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The Coalition on Media and Education for Development Africa Forum (CAFOR) is committed to advancing the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – Africa’s blueprint and master plan for inclusive and sustainable development. This concept note outlines how CAFOR’s mission and activities align fully with Agenda 2063’s vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens,” while maintaining a strictly non-political stance.

In partnership with the African Union (AU) and its member states, CAFOR supports the collective Pan-African vision of unity, peace, and prosperity – commonly referred to as “The Africa We Want”. We emphasize education, innovation, cultural identity, and good governance as key pillars of development, in line with Agenda 2063, without advocating any partisan political agenda. Notably, our focus is on practical contributions to Africa’s development within the framework agreed upon by AU Member States.

As the only Pan-African civil society coalition that has had a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Union. CAFOR is uniquely positioned to support Agenda 2063’s implementation in a collaborative and apolitical manner.

Download the full version CAFOR Concept Note 2025-2033

Aligning with Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want

Agenda 2063 is the African Union’s long-term development framework that envisions transformative outcomes for the continent by the year 2063. It encapsulates aspirations for a united, peaceful, and prosperous Africa grounded in inclusive growth and sustainable development. CAFOR fully embraces these aspirations and works to advance them through its programs and advocacy. In particular, CAFOR’s objectives resonate with several key Agenda 2063 Aspirations:

• An Integrated and United Africa: Agenda 2063 calls for an “integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism” (Aspiration 2). While political integration is an AU-led process, CAFOR contributes by fostering unity among African stakeholders in education and development. Our cross-border initiatives bring together experts, youth, and educators from across the continent, reinforcing a sense of pan-African solidarity and cooperation. Importantly, CAFOR’s approach to unity is non-political – we support cooperation and policy harmonization in education and communication, without venturing into debates on political federation or currency union. This ensures our stance remains aligned with the AU consensus and focused on development outcomes rather than political structures.

• A Peaceful and Secure Africa: Peace is a prerequisite for educational and socio-economic development. In line with Aspiration 4 of Agenda 2063 (which envisions a continent free of conflict), CAFOR’s work indirectly contributes to peace by promoting education and youth empowerment – powerful tools for addressing the root causes of conflict, such as inequality, unemployment, and lack of opportunity. By advocating for inclusive, quality education and media that foster understanding among communities, we help nurture a culture of peace and tolerance. We echo the AU’s belief that a peaceful Africa goes hand-in-hand with an educated and enlightened citizenry. Our programs stress values of dialogue, mutual respect, and conflict prevention at community levels, complementing broader AU peace initiatives

• A Prosperous Africa Based on Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development: Agenda 2063 prioritizes human capital development as fundamental to Africa’s prosperity (Aspiration 1). CAFOR contributes to this by focusing on education and skills development, ensuring that Africa’s large youth population gains the knowledge and competencies needed for the jobs of the future. By 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42% of the world’s youth, and Africa today has over 400 million young people aged 15–35. Harnessing this demographic dividend is critical for inclusive growth. CAFOR’s projects – implemented in collaboration with governments and partners – aim to “catalyze an education and skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation”), as called for in Agenda 2063. Through advocacy and capacity-building, we support educational reforms that equip youth (especially girls and other marginalized groups) with employable skills, digital literacy, and entrepreneurial know-how. A well-educated, innovative workforce will drive sustainable economic growth across African economies, reducing poverty and creating a more prosperous society in line with Agenda 2063 goals.

• An Africa of Good Governance, Democracy, and Respect for Human Rights: CAFOR firmly upholds Aspiration 3 of Agenda 2063, which envisions “an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law”. We believe that good governance is not only a political ideal but also a practical necessity for effective development programs. Accordingly, CAFOR promotes transparent, accountable governance both in the education sector and within our own institution. We work with educational authorities to encourage policies that uphold accountability – such as transparent budgeting for education, anti-corruption measures in school management, and inclusive decision-making that involves youth and civil society. Internally, CAFOR strives to model good governance by adhering to high standards of ethics, financial transparency, and democratic processes in our leadership (as detailed in the Institutional Reorganization section below). This dual commitment reinforces the rule of law and strong institutions, echoing Agenda 2063’s call for “capable institutions and transformative leadership at all levels”. By integrating good governance principles into development work, we help build trust with stakeholders and ensure sustainable impact of our initiatives.

• An Africa with a Strong Cultural Identity, Common Heritage, and Shared Values: CAFOR recognizes the power of culture and information in development. In alignment with Aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 – “An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics” – we incorporate Africa’s rich cultural heritage into our educational and communication programs. CAFOR supports content creation and curricula that celebrate African history, languages, and values, thereby strengthening learners’ sense of identity and pride. For example, we encourage the use of local African languages in education and media, and promote arts, music, and storytelling as channels for youth expression. By leveraging traditional and modern media, we amplify African voices and success stories, contributing to a continental narrative of renaissance and unity. This cultural approach reinforces Agenda 2063’s emphasis on an African Renaissance where development is accompanied by the preservation of our heritage and the promotion of pan-African values. It also helps foster social cohesion and mutual understanding, which are crucial for unity and peace.

Download the full version CAFOR Concept Note 2025-2033

In all these areas, CAFOR’s alignment with Agenda 2063 is deliberate and by design. Our strategies are informed by key AU frameworks such as the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016–2025) and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024), which operationalize Agenda 2063 in the fields of education and innovation. By ensuring our objectives reinforce these continental strategies, we maximize our contribution to the “Africa We Want” while avoiding duplication and working synergistically with the African Union and other stakeholders. CAFOR’s close collaboration with the African Union – under our MoU, the AU Commission has hosted and facilitated our work  – ensures that our programs complement AU initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) (which will benefit from an educated workforce) and the African Youth Charter (which aligns with our youth empowerment focus). Our non-political, development-centered stance means that we operate as an extension of Africa’s collective development agenda, rallying media, education experts, and civil society to accelerate progress on Agenda 2063’s targets without venturing into political controversies. This approach has garnered CAFOR recognition as a valuable partner in continental development efforts.

Download the full version CAFOR Concept Note 2025-2033