As a ONE Champion and founder of YouthXcel Africa, I spend a lot of time thinking about what young people across Africa are actually asking for, and what African youth development should look like when it reflects their realities. This year's International Youth Day theme gave language to something I had been circling for a while.
'Different Contexts, Common Aspirations' sounds like reassurance at first, a reminder that young people everywhere want roughly the same things. Sit with it...
Feature
Africa has made its case for greater health sovereignty. What comes next will determine whether Accra becomes a defining turning point or another well-intentioned moment without sustained follow-through.
At the African Union’s Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra, I found myself carrying two feelings at once.
The first was fatigue. Much of what was said was true, urgent, and painfully familiar. Africa must finance more of its own health systems. Primary health care must be stronger. Medicines and vaccines must be manufactured...
Out-of-pocket health payments in Africa have become one of the greatest barriers to equitable healthcare access. For millions of households, the cost of seeking treatment can mean the difference between recovery and financial hardship. In this article, William Menson, Director for Health Financing for Africa examines why these payments function as a hidden tax on the poorest families and what governments can do to reduce their impact.
Names have been changed for confidentiality.
Africa does not only have a health financing...
As Africa looks toward a future defined by youth, innovation, and economic transformation, one truth is becoming increasingly clear: the continent’s long-term trajectory will depend not only on the opportunities created for young people, but on whether children survive and thrive in the earliest years of life.
Behind every conversation about demographic growth, workforce expansion, and human capital lies a more urgent question: are African children being given a fair chance to reach their fifth birthday? In this timely...
When health budgets shrink, the consequences are immediate and devastating for Africa’s youngest citizens. Drawing from frontline experience and broader fiscal realities, this piece makes a clear case: under-five survival is not just a health priority, but a defining economic and political choice—one that will shape the continent’s future.
Women and girls attending a Smart Aid Initiative training session in Nigeria
Fanele Sibonge at the AfCRA Launch at AU Commission Headquarters: A Defining Moment for Africa’s Financial Future
ONE Champion Fareed Ibrahim calls upon African leaders to prioritize education, gender equity, and digital inclusion ahead of the AU Summit 2025
In Africa, young people make up more than half of the continent's population. Yet, millions remain undereducated, unemployed, and unable to access the opportunities that modern technology offers. Women, in particular, face even greater challenges due to systemic barriers, gender inequality, and socio-cultural norms that stifle their potential.
A Pivotal Moment: The African Union Summit 2025
As the African Union...
ONE Champions Mercy and Juliet share insights from their participation in the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany
This October, ONE Champions Juliet Nwobodo (Nigeria) and Mercy Mutana (Kenya) joined ONE Youth Ambassadors at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany. They engaged participants on the need for global finance reforms and empowerment of youth voices on SDGs. Here is a snapshot of their experience.
What was the Hamburg Sustainability Conference all about?
Juliet: The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) is basically a gathering of...
Climate change is a global threat, yet its misconceptions are as diverse as the regions it affects. Africa, with its rich biodiversity, is often at the center of several myths regarding climate change. Let’s separate myths from facts on this critical issue affecting the continent.
Keep reading to find out.
Myth 1: Africa contributes significantly to global warming.
Contrary to popular belief, Africa is responsible for roughly 4% of global carbon emissions, a sharp contrast to the higher percentages of more industrialized...