AFRICAN UNION

UNION AFRICAINE UNIO AFRICANA

Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA P. O. Box 3243 Telephone : 00 251 11 551 7700 Website : www. africa-union.org/youth.htm

Fax : 00 251 11 551 7844

DRAFT CONCEPT PAPER

IN PREPARATION OF THE JULY 2011 SUMMIT

Theme:

Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development

(to be discussed during the African Youth Forum)

LUANDA, APRIL 2011? To be confirmed

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1. Background of July 2011 Summit The call for investment in young people now is more than clear. About 62% of Africas overall population fall below the age of 35 and more than 35% are between 15 and 35 years old 1. More than half of youth survive on less than US$ 2 a day. Six thousand (6,000) young people are infected with HIV/AIDS everyday all over the world; most of them are girls in Sub Saharan Africa2. These are not just numbers. These are the realities of young people, and this is the moment of truth. The gap between the MDGs targets and its interconnection to the current state of the young people leaves no time for questions. It is hence argued that increased investment in youth development yields greater economic growth and social wellbeing for generations to come. Missed investments in young peoples intellectual and human potential are a missed opportunity for generations and also costly to reverse, both for youth and for society. In order to achieve the positive outcomes in the areas of education, employment, health and citizenship, to fight poverty among the youth, a holistic approach to youth development has become an urgent matter that should focus, not only on young people themselves, but also on all the related factors that help shape their behaviors, such as families, communities, schools, media, the legal environment and different established systems of values and social norms.

The issue of youth development, empowerment and leadership is increasing in importance through the development agenda of national governments, regional entities and international development organizations, that include the AU Commissions efforts to build youth capacities for quality and meaningful participation in development and decision making processes. Most notably, there is a new and strong momentum to promote the participation of youths and youths groups, in a wide range of policy dialogues and policy development initiatives to ensure that youth perspectives are addressed in these processes and taken into account for implementation. The African Youth Charter and its rapid entry into force, the celebration of the Year of African Youth in 2008 and the annual celebration of the African Youth Day every 1st November, the declaration of a Decade (2009-2018) for Youth development, and its approved 10 year-plan of action, the decision to devote the July 2011
1

World Banks African Development Indicators Database, 2009 UNFPAs State of World Population Report 2003 and 2005

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Heads of State and Government Summit on youth empowerment in Africa are convincing evidences that confirm the continental impetus to the African youth development. The year 2011 will also mark the 5th year since the adoption of the African Youth Charter that was adopted by the Ministers in Charge of youth and approved by the AU Heads of State and Government in July 2006. Therefore, the African Union acknowledges the principles and significance of these decisions in order to capacitate the youth and thereby enable Member States to fully benefit from their contributions, in addressing the continents social and developmental constraints.

At a global level, the year 2010 was declared by the UN General Assembly as the International Year of the Youth (August 12, 2010 August 12, 2011) and all youth related activities and events to be held during the Year 2011 in reference to the United Nations Plan of Action. During the 15th Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government, held in Uganda in 2010, the Assembly adopted Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development as the theme for the next Summit.

It is under this backdrop that the African Youth Forum will be held in order to accord the youth an opportunity to deliberate and have their young voices be heard.

2. Rationale of the Forum The African Union Commission considers African youth as a special resource that requires special attention not only because of the demographic bonus but also its inert energy that it possesses. They are a formidable creative resource that can be harnessed for Africas socioeconomic development.

The African Youth Forum will be a Pre-Summit event. It will be a platform for the youth to seriously engage into dialogue and share their views and opinions about the youth empowerment agenda as critical actors. There is need to set up a multi-disciplinary Committee with shared responsibilities to validate, among other things, this concept note as well as to determine the degree of technical and financial engagement that will be required
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from partners in this process. The expected outcomes of the Forum will be resolutions/recommendations to be submitted to the Assembly. This will be a Call to the Heads of State and Government to prioritise implementation of youth development and empowerment programs in respective Member States. 3. Objectives of the Forum The forum will raise awareness and call for effective commitment and actions on the part of all stakeholders and partners at all levels to effectively mainstream youth concerns into development policies, programs, strategies and practices in Africa. The Forum is also intended to strengthen Africas participation and engagement in the International Year of Youth with a view to ensuring that its concerns and priorities are adequately reflected. 4. Specific Objectives

More specifically, the Forum will: Demonstrate the compelling evidence of youth empowerment for sustainable development; Deliberate on how the youthfulness of the African population could be an asset and an opportunity ; Deliberate on challenges that the youth face in general and propose key recommendations for the consideration of the Heads of State and Government; Promote sharing of experiences, good practices and lessons learned in mainstreaming youth development into sustainable development agendas; Showcase the significant innovative advancements of African youth, including the Diaspora in their research and scientific activities and achievements and its contributions towards sustainable development. In respect to the previous decisions that African leaders have made to improve the livelihood of young people in Africa, the Forum will review the progress made in the implementation of these commitments and further identify fast-tracking approaches and measures needed to adequately address the continents priorities, Give African impetus to the current worldwide momentum towards youth development issues,

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Strengthen/build new strategic alliances and partnerships among youth networks within and outside Africa.

5. Sub-themes of the forum: The following sub-themes will provide guidance to the debates and in group discussions: Youth empowerment and socio-political stability : Youth and issues concerning democracy, governance, climate change, etc Youth and peace and security matters, conflict and post-conflicts involvement and responsibilities Youth empowerment and socio-economic stability Education, science and technology, relevant training and employment Skills and life skills development Livelihoods and entrepreneurship and poverty reduction Youth empowerment and social and individual welfare Youth facing Health challenges, HIV/AIDS Youth rights, obligations, responsibilities and legal issues Youth empowerment and sustainable development Youth participation Policies, decisions and practices (actions and approaches that worked) Opportunities and challenges Way forward for sustainable responses

6. Expected Outputs and Outcomes 6.1 Outputs (immediate results): Concrete Resolutions/Recommendations submitted to the Assembly Forum report Forum Resolution/ Call for Actions and Commitments Press releases Publications Web publications Outcomes (impacts): Youth empowerment and development programs prioritized and implemented successfully at National and Regional levels
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6.2

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Enhanced knowledge of African youth in mainstreaming youth concerns into; development policies and practices; Strengthened capacity of African youth to address their own development; challenges and leverage opportunities presented; Support for the implementation of the African Youth Charter and Strategic alliances and partnerships on the Plan of Action.

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