Launched by the United Nations Foundation, African Union Youth Envoy, and The Elders in collaboration with The Global Dispatches podcast, the Future of Africa podcast explores the continent’s future with renowned leaders and changemakers. Launching to mark the United Nations’ 80th anniversary, Future of Africa spotlights ideas that can shape the global agenda for years to come.
The intergenerational conversations delve into bold, practical solutions to current and future challenges, inspiring action across borders and generations. Episodes explore major issues — including new technologies, the planetary crisis, global financing, and good governance.
Future of Africa is presented by Kenyan media personality Adelle Onyango, alongside Mark Leon Goldberg, host of The Global Dispatches podcast. Brought to life through the United Nations Foundation’s Our Future Agenda program.
Listen to Future of Africa episodes wherever you get your podcasts.
Africa’s influence on global decision-making is rising as the world’s youngest and fastest-growing continent — but will young people be given the power to shape it? Chukwuemeka Eze lays out why legitimacy at home is the foundation for influence abroad, while Chido Mpemba champions young people’s leadership in every sphere of governance. Jake Obeng-Bediako warns against “waithood” as the lost years between education and meaningful leadership, and calls for young Africans to be decision-makers. Together, they highlight ways young African countries are navigating geopolitical shifts, increasing their role in multilateral forums, and leveraging demographic and economic momentum. This is a call-to-action for anyone who believes Africa should lead as an innovator on the world stage.
Guests:
Jake Bediako – Director of Policy and Implementation for Global Citizen’s Move Afrika Initiative.
Dr. Chukwuemeka Eze – Director for Democratic Futures in Africa at Open Society Foundations.
Chido Mpemba – formerly the African Union’s Special Youth Envoy and currently the Advisor to the African Union Commission Chairperson for Women, Gender, and Youth.
Background Materials:
Explaining the Current Path, ISS African Futures and Innovation Platform
Shape Africa, Office of the African Youth Envoy
Three Major Africa Initiatives, Open Society Foundation
What does it mean to make peace with nature — and why could that be the key to lasting peace between people? Former President Juan Manuel Santos shares the extraordinary indigenous mandate that shaped his leadership, while Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim explains how climate shocks in Africa are driving conflict and migration. Khouloud Ben Mansour brings in the youth, peace, and security lens, stressing that climate justice must include women and young leaders at the table. Across the conversation, you’ll hear why African knowledge systems are vital to global climate solutions, and how reframing climate as a security issue could shift the way the world responds.
Guests:
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim – Chair of the Planetary Guardians and President of the Indigenous Women and Peoples Association of Chad
Khouloud Ben Mansour – Tunisian junior diplomat and former African Union Youth Ambassador of Peace
Juan Manuel Santos – former President of Colombia, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Chair of The Elders
Background Materials:
Cooperation on Climate, Peace and Security is Needed Now, The Elders
Africa Climate Security Risk Assessment, Africa Union
Planetary Health Check, Planetary Guardians
In the aftermath of the critical Financing for Development (FfD4) Summit, the global community is tasked with turning ambitious commitments into tangible outcomes for Africa’s sustainable growth. In this timely conversation, Ambassador Dr. Chola Milambo, Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Mr. Chidi Okpala, Executive Director for Group Integration and Strategy, Heirs Holdings, Tumi Mhkize-Malebo, a UN Foundation Fellow on Partnerships, and Ms. Nabila Aguele, Chief Executive, Nigeria, Malala Fund discuss what meaningful and equitable financial partnerships look like in practice, beyond high-level declarations.
Reflecting on key outcomes from FfD4, they discuss how international financial institutions, governments, and the private sector can follow through effectively on commitments made. They share practical examples and lessons learned, exploring how transparent accountability, innovative finance models, and robust youth-focused investments can genuinely accelerate sustainable African-led development.
