PRB staff and researchers from the PopPov Network participated in the African Union Commission’s program “Delivering on the Potentials of Africa’s Young Women.” The AUC Youth Programme organized the event to promote an increased recognition of youth as key agents for social change and economic growth in all aspects of African society and to contribute and channel youth motivation, energy and idealism toward achievement of sustainable development in Africa.

Kate Belohlav, Kate Gilles, and Marlene Lee from Population Reference Bureau’s (PRB) IDEA and PopPov projects collaborated with Prudence Ngwenya Nonkululeko, senior policy officer in the AUC human resources, science, and technology department to incorporate an overview of the demographic dividend into the event. The PRB ENGAGE presentation on the demographic dividend set the stage for youth working on the development of a roadmap of activities for a year-long celebration (November 2014-November 2015) of Africa’s young women and their potential.

Sandra Mapemba, PRB’s in-country coordinator in Malawi, and Grace Kumchulesi, former recipient of a dissertation fellowship from the Hewlett Foundation Population and Poverty Initiative, spoke about the demographic dividend and young women’s health and employment. With Kate Belohlav, they also served as resources for groups of young people engaging in discussions of education, sexual and reproductive health, and sustainable livelihoods. The following PRB videos were featured:

Harnessing the Demographic Dividend

Reproductive Health and Poverty Reduction in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa