African youth are often excluded from health services, governance and leadership at all levels. But this is beginning to change. Africa CDC’s new plan gives visibility and opportunity to the young leaders and changemakers already improving health in their communities.

Africa CDC officially launched the Strategy for Youth Engagement and Participation in Global Health (YES! Health) 2025–2028 at the 4th International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA 2025) in Durban, South Africa.

The plan aims to mobilise, engage and empower Africa’s youth so they can lead, shape and sustain Africa’s New Public Health Order. It will create accessible physical and digital spaces for active youth collaboration and knowledge exchange. Youth-led partnerships and public health initiatives will be strengthened through collaboration and targeted resource support. There is also a commitment to expand the public health workforce through capacity development, including training, mentorship, fellowships and scholarships. The strategy further calls for the establishment of sustainable funding mechanisms for youth-led programmes and innovation.

“Africa’s strength lies in its youth. The YES! Health Strategy formalises the role of young people as essential partners in achieving health security and universal health coverage across our continent,” said Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC.

Africa is the youngest continent globally, with 65–70% of its population under 35, and adolescent girls and young women making up 28% of this demographic. Youth have been pivotal in responding to health emergencies, leading advocacy, activism, research and innovations in public health and digital health technologies. However, evidence shows that young people globally continue to face major health disparities. Addressing these inequities now — by leveraging youth leadership, resilience and innovation — is essential for Africa’s health future.

Africa CDC has already taken steps to institutionalise youth voices through initiatives such as the AU Bingwa Initiative and Bingwa PLUS, the Youth Advisory Team for Health, the Youth in Digital Health Network and the annual Youth Pre-Conference. The YES! Health Strategy builds on these foundations to provide a clear and sustainable framework for youth engagement across Africa’s public health landscape.

The strategy was co-created with more than 250 young participants at the 2023 Youth Pre-Conference. Virtual consultations were held with 271 respondents, and a group of 25 young experts and Africa CDC staff reviewed and validated the initial draft, shaping the final version.

The Special Session at CPHIA 2025 highlighted the importance of mainstreaming youth engagement in public health, presented the YES! Health Strategy and underscored its relevance to advancing health security and Africa’s New Public Health Order. Africa’s youth possess the talent, energy and digital fluency required to drive innovations in public health, from early warning systems to community-based health interventions.

“By institutionalising youth voices, we unlock a powerful engine for innovation and resilience in public health,” said Dr Chrys Promesse Kaniki, Youth Programme Lead at Africa CDC.

“We congratulate Africa CDC on the launch of the YES! Health Strategy, marking a key milestone in building an enabling ecosystem for meaningful youth participation in public health across the continent. GIZ AU is proud to have accompanied Africa CDC on this journey from its earliest youth-focused initiatives, including the AU Bingwa COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative and the Youth Pre-Conference. Together, we continue to empower young people as drivers of innovation and leadership in advancing the New Public Health Order for Africa,” GIZ AU noted.