From 13th to 15th October 2022, UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Director, Ms. Lydia Zigomo attended the 5th Youth Connekt Africa Summit in Kigali Rwanda where, together with the First Lady of Rwanda, H.E Mrs Jeannette Kagame, met and discussed with over 2500 young people from different countries across Africa, in a high-level session on Sexual and Reproductive health and Mental Health organized by Imbuto Foundation and the UNFPA.

As part of the 2022 Youth Connekt Africa Summit, Ms Lydia Zigomo, also attended the final pitching of 6 young innovators of the Early and Unintended pregnancy Hacklab, which provided an opportunity to interact with young innovators from east and southern Africa region.

UNFPA has been engaging in the Youth Connekt Africa initiative since 2017. At a time when the African Union declared 2017 the year of the Demographic Dividend and investment in young people that facilitated the development and launch of the AU road map.