The African Affairs Communication event is organized as a follow-up to the 2023 World Bank Group Youth Summit, themed 'From the Ground up: Local Solutions to Drive Global Impact'. The Summit emphasizes the importance of local solutions to global development challenges, honoring local ownership and knowledge. As a continuation of these discussions, our event focuses on the youth of Africa, their potential, and how they can contribute to the African Union Agenda 2063.
Event: How African Youth Can Collaborate and Strategize Common Aspiration
Date: June 18-20, 2023
Location: African Affairs Communication office, 2201 Wisconsin Ave, Suite #200, Washington, DC 20007
Background:
The African Affairs Communication event is a response to both the potential and challenges faced by African youth today. As a follow-up to the 2023 World Bank Group Youth Summit, themed 'From the Ground up: Local Solutions to Drive Global Impact', our event recognizes the necessity of local solutions for global development challenges and the vital role of local ownership and knowledge in this process.
Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, with over 60% of its inhabitants under the age of 25. This youthful demographic holds significant potential for driving economic growth, innovation, and social change. However, it also faces a unique set of challenges including unemployment, limited access to quality education and health services, political instability, and the impacts of climate change.
Objectives:
- To provide a platform for African youth to express their ideas and strategies for tackling the unique challenges they face.
- To foster dialogue among the participants about the African Union Agenda 2063, its implications for African youth, and how youth can contribute to its objectives.
- To generate actionable strategies to empower African youth to collaborate and develop common aspirations, contributing to the broader development goals of the continent.
Goals:
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing African youth in the context of the African Union Agenda 2063.
- Enable the exchange of ideas and best practices among African youth, encouraging collaboration and alignment of aspirations.
- Create a roadmap for an umbrella program that addresses the next generation's challenges specific to Africa, with the aim of achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.
Future Actions:
- Advocate for increased investments in education, skills development, and healthcare, to improve the quality of life of African youth and prepare them for the future.
- Strengthen youth participation in political and decision-making processes, to ensure their needs and perspectives are adequately represented.
- Promote innovative approaches to job creation and entrepreneurship, to address the high rates of youth unemployment in Africa.
- Support the development and implementation of policies and programs that mitigate the impacts of climate change, given its disproportionate effects on youth and future generations.
A comprehensive report detailing the discussions and recommendations from the event, to be distributed to stakeholders and used as a reference for future initiatives.
A shared vision and strategy for how African youth can contribute to the African Union Agenda 2063.
The establishment of an ongoing platform for African youth to engage in dialogue, share ideas, and collaborate on initiatives related to the challenges and opportunities they face.
Increased awareness among participants and stakeholders about the need for locally generated solutions to development challenges, building on the themes of the World Bank Group Youth Summit.
The initiation of an umbrella program that will address the next generation's African challenges, contributing to sustainable development and inclusive growth in the continent.
This event represents an opportunity to bring together African youth, stakeholders, and policymakers to discuss and strategize how to collectively contribute to the growth and development of the continent. We look forward to generating impactful and sustainable solutions during this event.
Program Details
Day 1: June 18, 2023
8:30 - 9:00 AM: Registration and Welcome Coffee
9:00 - 9:30 AM: Opening Remarks
Introduction and welcome
Overview of the event's purpose and objectives
9:30 - 10:30 AM: Keynote Address: "The Role of Youth in the African Union Agenda 2063"
10:30 - 11:00 AM: Break
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Panel Discussion: "Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities for African Youth"
12:30 - 1:30 PM: Lunch Break
1:30 - 3:00 PM: Workshop: "Strategizing for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth"
3:00 - 3:30 PM: Break
3:30 - 5:00 PM: Interactive Session: "Developing Local Solutions for African Youth Challenges"
5:00 - 6:00 PM: Networking Session
Day 2: June 19, 2023
9:00 - 10:00 AM: Recap of Day 1 and Overview of Day 2
10:00 - 11:30 AM: Panel Discussion: "Youth Participation in Political and Decision-Making Processes"
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Break
12:00 - 1:30 PM: Workshop: "Innovative Approaches to Job Creation and Entrepreneurship for African Youth"
1:30 - 2:30 PM: Lunch Break
2:30 - 4:00 PM: Interactive Session: "Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change on African Youth"
4:00 - 4:30 PM: Break
4:30 - 6:00 PM: Closing Plenary: "Developing an Umbrella Program for the Next Generation of African Challenges"
6:00 - 7:00 PM: Closing Remarks and Networking Session
- Develop a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing African youth in the context of the African Union Agenda 2063.
- Enable the exchange of ideas and best practices among African youth, encouraging collaboration and alignment of aspirations.
- Create a roadmap for an umbrella program that addresses the next generation's challenges specific to Africa, with the aim of achieving sustainable and inclusive growth.