Photo Courtesy ;Africa Union
Africa’s young innovators are redefining the continent’s future, crafting homegrown solutions for challenges ranging from climate change to digital inclusion.
With over 70 percent of Africa’s population under 35, youth-led innovation is increasingly recognized as the driving force of transformation across all sectors.
This vision took center stage at the African Union Innovation Festival 2025 (InnoFest’25), hosted by the AU Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) from October 22–24, 2025, at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Under the theme “Repositioning the African Union for Youth-Centered Innovation Leadership,” InnoFest’25 served as a continental platform to celebrate creativity, connect innovators with policymakers and partners, and strengthen collaboration across Africa’s innovation landscape.
The event spotlighted flagship AU frameworks, including the AU Start-up Act Model Law, the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020–2030), and the Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy, each designed to advance a digitally empowered, innovation-driven Africa.
Opening the Festival, H.E. Amb. Selma Malika Haddadi, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, underscored the central role of young Africans in shaping a self-reliant and prosperous continent.
“Africa’s young people represent the continent’s greatest innovators and problem-solvers,” she said.
“By equipping them with the necessary tools, resources, and networks, the African Union is not only empowering individuals but also shaping the continent’s collective future.”
Ambassador Haddadi further stressed that innovation must be inclusive and sustainable, reaffirming the AU’s resolve to nurture creativity and turn bold ideas into tangible action.
Speaking on behalf of German Cooperation, Dr. Ferdinand von Weyhe, Chargé d’Affaires of the German Embassy in Addis Ababa, applauded the AU’s leadership in building a strong continental innovation ecosystem.
“InnoFest’25 symbolizes Africa’s creativity, resilience, and potential,” he said. “Germany is proud to support the AU’s mission to empower youth and promote innovation as a foundation for sustainable development.”
Over three days, the Festival convened young innovators, AU officials, development partners, start-up founders, and policy leaders from across Africa and the diaspora to share ideas, showcase solutions, and forge new partnerships for impact.
Among the key highlights were:
- Graduation of the AU Digital and Innovation Fellowship (Cohort II): Eighteen fellows from ten countries completed one-year placements across eleven AU departments and organs, co-developing digital systems to improve efficiency and service delivery.
- Launch of the AU Go Gal Spark Tank: Twenty young women innovators aged 15–25 showcased projects under the AU’s Go Gal initiative, with top finalists receiving mentorship, technical support, and seed funding to scale their solutions.
- Recognition of Civic Tech Innovators: Innovators under the AU Civic Tech Fund 2.0 were celebrated for developing digital tools that strengthen citizen participation, transparency, and accountability in governance.
- Ecosystem Strengthening: The Festival served as a flagship initiative of the AU Innovation Lab, co-developed with German Cooperation, to promote open innovation and institutional co-creation within the AU system.
Reflecting on the event’s success, Prudence Ngwenya, Director of the Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate, emphasized that innovation must lead to tangible change.
“InnoFest’25 was not just a celebration, it was a commitment to turn ideas into impact,” she said. “Innovation must move from pilot projects to scalable solutions that change lives, especially for Africa’s women and youth.”
InnoFest’25 was made possible through partnerships with German Cooperation, AfriLabs, UN Women, UNICEF, UNITAR, World Bank, Ushahidi, and the Data Innovation Lab.
Together, these collaborations underscore the AU’s commitment to building a vibrant, inclusive, and connected innovation ecosystem that empowers Africa’s next generation of changemakers.
