The African Development Forum is a multi-stakeholder platform for debating, discussing and initiating concrete strategies for Africa's development. The Forum initiated in 1999, has already been held four times with very good concrete outcomes including the initiation of a programme to support national ICT policy formulation and implementation in Africa. The fifth forum will be organised under the theme " Youth and Leadership in the 21 st Century", from November 16-18, 2006, by the Economic Commission for Africa jointly with its strategic regional partner, the Africa Union and in collaboration with other stakeholders in African development.

The decision to devote the Fifth African Development Forum (ADF-V) to youth emanates from the frank acknowledgement by various stakeholders that political stability, social solidification, and economic prosperity lie in harnessing the capacities of the youth.