AYC organises Africa Regional Break out Session at the ECOSOC Youth Forum in New York

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum took place from 25 to 27 April 2023 in a hybrid format.

The Forum provided a platform for young people to engage in a dialogue with Member States and other actors to voice their views, concerns and galvanize actions on how to transform the world into a fairer, greener and more sustainable place guided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Youth Forum addressed the theme of ECOSOC and the 2023 UN High-level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF) on “Accelerating the recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at levels”. It also reviewed progress in the areas of clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), and partnerships for the goals (SDG17).

The 2023 ECOSOC Youth Forum was convened by the President of ECOSOC and co-organized by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), and the Office of the Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth, in collaboration with the United Nations Inter Agency Network on Youth Development (IANYD), and co-convened by the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) and the International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organizations (ICMYO), with technical inputs from youth-led and youth-focused organizations relevant to the theme of the forum.

Youth leaders from around the world had the opportunity to engage with government representatives, youth delegates, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders in civil society and the private sector.

The AYC together with United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UN-OSAA), United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly co-organised the Africa Regional Break out session on the 26th of April 2023.

The 2023 ECOSOC Youth Forum Africa Regional Breakout Session aims to provide young leaders with an
opportunity to engage on how they can concretely contribute to and benefit from an inclusive
implementation of the AfCFTA and the achievement of the SDGs. The session sought to
propose practical solutions to addressing the high youth unemployment rate in Africa by promoting
innovations and youth entrepreneurship, intra-Africa labour mobility and trade. It also aims to
influence policy formulation at the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable
Development (HLPF).

The Meeting Report can be assessed HERE

Download the meeting concept note HERE

Watch the recorded Video HERE

Kenyan Youth roundtable on Climate Change Proposed Amendments Bill of 2023

Kenya youth in the climate change space organised a round table to discuss the Climate Change Amendments Bill, 2023. The Government of Kenya issued a call for comments, proposals and recommendation from the public and interest groups for seeking to amendments the Climate Change Act of 2016 a process that is currently ongoing. The roundtable was organized by Youth Senate Kenya (YSK) the downstream implementing partner for African Youth Commission (AYC) within the African Activists for climate Justice (AACJ) Project. The roundtable took place on 4^th May 2023 at the Royal Tulips Canaan Hotel, Nairobi Kenya. The target participants were drawn from different set of youth with the common interest of climate change, the youth included those who have founded organisations, those working in the Carbon market (Targeted to give guidance on the proposed amendments on Carbon Markets section).

Key issues discussed included the lack of youth centric clauses that took care of their interests if the youth except for the proposal to include the youth in the climate change council, an idea that was lauded but the selection criteria of arriving at the youth with capacity and was missing making it an issue of interest to the meeting. Another issue that came out withing the proposals in fronted to include carbon markets, of interest to the meeting was the lack of youth specific youth interests clearly indicating how they areto be taken care of considering that they are a big constituent of the Kenyan engaged in the climate response work. Another key topic discussed was the clear distinction between the roles of the community, county and national governments not showing clearly how the interests of the communities would be taken care of, one major decision that stood out was the proposals by the Climate Change Amendment Bill of 2023 on the deletion of the schedule involving public participation, this was opposed too by the youth noting that public participation is clearly enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. 

On the way forward the meeting agreed to form a small team to firm up the recommendation from the meeting in close consultation with the legal team while receiving any other additional views from other youth who did not make it for the meeting and develop a memorandum which will be presented to the ministry in a language and format that is acceptable to the government. Colleagues also agreed to continue with them engagement by forming a WhatsApp group to continue with the momentum created within the meeting. 

The meeting concluded with the appreciation to Youth Senate Kenya, AYC and the entire African Activists for Climate Justice colleagues for the good work that they are doing to empower youth Across the continent. 

Photos Link can be accessed HERE

The African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) Global Coordination Meeting

I. Introduction

The African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) Global Coordination Meeting took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 5th to 11th February 2023. The meeting aimed to bring together the AACJ consortium members to reflect on progress made in year two of implementation and agree on adaptations required for successful implementation of the AACJ program. The following report summarizes the key discussions and takeaways from the event.

