‘Future of Africa’ Podcast Launches to Spotlight Young African Voices in Global Policy Conversations
A new podcast series, Future of Africa, has been launched to amplify the voices of young Africans who are influencing global policy and addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
The initiative is a joint effort by the African Union Youth Envoy, the United Nations Foundation, and The Elders, produced in collaboration with the Global Dispatches podcast. Co-hosted by Kenyan media personality Adelle Onyango and journalist Mark Leon Goldberg, the limited series pairs young African changemakers with global leaders for open, intergenerational conversations.
Across its first season, the podcast will cover a wide range of critical topics, including climate justice, education, rebuilding trust in democratic systems, women’s empowerment, public health, and financing for development. Each episode blends personal storytelling with policy analysis, offering a platform for young leaders to share practical solutions and visionary ideas for the future.
“As the world’s youngest continent, Africa holds the key to shaping the global future,” said Harshani Dharmadasa, Senior Director for Global Partnerships and Campaigns at the United Nations Foundation. “This podcast elevates the bold ideas, lived experiences, and leadership of young Africans who are already driving change from grassroots movements to the highest levels of international decision-making.”
Chido Mpemba, Youth Envoy to the African Union Commission Chairperson, added: “Stories, especially when told and led by young people, can humanise global challenges, challenge outdated assumptions, and reimagine how international cooperation works for the next generation.”
The first season, launched on International Youth Day, features seven episodes. High-profile guests include Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, education leaders from Senegal and the Mastercard Foundation, and celebrated advocate Graça Machel.
Listeners can tune in to Future of Africa on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other major streaming platforms. The series is positioned as an accessible, story-driven dialogue between the continent’s youth and the institutions shaping the world, aiming to inspire action and foster collaboration on a global scale.
