The International Francophone Meeting on Youth and Women's Diplomacy (RIFDJF – Conakry 2027) will take place from March 24-27, 2027, at the Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry, Guinea. The event is organized by the Network of Young Francophone Volunteers of Côte d'Ivoire. It aims to promote experience sharing and discussions on major issues affecting the region. The summit will bring together around 200 young men and women from 12 Francophone African countries, with Guineans making up 70% of the participants.
The summit will feature high-level panels, co-construction workshops, an official declaration, and a meeting with officials to discuss recommendations. Key topics to be addressed include peace, diplomacy, security, environment, climate justice, ecological transition, culture, sports, and digital issues, including artificial intelligence. The goal is to generate concrete proposals and follow-up mechanisms.
According to Marguerite Esther Léno, vice-coordinator of the organization, the forum will produce recommendations from co-construction workshops and a roadmap with achievable activities. These activities will be reviewed by institutional and state partners to determine which ones can be supported.
The summit also aims to create a network of Francophone African countries to facilitate the free movement of people, goods, and skills among young people and women. An observatory will be established to facilitate exchanges and activity implementation.
For Marguerite Esther Léno, the summit will be an opportunity for Guinean women to showcase their skills and share experiences with African counterparts. The event will highlight the capabilities of Guinean women leaders and provide a platform for them to expand their influence.
Ibrahima Sory Bayo, coordinator of the program, emphasized the importance of youth participation in decision-making processes and their contribution to development. He noted that the Francophonie has resolutions beneficial to youth and that the summit will help find and present solutions during the next Francophonie General Assembly.
The press conference, which gathered several civil society actors, including women's rights defenders and students, marked an important step in promoting youth and women's participation in diplomatic exchanges and cooperation within the African Francophone space.
Key points
- The summit aims to generate concrete proposals and follow-up mechanisms for youth and women's diplomacy in Francophone Africa.
- The event will bring together 200 young people from 12 Francophone African countries, with a focus on Guinean participation.
- The summit will address key issues such as peace, diplomacy, environment, and digital issues, including artificial intelligence.
