A trained physician and president of the International Council for Dialogue and Partnership (CIDP), Dr. Hemes Nkwa is launching the first edition of the Permanent African Dialogue (PAD) in Yaoundé. The forum will bring together more than 400 stakeholders, including governments, investors, civil society organizations and researchers, with a single goal: produce an African-led analysis of migration and an actionable white paper. The initiative comes as the debate remains largely framed around migration to Europe, even though most migration flows are intra-African, driven by a youth population that accounts for more than 60% of Africa’s total population.

Ecofin Agency: CIDP is launching the first edition of the Permanent African Dialogue. What is the vision behind this initiative?

Hemes Nkwa: The vision of the Permanent African Dialogue is to place Africa at the center of thinking and decision-making on its own migration dynamics. For too long, migration on the continent has been viewed through external, often security-driven lenses that reduce it to a question of controlling flows. This approach is both reductive and ineffective because it overlooks Africa’s economic, demographic and social realities. At the International Council for Dialogue and Partnership, we believe that sustainable policies require a clear structural understanding of migration.

For too long, migration on the continent has been viewed through external, often security-driven lenses that reduce it to a question of controlling flows. This approach is both reductive and ineffective

The Permanent African Dialogue is designed to address this gap by promoting an African-led perspective, grounded in local realities and focused on practical outcomes. Our ambition is to shift the narrative from migration as a constraint to migration as an opportunity, by positioning it as a driver of economic transformation and talent circulation.

Ecofin Agency: Why did you choose to place young people at the center of discussions on African migration?

Hemes Nkwa: Because African migration is, by nature, a youth-driven dynamic. With more than 60% of the population under the age of 25, the question is not whether young people will move, but under what conditions, with what prospects, and with what impact for the continent. Today, due to a lack of structure, this mobility is often unplanned, disorganized, and sometimes risky. What we are proposing is a shift in perspective. The mobility of young people can become a strategic asset — provided it is better supported, better funded, and better directed. Placing youth at the center means acknowledging that they are not a problem to be managed, but a resource to be developed.

Ecofin Agency: What sets the Permanent African Dialogue apart from other migration initiatives in Africa?

Hemes Nkwa: The Permanent African Dialogue aims to transform both the narrative and the action. First, it seeks to correct common misconceptions. Contrary to widely held views, most African migration takes place within the continent, as the International Organization for Migration has consistently shown. This calls for a rethinking of public policies and analytical frameworks.

The mobility of young people can become a strategic asset — provided it is better supported, better funded, and better directed. Placing youth at the center means acknowledging that they are not a problem to be managed, but a resource to be developed.

Second, the PAD is not just a discussion forum. It is a platform for producing concrete solutions. The white paper it will generate is intended as an operational tool, directly usable by policymakers, investors and development partners. The objective is clear: less talk, more results.

Ecofin Agency: Funding youth systems is presented as a key issue. What concrete mechanisms are you suggesting?

Hemes Nkwa: The main gap in youth policies across Africa is not a lack of ideas, but insufficient funding at the right scale and with the right structure. Transforming a continent cannot rely on marginal investments through residual budgets or one-off programs. What is needed is a shift in scale and a more strategic approach to investment.

The Permanent African Dialogue aims to activate several complementary levers, including the development of dedicated financial instruments for youth, stronger partnerships between public and private actors, and mechanisms capable of channeling capital toward high-impact projects.

Beyond financing, there is also a critical need for capacity building. Young people must be supported in turning their initiatives into credible, bankable projects that can attract investment.

Beyond financing, there is also a critical need for capacity building. Young people must be supported in turning their initiatives into credible, bankable projects that can attract investment. The central question is how to move from symbolic support for youth to strategic investment. This is the shift we aim to drive.

Ecofin Agency: How will stakeholders contribute to the success of the PAD?

Hemes Nkwa: The success of the Permanent African Dialogue is based on a simple premise: the issues we are addressing are systemic, and the responses must be systemic as well. No single actor can tackle challenges as complex as migration, youth, and financing on its own. States set the direction and policy frameworks, investors mobilize resources, civil society brings a nuanced understanding of realities on the ground, and academics help shape the analysis. The role of the CIDP is to bring these actors together. By convening more than 400 participants, we are not simply organizing an event. We aim to foster meaningful exchanges that can lead to concrete and lasting solutions.

Ecofin Agency: What concrete outcomes are you expecting from this first edition of the PAD?

Hemes Nkwa: We expect strategic, political and operational outcomes. At the strategic level, the white paper will provide concrete, actionable recommendations to guide public policy and investment decisions. At the political level, the Yaoundé Declaration will set out a shared vision and clear commitments, sending a strong signal about the continent’s ability to shape its own responses. The most important impact, however, will be at the operational level. We expect the emergence of structured, fundable projects, stronger collaboration among stakeholders, and increased mobilization of capital to support young people. Our ambition is for this first edition of the Permanent African Dialogue to mark the start of a lasting process, capable of influencing public policy, investment flows and, more broadly, how migration is understood across Africa.

Interview by Idriss Linge