II. Background

The AACJ program is a five-year initiative that aims to amplify and unite the voices of African activists calling for climate justice, with a focus on the most vulnerable groups, including women, youth, and local indigenous communities.

 The AACJ consortium comprises several organizations, including the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Natural Justice (NJ), Oxfam Novib, FEMNET, and the African Youth Commission. The program is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

KEY DISCUSSIONS AND TAKEAWAYS

The AACJ Global Coordination Meeting included several plenary and group sessions that focused on progress review, COP27 reflection, theory of change, and global stock take. The following are the key discussions and takeaways:

Progress Review

The meeting provided an opportunity for consortium members to collectively share, reflect, and review progress achieved in year two of implementation. The baseline study and annual reports were key documents used to review progress. The consortium experienced some coordination hitches and compliance bottlenecks, but these were acknowledged as inherent and expected in a consortium’s initial stages of program implementation.

Adaptations for Successful Implementation

The AACJ consortium members discussed and agreed on adaptations required for the successful implementation of the AACJ program. They reviewed the internal and external operating context and agreed on strengthening coordination systems at all levels, including PGG, Project Leads, PMU, Decentralized PMU, Country Coordination, and Technical Workstreams. The consortium members also discussed and harmonized a joint calendar of events.

Cohesive Team Building

The AACJ consortium members emphasized the importance of building a cohesive team to drive the AACJ program’s implementation. They acknowledged the need to invest in team spirit, mutual support, and focus to achieve the desired results. The team-building activities facilitated by an external consultant were successful in creating a more energized and refreshed team.

COP27 Reflection and Planning for COP28

The AACJ consortium members reflected on COP27 and planned for COP28. They discussed the role of AACJ in the global stocktake progress and designed the COP28 AACJ framework.

Continuous Improvement Plans

The AACJ consortium members developed continuous improvement plans and initiatives to leverage existing strengths and opportunities as well as address obstacles to implementation. They refined and shared their understanding of roles, ways of working, and the framework for an enabling environment for the program.

Other Key Discussions and Takeaways

1. Gallery of Best Practices 

One of the sessions involved each consortium member designing a gallery to present what is being implemented at the grassroots level. The galleries showcased a range of best practices, including community-led innovations, sustainable farming practices, and climate-smart technologies. These practices demonstrated the impact of the AACJ program on the ground and the potential for scaling up these practices to other regions.

2. Challenges and Improvements

 Each consortium partner presented the challenges and improvements to be made in relation to working together with other partners. The discussions focused on strengthening coordination and collaboration to achieve the desired results. Some of the challenges identified included coordination hitches, communication breakdowns, and compliance bottlenecks. The consortium members agreed to develop a clear framework for collaboration and to invest in building stronger and more effective relationships among consortium partners.

3. Baseline Study Findings

A consultant presented a baseline study that was done to assess the state of climate justice in the target countries. The study findings established that there are a number of programs by NGOs to support communities to defend their environment and social rights, and 179 changes in law and policies that advance climate justice. The country-specific findings indicated that Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, and South Africa have ratified policies and plans that support a conducive environment for climate action. 

Some of the policies include National Development plans (NAP), National Adaptation Program Action plan (NAPA), plans for environmental and Sustainable development, and their constitutions. The study also assessed the cases of community-led innovations and sustainable best practices. The study established that there are 45 cases where communities are improving their capacities for adaptation planning.

4. Recommendations 

The baseline study made recommendations to the ACCJ project partners to support the advancement of climate justice in the target countries. These recommendations included supporting awareness creation programs, promoting public participation in climate change, promoting women’s participation in climate action, influencing policymakers and institutions regarding indigenous knowledge, and setting up groups from indigenous communities. The study also recommended promoting the inclusion of youth, PWDs, women, and indigenous communities in the implementation of climate policies.

CONCLUSION

The AACJ Global Coordination Meeting provided an opportunity for the consortium members to reflect on progress made in year two of implementation, review the internal and external operating context, plan for COP28, and discuss continuous improvement plans. 

The gallery of best practices showcased the potential for scaling up these practices to other regions, and the discussions on challenges and improvements highlighted the importance of coordination and collaboration. The baseline study findings provided insights into the state of climate justice in the target countries and made recommendations for promoting the advancement of climate justice.

 Overall, the AACJ program continues to make significant progress toward achieving its goals, and the consortium members left the meeting with renewed energy and focus to drive the program’s implementation.

Finance Officer – AACJ Project

Job description

Duration and type: Fixed-term contract

Duty station: Nairobi

Supervisor: Director of Admin and Finance 

Start date: Immediately

African Youth Commission (AYC) is seeking the services of a qualified candidate to serve as ‘’Finance Officer’’ to provide the following specific services:

• Plan, prepare the project budgets 
• Monitor expenses in accordance with the allocated budget
• Manage the monthly accounting and financial plans
• Manage, monitor, and properly document cash withdrawals, keep the cashbook, bank accounts, prepare and enter vouchers into relevant computer accounting systems or offline files, books etc
• Check requests for funds, payments etc and ensure payments, requests for funds are adequately supported before release
• Check internal/external settlements of expenses i.e travel expenses, allowances etc of staff, volunteers, consultants, partners for approval by the relevant authorities before settlement 
• Carry out weekly/monthly reconciliation, spot checks of the cash at hand and/or at bank 
• Support the internal or external Audit exercises of the Accounts
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Director of Programmes and the Executive Secretary

Skills

• Excellent communication skills in English both verbally and in writing, French is an asset
• Excellent working knowledge of ICT tools
• Good team player
• Previous experience in the field is an added advantage
• In-depth understanding of financial planning, accounting, management and administration

Education/Academic Qualification and experience

• University degree in relevant specialisation and qualification in finance, accounting business administration etc
• At least 2 years professional experience in a comparable position

HOW TO APPLY/ DEADLINE:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications and recent curriculum vitae in soft copies to the following address:

The Executive Chairperson 

African Youth Commission 

Submit your application HERE: https://forms.gle/gnyQHopcPA2gdrPK8

Deadline for submission application: Friday 7th January 2022 at 23h59 GMT.

All applications should include a functional email address, mobile numbers, cover letter, and detailed curriculum vitae (CV)

Project Officer – AACJ Project

Position title: Project Officer – AACJ Project

Duration and type: Fixed-term contract

Duty station: Nairobi

Supervisor: Project Coordinator

Start date: Immediately

African Youth Commission (AYC) is seeking the services of a qualified candidate to serve as ‘’Project Officer’’ to support the Program Coordinator and Director of Programmes in providing technical and coordination support to AYC and partner organizations in the context of the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project.

Specific assignment

The specific assignment of the Assistant Programme Coordinator will include but not limited to the following:

• Support the Program Coordinator and Director of Programme in requesting and receiving annual and quarterly work plans of project implementing partners and other stakeholders
• Review work plans and ensure they are align to the project objectives, outputs and outcomes
• Submit the plans and budgets to the project manager in a timely manner
• Draft MoUs for implementing partners and facilitate signing
• Follow up with AYC admin and finance to ensure timely disbursement of allocated funds to implementing partners
• Supervise, coordinate and advise partners on the implementation of their activities at national, sub-regional and global levels
• Provide bi-weekly progress report on the activities of partners 
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Director of Programmes and the Executive Secretary
• Follow progress of the project implementation at national level

Skills

The candidate must possess the following skills or competence:

• Advanced knowledge and experience in youth work and community mobilization
• Experience in working with youth groups at different levels
• Knowledge of project management and development
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills
• Good report writing skills
• Excellent command of English 
• Computer literacy and strong electronic communication skills
• Ability to multitask, work in a team environment and meet the deadline

Education/Academic Qualification and experience

The candidate must hold one of the following:

• Undergraduate degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, International Development Cooperation or equivalent with two years work experiences
• Diploma in Youth Work or Equivalent with four years work experience
• Extensive professional experience in youth development work, climate change, human rights with proven track records of project management

HOW TO APPLY/ DEADLINE:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications and recent curriculum vitae in soft copies to the following address:

The Executive Chairperson 

African Youth Commission

ayc@auyc.org 

Submit your application HERE: https://forms.gle/gnyQHopcPA2gdrPK8

Deadline for submission application: Friday 7th January 2022 at 23h59 GMT

All applications should include a functional email address, mobile numbers, cover letter, and detailed curriculum vitae (CV) 

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Virtual Pre-Tana Youth Forum 2020

Date: 27 August 2020
Time: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm (EAT)
To register: Click here 

The 9th Tana High-level Forum on Peace and Security in Africa takes place virtually in October 2020 under the theme The AfCFTA: Revitalizing Pan Africanism for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa guides the Forum and surrounding events. With the view to provide a platform for young Africans to engage and mobilize on the Tana Forum theme and youth-related issues, the Pre-Tana Youth Forum will take place on 27 August 2020 virtually in collaboration with the African Youth Commission, Youth Foundation for Development, Education & Leadership (YouthhubAfrica), Youth to Youth and GIZ.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) brings together 55 African economies, forming the world’s largest trading area with a gross domestic product worth USD $3.4 trillion and a population of more than one billion people. The ambitious objectives of the AfCFTA include facilitating intra-African trade; promoting regional value chains to foster the integration of the African continent into the global economy; boosting industrialization, competitiveness, and innovation, ultimately contributing to Africa’s economic development and social progress by eliminating tariffs and other related trade barriers.

The impact of this agreement is paramount in numerous ways. Countries can excel in the production of goods and services at their comparative advantage and export them to their neighbors and other countries on the continent. At the same time, the agreement will allow them to bring-in (import) goods and services at relatively cheaper prices and short amounts of time. According to the AU, intra-African trade is one of the lowest in the world, it is close to 18%. But, after the implementation of the agreement, it is believed to increase to 52% in 2022.

In addition, the AfCFTA is going to impact youth at large because more than 60 % of the people living in the continent are youth, being below the age of 35. Currently, as a result of the vicious spell that underdevelopment has cast upon the continent, a large number of youths are desperate to make a living for themselves and for their families to the point of enlisting in terrorist or extremist groups. One can take a look at how impoverishment can be used to manipulate youth into being members of terrorist groups, for example in Nigeria (Boko-Haram) and Somalia (Al-Shabbab).

So, AfCFTA is the long-awaited catapult to shoot Africa’s economy in general, as a result, it will lead to more job opportunities for the youth who are in desperate need of employment. Additionally, youths having new business ideas (entrepreneurs) will benefit from the new markets elsewhere. These are some of the main benefits or impacts of AfCFTA on youth.

On the contrary, the AfCFTA might have its own disadvantages. As discussed earlier the main idea of this agreement is to allow people and goods to move freely across the continent. In doing so, various threats to peace and security of individuals, countries, and the continent, in general, might also move freely as people and goods do. The proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) is currently one of the main challenges Africa is facing and it is playing a huge role to make conflicts protracted. Without the necessary controlling efforts and institutions in place, the AfCFTA might exacerbate conflicts by inviting more youth and SALW into them.

Another possible peace and security challenges can be the issue of insurgency and violent extremism. As borders diminish and individuals frequently move easily across country boundaries, insurgency and violent extremism do the same for safe havens making it much harder to achieve peaceful and prosperous Africa (Agenda 2063); here youth are the main members of these extreme groups. Moreover, as people easily move across countries’ boundaries, it is highly likely to carry infectious diseases with them that can pose a threat to the peace and security of states of the continent.

So, it is imperative to say that, AfCFTA is a double-edged sword that is capable of striking both ways. Thus, this pre-forum will try to figure out the advantages and disadvantages of the AfCFTA with special emphasis on youth.

Download the Concept Note. | Download the Agenda.

For more about the Forum, please visit IPSS/Tana Forum website.

NOTICE OF A NEW DATE FOR THE 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING OF THE AFRICAN YOUTH COMMISSION (AYCGA)

Date: July 27^th, 2020

TO:

• ALL MEMBERS, YOUNG PEOPLE, OTHER CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS AND PARTNERS

SUBJECT: NOTICE OF A NEW DATE FOR THE 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING OF THE AFRICAN YOUTH COMMISSION (AYCGA)

Dear Sir or Madam,

The African Youth Commission (AYC) under the able leadership of Ms. Natalie Sonia Mukundane, the Executive Chairperson presents its compliments to the valued membership, young people, other critical stakeholders and partners of the AYC and have the pleasure to notify all the stakeholders of the new date for the 2020 Annual General Assembly Meeting of the Commission (AYCGA).

Recalling the fact that, the 2020 AYC Annual General Assembly Meeting was originally scheduled to take place on 23-27 March 2020 in Nairobi, Kenya jointly co-hosted by the AYC Secretariat, National Youth Council of Kenya and Youth Senate Kenya but postponed due to Coronavirus outbreak. Cognizant of the fact that, the COVID19 is not ending anytime soon, and the Executive Council of the AYC is mandated by the AYC constitution through its Secretariat to organise the General Assembly Meeting of the AYC on an annual basis.

Against this background, the leadership of the AYC has decided to organise the General Assembly Meeting virtually this year. The GA is now scheduled to take place on the 26th of August 2020. During the meeting, the Executive Chairperson of the AYC will present the 2019 activity and financial reports as well as the 2020 work plan and estimate budget for approval by the Assembly.

Additionally, be informed that the Pan-African Youth Conference on African Unity and Development is still being planned to take place physically before end of the year 2020 if the COVID19 situations improved.

The agenda for GA 2020, the 2019 activity and financial reports, as well as the 2020 work plan and estimate budget will be published on the AYC website at http://africanyouthcommission.org/ before Friday, August 10th 2020. Please do keep an eye for your reference and preparation ahead of the meeting.

Sincerely,

Signed

For: Executive Chairperson

Kawsu Sillah

Executive Secretary 

AYC endorsed the UN IANYD Statement on COVID-19 and Youth

The unprecedented global health crisis we are facing is affecting all parts of society and changing lives and livelihoods. In all types of crises and times of need, from climate change to armed conflict or political unrest, young people and youth-led organizations have been quick to take action and respond to the needs of others. The same is happening now during the COVID-19 pandemic.

While attention is currently focused on those most immediately affected by the virus, there are many indications the COVID-19 pandemic will have long-lasting social, cultural, economic, political and multidimensional impacts on the whole of societies, including young people, as highlighted by the Secretary General’s Report “Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity” (March 2020).

The United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development (UN IANYD) is committed to the goals enshrined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the World Programme of Action for Youth and the UN Youth Strategy. Respect for all human rights – including economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights – is fundamental to the success of public health responses and recovery from the pandemic.

Download the full Statement.

PRESS RELEASE:CLARIFICATION ON LEADERSHIP OF AYC SENEGAL NATIONAL CONSORTIUM

Friday, April 17^th, 2020

SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION ON LEADERSHIP OF AYC SENEGAL NATIONAL CONSORTIUM

The AYC Secretariat would like to inform the general public that, the pioneer member organisation of AYC Senegal National Consortium is ‘’Junior Chamber International (JCI) Dakar’’ with Mr. Moussa Fara DIOP as legal representative/focal point of the Consortium.

JCI Dakar is part of JCI global movement that challenges the status quo by inspiring young people to recognize their responsibility to create a better world and empower them to drive change. This youth-led entity joined the larger AYC family during the 3rd Annual General Assembly Meeting held in Banjul, The Gambia on March 26th, 2019.

Launched on the 27th of July, 2019, the AYC Senegal Consortium becomes the fourth in Africa officially mandated to implement activities at national level in alignment with AYC Strategic Plan 2018-2020, which outlines practical steps to create decent job and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people, improve health services including comprehensive sexuality education in formal and non-formal education, promote human rights and deliver good governance, accountability and social cohesion at all levels as well as encourage inclusion and active participation of youth in the maintenance of peace and security in the country, at regional and continental levels.

The AYC National Consortiums are not an organisation or a replica of the AYC structure at national level but rather a platform composed of different youth-led and youth-serving organisations to provide youth friendly space and amplify youth voices in current policy and decision making processes. The works of the national consortiums are coordinated and supported by the AYC Secretariat through its Coordinator of National/Regional Consortiums.

We therefore would like to encourage all our partners to work with or channel their supports through the recognised member entity (s) of national consortium for proper management and accountability of resources allocated. In the same vein, as the AYC work through its member entities at national levels, we urge our partners to follow the internal processes and procedures of the AYC and stop engaging any self-proclaimed individual or self-appointed coordinator (s) who are not part of the legitimate structures within the AYC network.

In line with our core values of Pan-Africanism and Inclusiveness, the AYC Secretariat and member organisations of AYC national consortiums will continue to mobilise young people from all walks of life, promote their inclusion, participation and engagement in all projects and initiatives of the AYC at all levels to collectively achieve the Africa we want.

Signed

Kawsu Sillah

Executive Secretary

Email: ayc@auyc.org |Phone: +2209865300

Cc: Executive Chairperson, AYC

       President, Junior Chamber International (JCI) Dakar

       President, National Youth Council of Senegal

       Hon. Minister, Ministry of Youth and Sports Senegal

       All Heads of the AYC partners in Senegal

AYC participated in the Joint-Post Tana Regional Mutli-Stakeholders’ Forum in Dakar, Senegal

On 9-10 October 2019, the Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS), the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), and the Gorée Institute jointly organised a two-day multi-stakeholder dialogue on the theme “Migration, Peace and Security: What Role for CSOs in Promoting Regional Integration in the Nexus of Migration and Free Movement of People”.

The forum, held at Gorée Island, Senegal, attracted over 40 participants from civil society, government, academia, international and regional organizations in 10 countries.

The AYC was represented by Mr. Moussa Diop, Commissioner of Political Affairs (Senegal) and Mr. Kawsu Sillah, Executive Secretary (Gambia).

The main objective of the dialogue was to explore migration and free movement of people in the nexus of regional integration, address the pros and cons of this discourse, and recommend practical operable recommendations for the AU, Member States, RECs/RMs and other stakeholders working on migration, peace and security.

The specific objectives of the forum were to:

• Assess the situation of migration and displacement in Africa and challenges posed;
• Discuss strategic approaches that protect the human rights of migrants and refugees in countries of destination, transit, and origin;
• Identify the critical role of CSOs on the topic.

Opening

In his opening speech, Dr. Yonas Adaye Adeto, Director, Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) acknowledged that the location of the Post-Tana Forum in Gorée Island was symbolic of the important historical legacy of migration in and out of Africa. ‘’The Tana Forum is a symbol of African intellectual independence, and the organization of dialogue foras such as the Post-Tana Forum is a useful space for key organizations such as ECOWAS to discuss and develop substantive knowledge and policies on migration’’, he said.

Dr. Yonas went on to highlight that the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa (Tana Forum) aims at bridging the gap between policy making and policy implementation by bringing together Heads of State and Government, experts, prominent personalities, leaders of international and regional institutions, civil society organizations, the private sector, eminent scholars, academics and socially engaged youth to discuss timely issues in a spirit of commonality and moral duty towards finding solutions to peace and security challenges facing the continent.

Accordingly to the director, the informal nature of the Forum lends a different approach to discussing security issues on the continent. ‘’The Forum is not intended to deliver official declarations; instead, it is stimulated by the desire to engage in fresh, candid and in-depth discussions on pressing peace and security issues to produce innovative ideas and open new windows of opportunities for solutions’’, he added.

He noted that in its 8th edition, the Tana Forum discussed “Political Dynamics in the Horn of Africa: Nurturing the Emerging Peace Trends” on 3-4 May 2019 in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Further, he revealed that during this forum, national and regional stability in the Horn of Africa (HoA) was highlighted as paramount importance to the region’s peace and security agenda, serving as vital components of sustainable development objectives across the region. ‘’Among the various topics raised and discussed, the situation regarding migration and free movement of people in Africa and beyond emerged as an issue that requires deeper discussions and engagement with civil society institutions. This was the backdrop to this Dakar dialogue, which aimed to garner experiences and perspectives from CSOs and stakeholders active in this field, Dr. Yonas concluded.

Other speakers of the opening ceremony includes; Mr. Doudou Dia, Director, Gorée Institute; Mrs. Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Director, African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP); Professor Ndioro Ndiaye, Advisor to the President, Government of Senegal and Brigadier General Amadou Anta Gueye, Director, Centre des Hautes Etudes de Dfense et de Scruit/CHEDS/.

Panel Discussions

Mr. Kawsu Sillah, Executive Secretary of the AYC participated in a panel discussion on “Current Status of Migration and Displacement in Africa” which focuses on ► State and non-state actors and external responses to  migration (interrogating current policy frameworks, mediating efforts and their impact); ► Push and pull factors of migration and displacement in Africa; ► Implications of migration and displacement in Africa.

This panel was moderated by Mrs. Michelle Ndiaye, Director, Africa Peace and Security Programme, Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS). Other panelists were: Dr. Chukwuemeka B. Eze, Director, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) Mr. Ernest Lartey, Head of Conflict and Security Program, Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Center (KAIPTC) and Dr. Marie-Paule Kodjo, President, ONG Playdoo-CI.

The panellists discussed the political economy that creates structural factors conducive to migration. Dating back to the slave trade and colonial history to the modern-day era of globalization and neoliberalism, the current imbalance in global trade relations is furthered by African elites who lack the political will to keep African resources and talents within the continent. They argued that, in order to reverse this trend, bilateral and multilateral relationships should focus on African ownership over the exploitation of resources and industrialization.

They went on to identify both push factors (such as unemployment, climate change, insecurity and armed conflict) and pull factors (such as political stability, favourable economic and climatic conditions and attractive migration policies) as key to regulating and managing migration efficiently. They further noted that, migration is a cross-cutting issue relevant to a majority of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to them, the main references to migration are found in Goal 8 and Goal 10, which aim to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth” and “reduce inequality within and among countries” respectively. They highlighted that Safe and free migration and movement greatly contributes to closing the widening inequality divide by abiding to the SDG principle of “leaving no one behind.”

In conclusion, they highlighted that, adhering to multilateral frameworks and implementing them at the national level is necessary to tackle push and pull factors in a holistic way. ‘’One example is the Multilateral Cooperation Agreement to Combat Child Trafficking in West Africa, adopted by 11 ECOWAS member states in 2005. In Côte d’Ivoire, this has translated into promising initiatives resulting from collaboration with CSOs, such as advocacy campaigns informing the youth on the risks of migration, programmes to support the return of migrants, and the introduction of new laws such as compulsory education. Furthermore, national efforts should be increasingly coordinated with neighbouring countries to find common approaches to migration. This requires strong political leadership and regional integration. While migration is often portrayed negatively, it is a natural phenomenon that brings benefits when adequately managed and organized’’, they stated.

They collectively emphasized that; civil society actors should highlight the positive aspects of migration in order to contribute to the development of new policies that support migrants’ contributions to society. The role of civil society organizations is to engage in advocacy, accountability and action. The CSO actors have the unique ability to equip citizens with the necessary knowledge to hold governments accountable for the use of their taxes, and to push for more inclusive exploitation of national resources. To allow CSOs to play these roles, states have the responsibility to make civic space more conducive. While CSOs are often associated with confrontation, activism and advocacy against government policies, they can also benefit from increased professionalization, clearer mandates, and closer collaboration with the state.

Finally, they said, in order to better engage with the government on migration issues, CSOs should use social media efficiently and constantly engage with the government’s online platforms.

The following sessions were also adequately covered during the forum:

• “Strategic Governance Approaches to Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons” moderated by Dr. Yonas Adaye Adeto, Director, Institute for Peace and Security Studies (IPSS) with Professor Ndioro Ndiaye, Advisor to President, Government of Senegal; Ms. Sophie Nonnemacher, Deputy Director, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Senegal and Dr Edem Selormey, Field Operations Manager, Afrobarometer as panelists focused on Unpacking what works and what does not? ► Continental level; ► Movement from outside into the continent (external); ► Movement from the continent outwards; ► Intra-inter country movements (internal).
• “Migration and Free Movement of People in the Nexus of Peace and Security” moderated by Mr. Komlan Messi, Director, West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) with Ms. Sophie Nonnemacher, Deputy Director, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Senegal Mrs. Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, Institute for Economic Development (IDEP) and Mr. Abdourakhmane Wane, National Coordinator, Migration for Development Programme, GIZ as panelists focused on ► Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) and Free Movement of People: Opportunities and challenges; ► Free movement of people as a crucial element of continental integration (labour, security, socio-economic development, cultural, historical, youth, gender effects); ► Regional, country to country border and visa arrangements; ► Addressing the peace and security implications.
• “Migration, Peace and Security: What Role for CSOs?’’ moderated by Mr. Doudou Dia, Director, Gorée Institute with Mr. Ibrahima Aidara, Deputy Executive Director, Open Society Institute for West Africa Mr. Komlan Messi, Director, West Africa Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) Mr. François Traore, Democracy & Governance (Human Rights, IHL, Elections, Peace building, Security, Civil Society, Legislative Strengthening, Africa Development Bank and Mr. Koffi Dela Kepomey Fofo, Executive Director, National Concentration of Civil Society as panelists focused on ► What can CSOs offer? Involving CSOs as intermediaries between state, non-state, external actors and the general public in the formulation and implementation of public policies on regional integration, migration and free movement of people? ► CSOs’ experiences/best practices on the ground.
• ”Role of CSOs in the Security Agenda in Africa’’ moderated by Dr Chukwuemeka B. Eze, Director, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP) with Mr. François Traore, Democracy & Governance (Human Rights, IHL, Elections, Peace building, Security, Civil Society, Legislative Strengthening) Africa Development Bank, Ms. Diago Diagne Ndiaye, President, ECOWAS Women’s Network and Mr. Koff Dela Kepomey Fofo, Executive Director, National Concentration Concertation Nationale de la Société Civile (CNSC) as panelists focused on ► Shaping partnerships and shared opportunities with CSOs and other stakeholders; ► Mapping out the ‘how’ to work together with CSOs and other stakeholders to shape security integration and increase impact/success; ► Practical operable recommendations for the AU, Member States, RECs/RMs and other stakeholders.

In the final session, the summary of outcomes and key takeaways were presented and adopted by the participants.

Outcomes of the forum:

• Civil society, government and development actors tend to work in silos, with government usually going to CSOs after making decisions, not before or during the decision-making process. More efforts towards policy dialogue are needed to achieve harmonious development.

• As actors at the grassroots level, civil society organizations are expected to monitor and advocate for the implementation of regional and international instruments agreed to by their governments. At the community level, CSOs have a key role to play – their proximity to local populations means they have access to critical information that decision makers can use, such as quantitative data on which areas need social services and gender disparities. Community dialogue facilitators have also been used to intervene in the prevention of conflict and violent extremism, and to strengthen social cohesion in communities.

• For women, migration is a means to increase their income, be empowered, and access an environment with less barriers to gender equality. However, female migrants are also exposed to intimidation, discrimination, sexual exploitation, xenophobia, and poor and unsafe work conditions. The gender dimension of migration and security should be fully acknowledged and addressed in policy discussions.

• Finally, regions seeing the most movement are not necessarily the most unstable; factors other than migration account for insecurity in those regions. CSOs have a comparative advantage to change the dominant media narrative about African migration, and they must strive to do so.

-End-

1. Download this Summary Notes in pdf
2. Download the Concept Note – English | French
3. Download the Agenda – English | French
4. Download the Forum Outcome Report – English | French

For more, visit the Forum website, here.