The litmus test for any functioning economy is how the members of the least advantaged communities fare. If African women, one-half of the continent’s population and often the least advantaged members in their societies, are not thriving, African countries cannot thrive or achieve any of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Often, women act as the so-called canary in the coal mine, and declining outcomes for women can be a crucial leading indicator of socioeconomic woes to come. These issues are particularly pressing given the status of the continent as the world’s youngest. Policies that focus on improving the well-being of the growing share of young women will be key to economic growth.