From May 29 – 30, 2025, Botswana’s capital became a hub for ideas, innovation, and collaboration as nearly 150 young researchers, academics, policymakers, and industry leaders from across Africa gathered for the third edition of the YouSustain Conference.
Hosted at the University of Botswana under the theme “Sustaining Sub-Saharan African Cities Through Youth Capacity Building and Opportunity Access”, the conference spotlighted the pivotal role of youth in building resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart cities.
Across keynote speeches, interactive panels, exhibitions, and research presentations, a clear message emerged: Africa’s youth are not just participants in sustainability, they are architects of its future.
Key Moments and Insights
Opening the event, Mr. Bokang F. Basejane, National Director of the Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) Botswana, called for urgent, tangible support for young innovators. “If we are serious about resilient cities, we must stop relegating youth to the sidelines of policymaking. Their ideas, energy, and digital fluency are the untapped engines of Africa’s green transition,” he said.
The keynote address by Professor Julius Atlhopheng reinforced this vision, emphasising that youth-led, context-aware innovations rooted in local knowledge systems are essential for scalable climate solutions. He called for stronger academia-industry-government collaborations to ensure that sustainability efforts align with policy, technology, and intergenerational equity.
Panel discussions highlighted inspiring models, from Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ patent incubation hub to Viva Organica’s community-driven climate-smart agriculture solutions. Speakers stressed the urgency of aligning education with market needs, removing barriers to research funding, and fostering interdisciplinary partnerships.
Showcasing Green Innovation
The Green Product Exhibition offered young entrepreneurs a platform to showcase eco-friendly products and services, gain market visibility, and connect with potential investors and collaborators. From waste valorization to organic fertilizers, exhibitors demonstrated that Africa’s green economy is already in motion and not just an aspiration.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 YouSustain Conference, a blueprint for Africa’s sustainable urban future, succeeded in creating an accessible, impact-driven platform for youth engagement. The call to action was clear: move beyond tokenistic inclusion and create enabling ecosystems where youth co-lead the transformation of African cities.
As climate and infrastructure pressures mount across the continent, the energy, creativity, and leadership of Africa’s youth are proving to be among the continent’s most powerful assets.