Guests:
Ambassador Dr. Chola Milambo – Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations
Chidi Okpala – Executive Director of Group Integration and Strategy, Heirs Holdings
Nabila Aguele – Chief Executive, Nigeria at the Malala Fund
Tumi Mhkize-Malebo – United Nations Foundation Next Generation Fellow
Background Materials:
Africa: Unlocking Africa’s Future -The Imperative of Domestic Resource Mobilization, All Africa
Foresight Africa: Top Priorities of the Continent 2025-2030, Brookings Institution
Our Future Agenda Quarterly Rewriting the Rules of Finance, Our Future Agenda
When trust in institutions crumbles, democracy suffers and progress falters. Chimdi Neliaku and Sierra Leone Minister Chernor Bah share on-the-ground lessons about building public trust in government through accountability and civic engagement. Joseph Asunka brings hard data from Afrobarometer on how citizens regard their leaders, while Samson Itodo underscores the power of grassroots organizing to hold power to account. The guests converge on a core truth that trust is built by consistent, intergenerational fairness and action. Expect practical, people-centered ideas for strengthening the bond between African citizens and the systems designed to serve them.
Guests:
Joseph Asunka – CEO of Afrobarometer
Chernor Bah – Minister of Information and Civic Education from Sierra Leone
Samson Itodo – Executive Director of Yiaga Africa and Convener of the Not Too Young To Run Movement
Chimdindu Neliaku – Special Assistant to the Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives on Interparliamentary Affairs and Public Relations
Background Materials:
Africansights 2025: Citizen Engagement, Citizen Power, Afrobarometer
Public Opinions on Governance in Africa, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Africa Youth Survey, Ichikowitz Family Foundation
Education in Africa must do more than keep up — it must leap ahead. Vimbai Masiyiwa champions entrepreneurship education that sparks job creation, while Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam draws lessons from reforming Senegal’s school system for a digital future. Tina Muparadzi links skills development directly to economic transformation, making the case for public–private partnerships that align learning with labor market needs. The conversation digs into how digital literacy, innovative financing, and gender equality can work together to equip Africa’s next generation. It’s a blueprint for education that prepares students for the future of work and leadership.
Guests:
Minister Serigne Mbaye Thiam – Chair of the Global Partnership for Education and former Minister of Education of Senegal
Ms. Tina Muparadzi – Executive Director for the Education and Transitions programming platform at Mastercard Foundation’s Education, Learning & Youth Livelihood Team
Vimbai Masiyiwa – Entrepreneur and CEO of Batoka Africa
Background Materials:
Educating Girls Generates Economic Transformation In Africa, Mastercard Foundation
Why Africa Urgently Requires Transformation of its Education Systems, Brookings Institution
Education Multiplies Possibility: Young People’s Call for Action, Global Partnership for Education
Africa’s future will be written by its girls and women — if they have the resources and rights to lead. Graça Machel calls for a generational shift in how girls’ education and leadership are supported, while Françoise Moudouthe challenges donors and policymakers to back feminist movements with flexible, sustained funding. Satta Sheriff brings the voice of a new generation, connecting women’s leadership to broader fights for climate justice, peace, and economic inclusion. This episode is full of hard truths about the barriers girls and women face, paired with inspiring examples of what happens when those barriers come down.
Guests:
Graça Machel – Women’s and children’s rights advocate; former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique; co-founder of The Elders.
Françoise Moudouthe – CEO of the African Women’s Development Fund
Satta Sheriff – Human Rights Activist & African Union Panel of the Future Member
Background Materials:
Women’s Rights in Review 30 years after Beijing, UN Women
Futures Africa: Trends for Women by 2030, The African Women’s Development Fund
African Young Women B+25 Manifesto, African Union
Immunization has transformed the health trajectory of millions in Africa — but the job is far from done. This discussion moves beyond vaccines as a medical intervention, framing them instead as a trust-building exercise between communities and health systems. Helen Clark offers high-level insights on vaccine diplomacy, while Dr. Jamal Ahmed unpacks the operational and political hurdles to reaching every child. Dr. Esias Bedingar adds a front-line perspective on combating misinformation and delivering care in fragile settings. Vaccines have saved millions of lives across the continent — but more work remains. This episode explores both the progress made and the gaps that still need to be closed.
Guests:
Helen Clark – Former New Zealand Prime Minister, former Administrator of the UN Development Programme, and member of The Elders
Dr. Esias Bedingar – Program Manager at Big Win Philanthropy and former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Chad
Dr. Jamal Ahmed – WHO Director for Polio Eradication
Background Materials:
Vaccination Progress in Africa – Millions of Lives Saved, WHO Africa
The views, information, and opinions expressed by the individuals involved are solely their own and do not reflect the views, positions, or policies of
the United Nations Foundation, the Future of Africa Podcast, its partners, or any affiliated organizations.
