Expected activities that CAFOR will undertake as an independent Non-Governmental Organization

CAFOR has a network that consists of more than 1,500 journalists, communication experts, and members of NGOs and civil society organizations from all the 55-member states of the African Union. These networks will be instrumental in knowledge sharing and stimulating and sustaining a public debate on education and development issues in many countries.  CAFOR also recognizes that African economies are heterogeneous with varying demographic profiles, economic structures and youth development policies. The Forum believes that youth policies will need to be context-specific for them to achieve favourable and sustainable outcomes.  CAFOR will focus much of its attention on this aspect using the more than 1,500 communicators in all the 55-member countries of the African Union.
CAFOR will focus on the use of radio, television, internet and other social media programmes to:

• Develop capacities for informed and reliable reporting on skills for youths and develop the media’s awareness of education all issues pertaining to youth participation in economic and social development;
• Develop abilities of all communication professionals so that they view the media as potential allies for the development of education and skills for young Africans;
• Strengthen the networks of trained journalists and communicators in education and skills development within the African media to respond adequately to reporting requirements on thematic youth and sustainable development issues for raising awareness and for advocacy purposes;
•  Propound communication strategies for the development of skills for youth for the African labour market
• Promote African-led education and training solutions to address national and regional needs.
• Leverage a diverse and sustainable partner network;
• CAFOR will have additional activities that will be revitalized for proper continuity.

Thes include:

(a) studies of African media reporting on education;
(b) consultations with African broadcasters to explore policy changes for enhancing and extending the use of community radio for education promotion and develop participative, experiential methods of learning at the community level;
(c) preparation of training materials on communication for policy dialogue and action, including the development of a comprehensive Toolkit for training of African journalists and other media practitioners;
(d) support to stakeholders active in education promotion and dialogue that involved Parents’ Associations, Teachers’ Unions, Students’ groups, private proprietors and Civil Society Organizations;

(e) build on and provide additional innovative technical support for the organization of a regional network of countries that would share experiences and develop skills, of civil society groups at decentralized local levels, to engage in communication-related activities to support education initiatives for young people;

(f) enhance partnerships with additional training institutions in Africa, as well as with individual experts from media organizations through its programme aimed at strengthening national capacity to produce high-quality reporting of education news in Africa;

(g) advocate for African countries to formalize and regulate the overseas employment of their young populations and some of their surplus labour. African governments should, therefore, begin to think through circular migration models that do not just allow for brain drain and cherry picking of Africa’s best but are designed to provide mutually beneficial arrangements;

(h) undertake studies that will help to define the procedure of integration of investments in youth health, education, and access to technology, capital, and opportunities in practical terms so as to meet the concerted efforts and strategies that Africa needs to combat youth unemployment and underemployment at national and continental levels;

(i) help to address the issues of integrating African youth into the labour market with decent and productive jobs as these remains a considerable challenge that needs a regional and international partnership, with practical and action-oriented recommendations;

(j) seek to advocate for the need to reform and redesign education and training to ensure relevance for the economic needs of countries, regions and international markets;

(k) introduce long-term strategies to stimulate the creativity of young people, and providing them with a quality education geared towards the global market.

(l) work with African governments to seek their political commitment to build ICT infrastructure and promote research and development in science and technology.

(l) advocate, through its members in the various countries, for a review and adaptation of national curricula to meet the needs of current global situations.

(m) encourage young people in Africa to actively seek out mentoring opportunities themselves, as the lessons learned, and guidance received from such experiences are invaluable.

(n) work with relevant authorities and partners to promote creative problem-solving skills through national mentorship and internship programmes, as well as through national competitions targeting different age groups.

(o) work with African governments and other development partners to ensure that governments support youth ventures by offering free vocational education, mentoring programmes and incentives on production and programmes for the commercialization of innovations.

(p) strive to promote youth-oriented incubation centres and will work hand in hand other partners to establish them in the more promising countries. These centres will provide young people with an outlet for developing their innovations and business ideas, and enhance their entrepreneurial capabilities, benefiting from mentoring opportunities and obtaining access to a wide range of resources and networks.

(q) advocate for robust national frameworks for research and development as these are imperative for innovation.

(r) work with the relevant authorities at the continental level to ensure that they provide youth-targeted workshops on applying for funding and grants (locally or abroad), budgeting, forecasting and accounting.

(s) advocate for youth-dedicated funds to be set up to provide young innovators with the seed money to help them realize their aspirations.