Phone: +254 757 554 355
Email:
ayc@auyc.org
AYC at Regional Trade Forum for West and Central Africa
The Africa Forum on “AfCFTA in motion: Taking Africa’s integration to the next level for a prosperous continent”, co-organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the European Union, and the Government of Republic of Senegal, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC). The Forum took place at King Fahd Hotel in Dakar, Senegal, on 24 to 25 June 2019.
By signing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), African leaders took a giant step forward for the development of the continent, signaling that the ideals in the Abuja Treaty on the African Economic Community will now be realized. The AfCFTA has the potential to generate a range of benefits through supporting trade creation, structural transformation, productive employment and poverty reduction. We are now on a clear path to the realization of these benefits with the ratification by the required 22 signatories.
It is in this context that the forum is jointly organized and brought together ministers and policy makers, private sector, civil society, academia, international organizations and other influential stakeholders from across the continent, to discuss what is required to ensure that the AfCFTA becomes a reality and truly contributes to Africa’s socio-economic development. The forum will, in addition, provide an opportunity to learn, share, and actively engage and network with intra-African actors across a diverse range of different sectors.
We are represented by Ms. Christine Sayo, AYC Director of Advocacy and Communications. Ms. Sayo this afternoon spoke in ‘’Women and Youth Business Roundtable’’ where the panel addressed the following fundamental questions:
• What skills must Africa’s youth be equipped with to ensure that they are positioned to take advantage of these opportunities?
• What supportive measures, such as access to subsidized credit, capacity development and business mentoring opportunities, will be required?
• How will they be paid for and by whom?
Download Programme Guide
AYC participated in Gamal Abdel Nasser Transformational Leadership Fellowship
Gamal Abdel Nasser Transformational Leadership is the first (African by African) Fellowship organized by African Youth Bureau in collaboration with Pan-African Youth Union and other partners under the auspices of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Arab Republic of Egypt.
The initiative brought together young African leaders from all parts of Africa and diverse background to discuss the role of African youth in promoting youth leadership in socio-economic and political development of the African continent. It complements the African Union’s “Africa Unite for Youth: Bridging the Gap and Reaching out to African Youth the 1 Million By 2021 Initiative” launched by H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) during the second African Youth Forum, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 24 to 26 April 2019.
Arab Republic of Egypt as 2019 President of the African Union is committed to achieving the objectives of African Union and the implementation of the Million by 2021 Initiative which seeks to empower and build the capacities of one million young Africans in the areas of education, employment, entrepreneurship and participation in policy and decision making processes by 2021.
Representing the AYC, Mr. Flomo Mau Maiwo, Deputy Executive Chairperson shared his experience and the contribution of AYC in harnessing the talent and potential of African youth to realize the demographic dividend as well as our collective aspirations of the Africa 2063 Agenda for the Africa We Want.
The intensive 15-days fellowship was started on June 8th and closed on June 22nd 2019 in the capital city of Egypt, Cairo. Fellows took part in interactive discussions and public lectures on promotion African values through self-reliance, solidarity, hard work, collective prosperity, building on the African successes, experiences and best practices for the formulation of the African model of transformation and development. In addition, they participated in site visits, high level engagement with ministers, policy makers, civil society actors, business community, and other distinguished personalities.
Mr. Mohammed Abdualshakoor, former AYC Commissioner of Peace and Security from Republic of Sudan and some members of AYC also attended the fellowship.
AYC at Restless Development’s African Youth Powering the SDGs Webinar
AYC in collaboration with Restless Development and other partners organised a joint webinar which brought together young people from across the Africa Region to share their reflections on the main outcomes and agreed actions from the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) that took place in Marrakech, Morocco from 16 – 18 April.
This interactive webinar ‘A Journey of SDG Accountability from Marrakech to New York’ was held on May 16th, 2019 at 10am GMT, and the second in its kind, the regional webinar series of the ‘African Youth: Powering the SDGs’. The discussion was led by young people who participated in the preparatory process of the fifth ARFSD and attended the Forum in person.
Objectives:
- Share outcomes from the ARFSD and outline relevant implications and opportunities for young people in the region in terms of SDG implementation, follow up and review;
- Increase awareness and understanding towards the HLPF as a key decision making and influencing forum for SDG follow up and review;
- Create opportunities to strengthen youth networks and collaboration at national and regional levels between young people on SDG follow up, review and reporting- particularly towards the HLPF.
