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2025 marked the second edition of the Africa Youth Think Tank at the Max van der Stoel Foundation. Thirty enthusiastic young people dived deep into the question: how can Europe and Africa build a sustainable, future-proof cooperation in autumn 2025?
Getting to work on real policy dilemmas
The project began in August with a kick-off with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here, the two policy dilemmas were presented:
How does engagement with Africa remain a strategic priority despite other geopolitical challenges?
What is a future-proof economic model for the relationship between Europe and Africa, taking into account demographic changes?
The young people were immediately given context and tools to explore dilemmas during the coming months. During the sessions as well as in their own working time, they examined these dilemmas, gathered information and shared their own insights.
Masterclass and Digital Youth Dialogue
In September, the young people attended a master class by an expert from Erasmus University, in which they received in-depth training in international cooperation and policy analysis.
At the same time, they participated in a Digital Youth Dialogue with young people from Africa, which allowed them to share and compare their perspectives, a great first step in building a true international dialogue.
Skills on point: from lobby to stage
Besides research, the programme also included a lot of skills development. For instance, the young people attended a workshop on influencing policy by former colleague Jarne van der Poel, received training in public speaking, worked on the dilemmas in their group and visited the Lower House.
Brussels: an international perspective
One of the new additions to the youth think tank this edition was the trip to Brussels, where the young people interacted with experts from European think tanks such as FEPS, Africa Europe Foundation and ECDPM.
The young people also visited the European External Action Service and DG INTPA, where they learned what the priorities and dilemmas are from the EU in their relationship with Africa. We ended the day with a discussion with representatives of UNDP and UNEP at UN House.
Through the Brussels trip, the youngsters got a unique insight into how European relations with Africa and the different actors who influenced policy.
Africa Day 2025: from panel to simulation game
On the Africa day in Amsterdam organised two sessions of their own and the young people presented their ideas to the audience.
They organised two sessions: a panel with young people from Europe and Africa and a social partner and speaker from BuzA, and a simulation game in which participants worked in game form on solutions to economic dilemmas in the “Blue Economy” framework.
From ideas to impact
The final products of the track, the two policy recommendations, contain concrete recommendations and insights from the young people. The young people presented these in December at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to officials who deal with these dilemmas on a daily basis.
By sharing their findings with politicians, the public, civil society and policymakers, young people learn by doing. It shows that young thinkers can make a real difference: from research and debate to lobbying and policy advice, from the Lower House to Brussels.
The Policy Advice
Read the opinions of the two working groups:
