Mattei Plan: educating young people to transform Africa

While the world will celebrate International Education Day with the theme "Youth Power in Co-Creating Education", nowhere is this message more important than in Africa. By 2050, Africa's population will reach 2.5 billion people, more than half of whom will be young people under the age of 25. This explosive population growth represents one of the largest untapped reserves of human potential and one of the greatest development challenges of our time.

With the right investments in education and skills, young Africans could foster innovation, drive sustainable development and help countries reduce their dependence on international aid.

For Italy, this represents a strategic opportunity: a future in which African nations are strong economic partners, in sectors ranging from clean energy to digital transformation. However, this demographic dividend could easily turn into a demographic burden. Without quality education and adequate economic pathways, the disengagement of young people could further fuel fragility, irregular migration, unemployment and instability. The direction Africa will take depends on the choices made today. Today, over 98 million children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa are out of school, the highest number globally. Even among those enrolled in school, almost 9 out of 10 children are unable to read and understand a simple text by the age of 10.

Italy has placed education and youth empowerment at the centre of its engagement with Africa through the Mattei Plan, a flagship strategy based on partnership, investment and shared prosperity. The Mattei Plan emphasises vocational and technical education, STEM pathways, digital skills and youth employment, recognising that Africa's demographic strength, if nurtured, can drive inclusive growth and stability.

The empowerment of young Africans is not charity, but an investment in shared security, economic opportunities and global stability.