Africa is home to over 1.2 billion people, over 60% of whom fall below the age of 25. Youth are often seen as the future. We know we are more than the future, we are the today. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will depend on us, young people, playing a respected and formal role in tracking their implementation and ensuring governments remain accountable to the commitments they have made. It is therefore in our view critical that young people continue to engage in the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) and the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), to ensure our governments are reporting accurately and openly on the SDGs – the achievements, but also the failures and challenges that need to be addressed. At these Forums we further need to ensure that the roles of young people as lead implementers and influencers of the Goals are fully recognised and supported.
Our Executive Secretary, Mr. Kawsu Sillah, speaking at the webinar says, ”the role of young people is not just to hold our governments accountable to the SDGs, but young people are taking action across the region to implement the Goals”. He cited the example of Africa Youth SDGs Forum. He added that, National consortiums and networks like the Africa Youth Commission has an important role to play in following up with governments on key outcomes.
Mr. Keith Andere, AYC Director of Programmes delivered a presentation on how young people can get engaged and influence decision through UN Major Group of Children and Youth (UN MGCY). ”Young people have the ability to self organise for the ARFSD, for example through officially mandated networks like the UN Major Group of Children and Youth, but we need to be given the opportunity, space and crucially the funding to fully participate and share our recommendations and insights alongside governments to ensure our voices are heard”, Mr. Andere said.
For more, listen to the webinar here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2SZ9JxKGfw
AYC Youth Capacity Building Workshop in Malawi
With support from IOE – International Organisation of Employers, the AYC will convene 10 representatives from its national consortium in West, East, Central and Southern Africa for a 2-day capacity building workshop on project development and resource mobilisation.
Following the successful hosting of IOE side event on ‘’The Future of Work and Jobs in Africa’’ at 3rd Pan-African Youth Conference on African Unity and Development held in Banjul in March 2019, the IOE has commit its partnership with AYC to address employment and skills concerns of African youth.
This workshop is organised within the framework of this existing partnership and aimed to achieve the following objectives and outcomes:
Objective:
- Build the capacity of selected national consortium to develop and implement projects within their respective countries successfully.
- To enhance the understanding of the consortiums (roles and expectations) among members in line with the AYC Strategic Plan 2018-2020)
- Encourage national consortium to align their in-country projects, programs and activities to the priority areas of AYC strategic plan,
- Inspire ownership and enhance the understanding of national consortium members of AYC strategic plan,
- Strengthen the resource mobilisation capacity of national consortium to source the needed financing for their in-country projects and activities,
- Provide peer learning platform allowing national consortium members to share knowledge and experiences relating to implementation of AYC strategy at in-country level,
- Meet IOE general employers’ and discuss how to ensure sustainability of in-country projects and activities of national consortium through partnerships at national, regional and continental levels,
- Enhance the advocacy, communication and networking skills of selected national consortium to advocate, communicate and work together on developmental challenges facing their countries and the continent.
Outcomes:
- Participants are equipped with tools needed to develop and manage their in-country projects and activities effectively,
- Increased level of knowledge and awareness of the AYC, its vision and the strategic plan 2018 – 2020 among the national consortium members,
- Increased capabilities of the members to formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate their in-country projects and activities independently,
- In-country projects/activities of participating national consortium are aligned to the priority areas of AYC strategic plan 2018-2020,
- Participants acquired hands-on experience skills on project development and management, and have the ability to initiate and mobilise resources for their in-country projects/activities,
- Build synergies with IOE general employers’ and possible areas of collaboration explored,
- Advocacy, communication and network skills of participants are enhanced.
The workshop will take place at Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe, Malawi in parallel with 43rd Annual Conference of IOE members from East, Southern and Central Africa. Our participants will take part in IOE conference on the 3-4 June and join the AYC workshop on 4-5 June.
Download Speech of AYC Executive Chairperson, Ms. Natalie Sonia Mukundane
Download Speech of Mr. Dingiswayo Jere, CEO National Youth Council of Malawi
Kampala Press Conference on AYC Strategic Plan 2018-2020 and 2019 Work Plan of AYC Uganda National Consortium
Ms. Natalie Sonia Mukundane, Executive Chairperson of the AYC is in Kampala today, May 14th, 2019 to brief the press on the priority areas of AYC Strategic Plan 2018-2020 and 2019 Work Plan of AYC Uganda National Consortium to galvanize support and partnership for the operation of the consortium in Uganda.
