Rome, 10th May 2022 - Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa Foundation (RES4Africa) announces the launch of its Youth Task Force (YTF), a panel of youth representatives with mutual interest of conveying youth’s voice to shape policy makers opinions, aiming to expand both African and European youth networks in order to advocate for and implement energy transition actions in Africa. The YTF will host its first in-person meeting on June 27, 2022, in Milan, in conjunction with PwC and Bocconi University, as part of the "Youth Empowerment for Driving Energy Transition" event.

Acting as an incubator bringing different youth networks together with RES4Africa and its members, the Youth Task force's aims to provide a platform to propose and discuss priority areas of action, resulting in youth’s perceptions being included and establishing a dialogue that identifies new synergies on youth’s role within RES4Africa initiatives and programmes. Furthermore, the YTF aims to provide a structure that empowers the exchange of knowledge and the development of long-term networks and partnerships with other youth networks through strengthening advocacy and awareness in the relevant context.

According to Roberto Vigotti, Secretary-General of RES4Africa "It is critical to include and provide opportunities for youth to participate in the energy transition the African continent is witnessing. It will be incumbent upon youth to inject renewed momentum into the global energy and development discourse" he concluded "and it is therefore only fitting that they have a seat at the table."

Mohamed Alhaj, Chairman of the YTF, emphasised that "in this decade of action towards the SDGs and as Africa strives to achieve universal energy access, while also being climate-resilient, the role of youth becomes even more instrumental. Youth empowerment and inclusion in the energy transition agenda requires scaling access to quality education, capacity building initiatives, fostering more opportunities for youth in policy-making, and most importantly ensuring that the voice of youth is heard!"

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