Strengthening youth participation in Africa’s Blue Economy

Forum of Young Africans on the Blue Economy

MADAGASCAR: Held last month, a forum, with the objective of strengthening Africa’s youth participation in the continent’s Blue Economy, has called on the African Union to integrate recommendations into the Africa Blue Economy Strategy and African Youth Charter.

After attracting more than 1,000 participants at the inaugural forum last year where youth leaders, private sector actors, technical experts, policymakers, and international organisations convened to investigate innovative solutions and establish a blueprint for a blue economy, the Forum of Young Africans on the Blue Economy (FOJAEB) explored the potential of the Blue Economy and stressed the importance of effective governance and regional cooperation.

Discussions throughout the three days called for investments in youth-led innovations to address challenges such as illegal migration and marine resource management.

Conducted under the theme Sustainable Blue Economy: Ownership, Innovation, and Performance for Africa’s Renaissance, FOJAEB 2025 emphasised the need for young Africans to drive transformational change. It highlighted the critical role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and scientific knowledge in unlocking the vast potential of Africa’s aquatic and marine resources.

Rafik Nouaili, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Expert under the FishGov2 Project, emphasized the importance of forging stronger partnerships between AU institutions, regional bodies, and youth networks like FOJAEB, ensuring that young Africans are not only included but are central to the blue economy’s growth.

The forum opened with inspiring messages from government leaders and international partners. Distinguished speakers such as Dr Paubert Mahatante, Madagascar’s Minister of Fisheries and Blue Economy, and Ernest Tindo, President of the Pan-African Youth Organisation for the Blue Economy, set the tone for the deliberations.

Key partners from the World Ocean Council, African Development Bank, International Labour Organisation, FAO, UNDP, UNECA, and the African Union Commission also lent their voices to the call for greater youth engagement. A special message from the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, HE Arsenio Dominguez, encouraged youth to lead efforts in promoting safer and greener maritime transport.

The forum produced several important outcomes that will guide future actions. Among them was a strong call to formally integrate FOJAEB’s recommendations into African Union frameworks, such as the Africa Blue Economy Strategy and the African Youth Charter.

There was also a clear recognition of the need to establish mechanisms for meaningful youth participation in blue economy policy-making, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Participants recommended formalising partnerships between AU-IBAR, AUDA-NEPAD, and FOJAEB to provide technical support, capacity building, and policy advocacy for youth-led initiatives.

Plans are also underway to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation framework that would help track the implementation and impact of youth projects, ensuring alignment with the broader targets of Agenda 2063.