In addition, madam chairperson will have bilateral meetings with Government officials, CSOs, development partners and youth leaders to present AYC Uganda National Consortium and discuss possible areas of collaboration. This is part of our many efforts to intensify the presence of AYC in Uganda.
AYC at Fifth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development 2019
AYC participated in the Fifth session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development held at Palais des Congrès de la Palmeraie de Marrakech, King of Morocco from 16-18 April 2019, under theme: ‘’Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’’
The Fifth ARFSD is hosted under the high patronage of His Majesty the King, Mohammed VI and convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in collaboration with regional organizations and the United Nations System.
It seeks to advance the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and the goals set out in Africa’s Agenda 2063. The Forum does so by providing a multi-stakeholder platform for follow-up and review of implementation progress and challenges, strengthening learning and advocating effective policy measures and actions to achieve the goals of the two agendas. In so doing the Regional forum makes important contributions to strengthening multi-stakeholder engagement and synergies, and thus promoting concerted efforts to implement and achieve the development goals of the two mutually reinforcing agendas. Four sessions of the Forum have been held since 2015.
The African Youth Commission took part in both the Preparatory and Capacity-Development Workshop for Major Groups and Other Stakeholders in the Africa Region, and the main session of Africa Regional Forum. Represented by Mr. Kawsu Sillah, Executive Secretary, AYC was part of MGoS rapporteuring team and round table panel discussion on promoting peer learning and the exchange of experiences and lessons learned in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, with emphasis on selected Sustainable Development Goals for 2019: “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”.
In his presentation, AYC Executive Secretary started by saying as far as implementation of SDG 4 is concerned, at Member State level, there is Political will to provide quality and relevant education for all. He cited the recent developments in some countries as living testimonies.
He mentioned that in The Gambia, in addition to its free primary education for all, the Government recently launched a project called “Second Chance” an initiative providing education opportunities for out-of-school children and youth to attain basic education and livelihood skills; University tuition free for all undergraduates in Liberia; Free primary and senior secondary school education in many countries in Africa including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Rwanda etc.
Mr Sillah said lessons learned throughout Africa is that young people are demanding for better education services and skills development for their peers, better wage for teachers, and demand accountability from their leaders.
With regards to emerging challenges, Mr. Sillah said even though young people welcomed these initiatives as important steps for achieving SDG4, and more so to empower youth to become agents and champions for change, they challenged the Governments to ensure that they do not only provide free education but equally ensure the service providers offer quality and relevant education and skills training that correspond to current and future labour market needs.
Sharing his perspective on SDG 16, Mr Sillah said there are a number of measures in place to engage the youth in promoting peace and security through preventing them from violence, as well as encourage peer-peer foster dialogue to enhance youth participation at the local, national, sub-regional and continental levels for peaceful and secure communities.
His views on emerging challenges were that even though those measures are in place, on the opposite, young people are concerned about the volumes of violent conflict that our continent is currently witnessing, state’s inability to create or sustain economic opportunities for youth, corruption and mismanagement of public and state resources.
He said in order to address these man made challenges of our time, it is important to inspire and support youth to become the leaders of Africa, mentor them to work together with the older generation to create a sustainable future where a culture of integrity, good governance and zero tolerance to corruption will be promoted in all sectors of society.
Citing the lessons learned, Mr. Sillah said both Agenda 2030 and 2063 will be hard to archive if youth unemployment is not swiftly addressed, economic opportunities for youth not improved, and the creativity, energy and innovation of Africa’s youth are not tapped into for the continent’s political, social, cultural and economic transformation. He noted that from Transitional Justice, to Peace keeping, and to fight against corruption young people are contributing to the implementation of SDG 16.
The Fifth (2019) session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD 5) held under the theme “Empowering people and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.” It carried out in-depth review of SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 13 (climate action), and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) and the corresponding goals of Agenda 2063. The forum also undertake an in-depth review of SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals) to address challenges and strengthen partnerships to develop capacity, harness science and technologies and mobilize and scale up finance to implement the goals.
The outcomes of ARFSD 5 will (i) feed into the 2019 session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) under the auspices of ECOSOC, which will be held in July 2019 focusing on the same theme and selected SDGs; and (ii) be used for policy advocacy, formulation and implementation at regional and national levels. Moreover, 2019 is of special significance given that for first time the HLPF under the auspices of the UN General Assembly (SDG or Leaders’ Summit) will be held in September 2019. The ARFSD therefore offers opportunity for Africa to articulate its inputs to the Leaders’ summit as well. Such inputs will include Africa’s specific challenges in the implementation of the SDGs, gaps and levers of change to accelerate implementation.
Download the copy of MGoS Report & Proceeding.
Download the copy of ARFS2019 outcome document.
More about ARFSD, please visit:
https://www.uneca.org/arfsd2019
AYC at 2019 UN ECOSOC Youth Forum in New York
AYC is ably represented by Mr. Dennis Sangale, Commissioner for Peace and Security, Mr. Kawsu Sillah, Executive Secretary, Mr. Cedric Dzelu, Director of Admin and Finance and Ms. Nuralain Abukar, Director of Resource Mobilisation and Partnership at the just concluded 8th Youth Forum of UN ECOSOC on “Empowered, Included and Equal” held on 8-9 April 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Following the successful 3rd Pan African Youth Conference on African Unity and Development, jointly organised by The Gambia National Youth Council and the AYC Secretariat in Banjul, The Gambia from 23-27 March 2019, the delegation were accompanied by Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports of The Gambia, Mr. Hadrammeh Sidibeh, H.E. Lang Yabou, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Gambia to the United Nations, Ms. Ndey Mary Njie, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Dembo Kambi, Chairman of The Gambia National Youth Council, Mr. Lamin Darboe, Executive Director of The Gambia National Youth Council and Ms. Fatou Jeng, Youth Representative to represent the Gambia’s contribution towards the implementation of UN SDGs and outcome of the 3rd Pan African Youth Conference at the official opening of the 8th Youth Forum of UN Economic and Social Council – the largest gathering of young and world leaders in the United Nations.
During the two days Forum, the delegation took part in plenary, thematic and regionally-based discussions on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Youth Empowerment co-organised by UNFPA, UN ECOSOC Youth Forum, Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as Nationals Training Academy of Arab Republic of Egypt, Institutional Youth Engagement in Achieving the SDGs, co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Japan and Germany to the United Nations, Key regional concerns and priorities for youth regarding the SDGs implementation, co-organised by UNDP, UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), UNMGCY and other partners, Taking Action – Youth as Champions for Peace and Security, co-organised by UN-HABITAT and UNODC and How can youth in Africa be empowered to best leverage opportunities for quality jobs in agriculture, co-organised by UNIDOA and FAO.
Furthermore, the representatives participated in “Interactive Roundtable on Investing in Youth Development: Financing and other Means of Implementation”, Relevant and inclusive education for young people, organised by the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, Interactive Dialogue on “Youth, Peace and Security: Challenges and Prospects”, Have Your Say – Empowering Youth to Support SDG16 organised by UNODC, Access to youth to social rights- the role of Youth NGOs and international institutions, organised by the Permanent Mission of Russia to the United Nations, Youth at the Centre of National and local migration policy making, co-organised by IOM and UNMGCY, Lisboa+20 – Youth Consultation on effective youth participation mechanisms, organised by the Permanent Mission of Portugal, The role of Private Sector for Youth Empowerment and Employment in Morocco and across Africa, co-organised by the Permanent Missions of Morocco, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria to the United Nations and Investing in Youth-led organisations to advance the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, co-organised by UNAOC, UNFPA and Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations.
Finally, the team participated in Youth and Industry 4.0 – Implications of the Fourth Industrial revolution on the Future of Work and Education, organised by UNIDO, the Interactive Roundtable on Looking to the Future: A dialogue on the High-level Political Forum (SDG) Summit in September 201o before attending the official closing ceremony where the Director General of ILO, Mr. Guy Ryder, Ms. Jayathma Wickramanayake, United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth and Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations addressed the delegates before H.E. Ms. Inga Rhonda King, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) declared the 2019 UN ECOSOC Youth Forum concluded.
Bilateral Meetings
Meeting with AU Youth Envoy
The delegation on the sideline of the Forum, received Ms. Aya Chebbi, African Union’s Youth Envoy at the Gambia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations to discuss on how the Mission, Ministry of Youth and Sports of The Gambia, The Gambia National Youth Council and the African Youth Commission can support her efforts in mobilising and organising youth in action for African Unity and Development. Both the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, and Gambia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN gave their blessings and assured the full support of Gambia Government to the empowerment and development of the African Youth for the realisation of the Africa 2063 aspirations of #TheAfricaWeWant.
Meeting with UNODC
This meeting is attended by Deputy Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of The Gambia to the United Nations Mr. Lamin Faati, Official from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC), and representatives of National Youth Council and the African Youth Commission.
Mr. Lamin Darboe, Executive Director of National Youth Council chaired the meeting whilst Mr. Faati delivered the welcome remark. Mr. Darboe, informed the meeting that Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports and The Gambia’s Ambassador to the UN would have loved to be part of the meeting but had to leave back home to attain to other official engagement but they blessed the meeting and sent their regards.
In his introductory remarks, Mr. Kawsu Sillah, Executive Secretary of African Youth Commission said this partnership started in Banjul where the UNODC successfully hosted a side event at the recently concluded 3rd Pan African Youth Conference on African Unity and Development, held in The Gambia in March 2019. He informed the gathering that this is a follow-up to that to discuss way forward. He then passed the floor to Mr. Gilberto Antonio Duarte Santos the team leader from UNODC to deliver his presentation. Mr. Gilberto started by thanking the Gambian Mission, representatives of NYC and AYC for the granting them the audience and the partnership. He introduced the UNODC and its Education for Justice Project. He said the initiative seeks to empower young people to make changes in the rule of law and justice processes in their respective countries. ‘’This meeting is about to talk more on how we can together empower youth to become leaders in their area, and to work with Government to build a better society for all particularly the young people’’, Mr. Gilberto said. The next speaker was Ms. Wambui Kahara, Youth Advisor at UNODC who started by appreciating the partnership with NYC and AYC on the joint side event held in Banjul in March. Ms. Kahara expressed the interest of UNODC to work with NYC and AYC again in co-organising joint activities in Ethiopia and New York on SDG 16 before and during the UN High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July this year.
Mr. Lamin Darboe, on behalf of National Youth Council and African Commission thanked UNODC for the support. He assured the commitment of both organisations to this partnership. ‘’From our current transitional justice processes, to our active role in the implementation of UNSC 2250, to the formation of Children’s Network on Transitional Justice and Children National Assembly of The Gambia, our country has a lot to share, and we are more than happy to work with you in creating the changes that will come from the young people’’, Mr. Darboe said. The meeting agreed to work on the concept note for side events in collaboration with AYC, NYC, and AU Youth Envoy’s Office.
Meeting with UN Youth Envoy
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports and delegation also paid a courtesy visit on the UN Youth Envoy at her office. The meeting chaired the ambassador focused on possible bilateral cooperation between the Ministry of youth and sports and the office of the youth envoy. She was reminded of her visit to Gambia in 2018 and Graduation ceremony of the GSI that she attended during her visit. She was also briefed on the progress made in terms of youth involvement in the reform agenda of the Gambia especially the within the transitional justice processes.
On her part the Un Youth Envoy, thank the Minister and his delegation for the visit and express her appreciation for all the work done government of the Gambia in youth mainstreaming. She noted that Gambia National Youth Council is one of the functioning and vibrant youth councils she knew of globally. On the possibility of support, she commits to facilitate linkages between Ministry of Youth and Sports, and other donor foundations such as the Qatar foundation for possible support to Gambia.
UNODC at 3rd Pan-African Youth Conference on African Unity and Development
Having their say on SDG16, youth tell E4J how to continue empowering them
In the 3rd Pan-African Youth Conference held in Banjul in late March, under the theme “The future is now; youth are not too young to lead,” E4J organized a “Living Library” inviting young African leaders from Kenya, Zimbabwe and Ghana as “living books,” sharing their experiences in their respective countries as agents of changes, with a special focus on SDG16.
Priscilla Wepia Ametame, a young Ghanean fourth-year law student and co-founder of the Adehye Learning Initiative, reflected on the message she had wanted to pass through her living book, ‘T.M.I. (Too Much Information)’: “I suggested that education be made more practical, to ensure that the culture of lawfulness is passed through the educational system at all stages. I also highlighted the need to push for its promotion in informal settings like our homes and our communities, and to use social media as a tool and a means to start conversations about these social issues, starting movements calling for lawfulness and accountability.”
Other topical living books presented at this popular E4J event included those of Kudzai Mukaratirwa, the young director of OMUN Zimbabwe, Edward Reuben Githaiga, co-founder of Youth Voices Kenya, and Wambui Kahara, UNODC’s own Regional Youth Advisor for Eastern Africa. Together, they advocated for encouraging youth engagement in Africa and make a difference, inter alia, by strengthening good governance and the rule of law in their countries – a call increasingly made by young people across all continents.
ICYF Participates at 3rd PAN AFRICAN YOUTH CONFERENCE
Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF) is attending the 3rd Pan African Youth Conference as a partner to the whole event, which is taking place in Banjul, the Gambia.
The opening ceremony was held on 24 March and the statement on behalf of the His Excellency Mr. Taha Ayhan, ICYF President, was delivered by Mr Rasul Omarov, the Director General of ICYF, who thanked the Gambian Authority and the Ministry of Youth & Sports of The Gambia, and extended his warmest regards to the youth of Africa.
The statement further recognized the role of youth leadership for development and progress of African OIC Member States. It was mentioned that ICYF attached great importance of African youth and was ready to benefit from their experience towards developing timely and appropriate programs to benefit the African youth, one of the main priorities of ICYF.
ICYF vowed to return soon to Banjul for holding African Young Solidarity Forum, in cooperation with ISESCO, and the 2nd Young Leaders Summit, as the youth official event of the 14th OIC Summit to be held in the same venue in November 2019.
Before concluding, the ICYF announced the holding of a Diplomatic Simulation on 24-25 March for the benefit of the African youth particularly the OIC Member States in Africa on matters related with irregular migration, the theme of the training.
In conclusion, Mr Rasul stated that ICYF was open for joint program for the development of African Youth.
It should mentioned that the meeting is being attended by high Delegates from Gambian national youth council, African youth commission, United Nations, African Union commission, minister of youth and sports of Gambia, minister of foreign affairs Gambia and many other local and International Institutions.
Banjul, 24 March 2019
Web link:
http://www.icyf-dc.org/icyf-participates-at-3rd-pan-african-youth-conference/
IOE in The Gambia, building partnerships with Africa’s youth to address employment and skills concerns
IOE members from West and Central Africa came together in Banjul, The Gambia at the end of March to attend the 3rd Pan African Youth Conference and to hold talks on matters of common concern in the region.
Co-organised by The Gambia National Youth Council and the African Youth Commission (AYC) Secretariat, and with the theme: “The Future is Now – Youth are not too young to lead”, the Pan African Youth Conference was co-hosted by the Gambian government, the UN system in The Gambia, Kanifing Municipal Council, The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Child Fund International The Gambia.
The participation of IOE, which was enabled by the IOE-EU partnership, signalled a strong willingness by the members in the region to include Africa’s young people in the policy discourse on youth employment, as well as on skills and business development.
IOE members joined a cohort of 300 youth leaders from across the continent for discussions that took place against a backdrop of growing youth unemployment and diminishing opportunities in ‘traditional’ forms of work due to low productivity; the collapse of the commodity boom; skills gaps; global competition; and the adoption of new technologies.
Turning attention to the pressing need for measures to address skills development and the lack of jobs in the region, IOE hosted a side event on 24 March on ‘the Future of Skills and Jobs in Africa’, providing a space for young people to engage with employers’ organisations (EOs) on the key trends underpinning the future of jobs and skills and to encourage dialogue on employment and entrepreneurship policies.
The IOE constituency subsequently met to consolidate the key EO takeaways for integrating youth into policy- and decision-making processes:
- Take steps to include young people within the EO management structure; youth must be valued and mentored into leadership positions
- Continue to engage in conferences of this nature to ensure EOs are not disconnected from the reality on the ground and are aware of the professional and personal aspirations of youth. This would equip EOs to give concrete advice and to curate the agenda with the government, as well as to network and have a comparative approach to other African countries
- Make efforts to achieve more visibility for the work that EOs do that has an impact on youth employment and skills development
- Link local entrepreneurs with the correct government agencies.
- Partner with youth who are already making an impact in specific sectors and highlight their work
- Support enterprises in adopting common positions and advocate with one voice