– Cette discussion se tiendra en anglais, le programme n’est pour l’instant disponible que dans cette langue. –

In many African countries, young people are increasingly campaigning for democratic participation, the rule of law, and good governance. Despite facing structural barriers, limited scope for action and challenging political contexts, innovative approaches from civil society are emerging to strengthen the political participation of the so-called Gen Z.

The work of this year’s German Africa Award laureate, Namatai Kwekweza from Zimbabwe, demonstrates how such youth-led initiatives can be implemented in practice. Through her organisation, WELEAD Trust, the 26-year-old is striving to bolster democratic institutions, such as parliament and the judiciary, and is dedicated to enhancing youth participation, including by reducing the minimum age for holding political office. She is also driving forward democratic development by enhancing leadership skills and encouraging the participation of young women in political and civil society spaces. At a time when democracy is under pressure around the world, she is sending a clear signal of commitment and resilience. She represents a generation that is bravely standing up for its future and could be the key to successful promotion of democracy worldwide.

Where and how are news spaces for young people’s political participation opening up in Africa and beyond, and how can they be protected? Where do the greatest challenges lie for young Africans in their struggle for political agency and the rule of law? How can international partnerships, in this context, successfully contribute to the promotion of democracy? And what can Africa and Europe learn from one another in shaping sustainable democracies for the future?

These and other questions are at the core of the discussion to which you are cordially invited by the German Africa Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.

Programme

Welcome Remarks:
Inge Herbert, Head of the Regional Office for Sub-Saharan Africa, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Discussion:
Sarah Bernardy, Head of Division Pan-African Issues, African Union, Southern Africa, Great Lakes Region, German Federal Foreign Office
Namatai Kwekweza, Laureate of the German Africa Award 2025 and Founder of WELEAD Trust
Univ.-Prof Dr Anja Osei, Head of Comparative Political Science with a focus on Politics and Society in Africa, Free University of Berlin
Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Former Federal Minister of Education and Research, and Member of the Board of Trustees, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom

Closing Remarks:
Sabine Odhiambo, Secretary General, German Africa Foundation

Moderation:
Larissa Pflüger, Scientific Advisor for Southern Africa, German Africa Foundation