The COVID-19 pandemic has without a doubt exacerbated major economic and social challenges across the globe. In Africa, young people, especially the vulnerable youth, have not been spared the devastating effects of the pandemic. The disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified many of the challenges already facing the continent’s youth.

African governments are having to deal with the critical issues of disrupted education systems, reduced access to essential goods and services, increased poverty, food insecurity, and exposure to violence, abuse, and exploitation. They also have to deal with vaccine access, uptake, and distribution in the context of weaknesses in health systems exposed by the pandemic.

Young people, who constitute about 65% of Africa’s population, have exhibited a high appetite for leading the way in continental pandemic recovery efforts. Many young people have exemplified themselves as active agents in the fight against COVID-19 by volunteering as front liners in essential services, while others are constantly innovating to meet the emerging demands for essential products.

The challenge for all is to embolden young people to escalate their contributions to the African recovery agenda by spearheading a network of local catalytic solutions, supported by regional advocacy and policy influencing.

This is why YOTA (Youth Opportunity & Transformation in Africa) has launched the Youth Innovation Challenge to foster and nurture catalytic youth-led solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Challenge forms part of activities under the Africa Youth Partnership to Advocate an Equitable Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic.