The Southern African Youth Forum (SAYoF) has released a call for participation in the 8th Southern Africa Youth Forum, which SAYoF described as the largest annual pan-African youth platform convened ahead of the SADC Heads of State and Government Summit.

The Forum provides a strategic space where young people can engage, collaborate, and contribute to addressing critical and emerging issues in the region. It added that the Forum would advance sustainable inclusion, youth empowerment, and meaningful participation, in line with development frameworks from SADC, the African Union, and the United Nations.

SAYoF Forum Planning Committee further reported that the 8th Southern Africa Youth Forum would be hosted in the Republic of South Africa from 21–24 July 2026. It stated that the Forum’s theme would be “Nourishing Futures: Enhancing Food Security and Water Resilience through Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action for Youth Empowerment.”

SAYoF noted that, building on previous milestones, the Forum would position youth at the center of regional transformation, focusing on sustainable food systems, climate resilience, nutrition, water security, and inclusive economic growth. The Forum also said it would convene the 2nd Sitting of the 3rd SADC Youth Parliament (Southern Africa Youth Parliament) to strengthen youth participation in policy dialogue and decision-making.

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