Of the 1.2 billion young people joining the global workforce by 2030, around 450 million of them are from Africa. With their dynamic strength, creativity, and skills, these young movers are not only stakeholders in migration and labour policies now – they would also be vital architects of the future. Meanwhile, Europe undergoes profound demographic changes marked by ageing populations and growing labour shortage in essential sectors.
Seizing this potential, the Rabat Process gathered over 120 delegates from 38 African and European countries this year, for a platform of dialogue and action that put youth, education and innovation, and the future of labour mobility at the heart of the agenda. At the Thematic Meeting in Nigeria, young people joined government and private sector leaders, civil society, academia, and diaspora representatives to commit to engaging youth more systematically.
The event was a historic first under Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Rabat Process. The outcome report published after the event, captures key challenges, promising practices, and strategic actionable recommendations to place youth at the centre of policy-making and strengthen their role as catalysts for development and social growth in countries of origin and destination.
Here are seven recommendations that the youth, along with the official delegates, partner agencies, and stakeholders, put forward:
- Strengthen inclusive youth participation in policy processes and migration governance
Inclusive youth participation in migration governance strengthens the decision-making process. They must be meaningfully engaged through the entire policy cycle – from inception and development to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation – as well as in broader political and civic processes. This enables youth to make informed recommendations, and to select leaders from among their peers.
Youth councils and advisory boards could support the development of National Youth Strategies that prioritise their needs and priorities; while showcasing their perspectives in local, national, regional and international fora. Within and beyond their countries, embassies could establish youth advisory boards with their participation, especially targeting those already achieving mobility in their regions. In this age of communication technologies, digital platforms are powerful tools for wide-reaching consultation and engagement.
Through the Rabat Process, the youth must be systematically involved – irrespective of their age, gender, denomination – at the heart of the conversation.
- Transform the migration narratives with the youth driving cross-border development
Showcasing and leveraging the youth’s unique expertise and meaningful contributions to policy debates, would enhance trust between them and key government and non-governmental actors. Tapping into their lived experiences, digital fluency, and entrepreneurial spirit shifts the previous narrative of youth merely as beneficiaries or bystanders of migration opportunities, into centring them as active agents of positive change and development.
Engaging them at the local level also enhances community-based outreach, particularly through the power of storytelling to set them as positive examples. These could be achieved via digital campaigns with young influencers, diaspora ambassadors, and content creators to raise awareness and promote projects with targeted and lasting impact to their communities.
Designating a National Diaspora Day would celebrate and encourage diaspora contributions. A highly attractive tactic would be to launch a Diaspora Youth Innovation Challenge, to spotlight youth across Rabat Process countries to contribute to development through business, education, and industries – further catalysing regional development.
- Enhance youth access to information for equal and inclusive access to opportunities
The youth would benefit from enhanced awareness on existing projects and programmes they can seize. Migration desks at local and national levels would provide verified, up-to-date information on migration, skills development, and reintegration; and facilitate access to flexible funding opportunities. Community-led awareness initiatives would ensure inclusive outreach – especially to those from more economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Equally important, the root causes of Japa Syndrome must be addressed, by investing in homegrown opportunities, building trust in governance, and strengthening the quality of education and employment.
- Leverage the power of diaspora communities everywhere
Diaspora youth are uniquely positioned to connect their countries of origin and destination, with the invaluable transnational knowledge, skills, and networks. To fully harness this potential, a comprehensive diaspora engagement policy, reflecting the diversity of these communities, simplifying bureaucratic processes to help [diaspora] youth to invest, start businesses, or access government programmes, and promoting user-friendly digital platforms, could be developed and implemented.
Such framework would also promote synergy and coordination between government agencies (including the Ministry of Youth, Foreign Affairs, NIDCOM, etc) and youth-led diaspora groups. Equally important is a Diaspora Youth Advisory Council that would provide structured inputs of youth in migration and development processes.
Furthermore, diaspora youth – including those in Europe – are also a priority partner for the EU: as outlined in this previously published set of youth recommendations, the EU Global Diaspora Facility highly values youth expertise in policymaking and programming; including their ability to operate in multiple spaces, across development goals, and bridge gaps between cultures, nations, and generations.
- Unlock youth potential through skills development and mobility opportunities
A comprehensive assessment of youth needs can support the identification of skill gaps and migration motivation to allow for the effective design and delivery of tailored skills-building programmes. It would also pinpoint structural barriers faced by marginalised youth – whether due to gender, socioeconomic status, disability, or situations of vulnerability.
These programmes should include youth-specific funding pathways, exchange schemes, remote internship, and mentorship platforms between (returning) diaspora and local youth that support their professional growth. Mentorship programmes would also strengthen the youth’s leadership skills, create more opportunities, and allow them to contribute to migration conversations and lead projects in their communities.
- Raise awareness to counter criminal networks’ disinformation, and promote safe and regular migration choices
Integrating migration issues in school curricula, specifically on the risks of irregular migration and cross-border crimes like human trafficking, alongside information on safe and regular migration pathways, can not only equip youth with critical knowledge but also uphold their right to access information that can protect their lives and dignity.
For instance, ICMPD’s STEAP Project in Nigeria, embeds advocacy programmes in schools to alert children of risks they could potential face even in their own communities; as well as developing a Vanguard Club for peer-to-peer awareness and support system. As a result, the country’s anti-trafficking agency (NAPTIP) has been increasingly successful in combatting trafficking.
- Sustainable and holistic return and reintegration strategy
Creating reintegration centres would support returnees with job placement, mental health support, and entrepreneurship coaching – ensuring they are welcomed with dignity. It also allows them the space to contribute their earned skills, knowledge, networks, and perspectives that can enrich local economies and foster cultural exchange.
Underscoring the urgency of the theme through the Rabat Process, some African partner countries such as Cabo Verde, The Gambia, Niger, Senegal and Togo, have increasingly prioritised their youth’s perspectives in migration policies and dialogues. They have been integrating youth voices in their policy making including access to the labour market; giving youth councils a seat on national coordination mechanisms for migration; creating youth centres to promote access to employment; promoting peer-to-peer engagement and pathways for safe and legal migration; and engaging the private sector diaspora to invest in local development.
We are here to do more than participate; we are here to lead. When we are engaged meaningfully, migration in Africa becomes more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable. We are not the problem ‘to be solved’ – we are already part of the solution, driving change. What we need is the capacity, trust, and resources to lead fully.young delegates said at the Voices Without Borders Regional Exchange.
Young people’s involvement, along with their unique ideas, is increasingly becoming necessary, as the report published from the Thematic Meeting shows. With migration becoming a key driver for mutual and sustainable development between Europe and Africa, engaging the youth – not only as tomorrow’s leaders but as already today’s key actors already – holds the potential for them to power that future.