BABIRYE MWAJUMAH: The Youth Dividend: What Africa and the Arab World Stand to Gain from Investing in Young People

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion piece by MwaJumah Babirye arguing that Africa and the Arab world can turn their large young populations into a development advantage if they invest in education, skills, jobs and participation. The article frames this as a “youth dividend” — the idea that young people can drive economic growth, social progress, peace and innovation when they are given the right support.

The piece highlights the Afro Arab Youth Council (AAYC) as a platform for building cooperation between young people across the two regions. It says the organization can help through training, mentorship, knowledge-sharing, youth-led initiatives and partnerships with universities, private-sector groups, financial institutions and development actors. The author also stresses entrepreneurship, digital skills, leadership, communication and project management as important areas for capacity building.

A central theme is that young people should be treated not only as beneficiaries of development programs but as contributors with ideas for solving problems in education, employment, technology, environmental protection and community development. The article says many youth-led ideas struggle because of limited access to resources, networks and mentorship, and argues that stronger institutional support could help turn those ideas into practical solutions.

The commentary also emphasizes cross-regional exchange, peacebuilding and mutual understanding. It suggests that African and Arab youth can deepen ties through dialogue, research, cultural exchange and joint projects, and that meaningful youth participation should include leadership roles and a real voice in decision-making.