from the YCA Hub, including through South-South cooperation and a communities-of-practice model.
• Youth Advisory Council (YAC) A governance council composed of 10 young leaders aged 23-35 representing Africa's five sub-regions, who advise YCA leadership, provide authentic youth perspectives on strategy, and drive youth-led change across the continent through formal 2-year membership terms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 12 million+ youth reached across Africa
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• African Union CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe African Union Commission is a key institutional partner providing continental legitimacy and strategic direction. The YouthConnekt initiative has been adopted as an African Union initiative and is aligned with Agenda 2063.
• UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP provides strategic support, technical expertise, and development partner coordination for YouthConnekt Africa. UNDP's Regional Bureau for Africa is actively involved in the initiative, with Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General and Director, serving as a prominent advocate.
• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfCFTA is a partner supporting YouthConnekt Africa's trade and economic empowerment agenda for African youth, aligning with the goal of intra-African trade and the Africa Beyond Aid vision.
• Government of RwandacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Government of Rwanda, under the leadership of H.E. Paul Kagame, is the founding host of the YouthConnekt Africa initiative. The initiative was born in Rwanda and the Rwanda Government provides institutional leadership for the YCA Hub.
• National Governments / Ministries of Youth AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEach of the 37+ member countries operates through its respective Ministry of Youth Affairs, which leads the national YCA chapter. These chapters implement grassroots youth development programs aligned with national priorities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• UNDP Youth Programmes (Africa): UNDP's Africa-wide youth and employment programmes, including the Africa Youth Futures initiative that actively supports YCA. A direct funder of YCA and a broader development actor operating across the same continental scope.
• Generation Unlimited (UNICEF): Global UNICEF-led initiative focused on youth skills, employment, and engagement across more than 40 countries. Operates at greater scale and broader scope than YCA but with overlapping mission around youth empowerment, skills development, and policy advocacy.
• Tony Blair Institute for Global Change: Global policy institute with significant African youth leadership and governance programmes across multiple countries. Operates at greater scale and broader policy scope but shares YCA's youth-leadership and government-partnership model.

Direct peers

• Andela: Pan-African technology talent development company that recruits, trains, and employs African youth, partnering with governments and development institutions. Comparable in mobilizing African youth through skills training, employer matching, and government-backed programs.
• Tony Elumelu Foundation: Pan-African entrepreneurship empowerment platform running the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme across all 54 African countries with annual summits and donor-backed training. Closely matches YCA's continental youth-empowerment model with annual convening and chapter-style country implementation.
• MEST Africa: Pan-African entrepreneurship training and incubator program operating across multiple African countries with a focus on software entrepreneurs. Comparable continental training-and-incubation model targeted at African youth founders.
• Global Shapers Community: World Economic Forum-affiliated youth leadership network organized through city-based hubs globally, including across Africa. Closely mirrors YCA's hub-and-chapter model, leadership development focus, and annual convening structure.
• African Leadership University: Pan-African higher-education institution focused on developing African leaders and entrepreneurs, explicitly cited as a beneficiary of YCA programs. Operates a similar mission of leadership development and youth empowerment across multiple African countries.
• African Union Youth Division: The AU's own continental youth policy body, which has formally adopted YCA as an AU initiative. Direct institutional peer responsible for continental youth policy, programmes, and partnerships with member states.
• Ashoka Africa: Pan-African arm of Ashoka, the global network of social entrepreneurs, focused on identifying and supporting young African changemakers. Comparable mission of youth leadership, civic engagement, and entrepreneurship support across multiple African countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/youthconnektaf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@youthconnektafrica
• Instagraminstagram.com/youthconnektafrica?igsh=MXFkZWUzMXlia20wZg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youthconnekt-africa-hub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YouthConnekt Africa