Message from the Executive Director of CAFOR, Lawalley Cole, for August 2018 – The African Youth SDGs Summit

From 7 – 9 November 2018, the African Youth SDG Summit will be held at the Accra International Conference Centre in Ghana. The Summit has as its host organizations UNFPA, the 2030 SDGs Youth Alliance with UNDP and UNICEF as lead partners. Emmanuel Ametepey is the Convener of the Summit. The Government of Ghana and its many institutions are also providing technical and financial support to the Summit.

I am one of the eight Summit Patrons of the African Youth SDGs Summit. I am currently playing a critical role in promoting all aspects of youth development on the African continent, through the Coalition on Media and Education for Development Africa Forum (CAFOR).  I am, therefore, convinced that together with the other 7 Patrons from around Africa, we would work together to support our member organizations on the continent with technical expertise in areas of mutual interests and support all activities related to the SDGs. We will also participate together in continental and international events, before, during and after the summit, and mobilize support at the highest levels on the continent as well as work together to engage our leaders, governments and development partners to put in place mechanisms to support youth ventures on the continent to respond adequately to the SDGs.

This Summit is the platform for the engagement of youth and state actors. It is also an accountability mechanism and safe space for the generation of ideas, strategies and actions that can and will be championed by young people, together with national governments, to execute.  The primary thematic areas of focus of the Summit are the following:

1. Good Health – Young people and reproductive health – Aligned to SD Goal 3 and 5
2. Gender Equality – Aligned to SD Goal 5
3. Clean water and sanitation – Urban Sanitation and Open Defecation – Aligned to SD Goal 3 and 5
4. Decent Work and Economic Growth – Youth employment and migration – Aligned to SD Goal 8 and 10
5. Climate Change and Smart Agriculture – Aligned to SD Goal 13
6. Youth Leadership and Governance – Aligned to SD Goal 16

Africa is currently pursuing a transformation agenda under the recognition of the African Union’s vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”.  It is, therefore, evident that success will be elusive unless we purposefully harness the potential of the continent’s young people. As African leaders give credence to this view, they have identified youth development and science, technology and innovation as the main pillars of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.  To successfully realize the African transformation agenda, Governments in Africa must capitalize on the potential of Africa’s youth to accomplish the African transformation agenda. With the changing times, young Africans are now growing up in an increasingly free and fair continent. They are becoming dynamic, forward-looking and best positioned to find innovative solutions to local challenges using science and technology. The conditions must, therefore, be suitable for this.

This Summit is, therefore, a very crucial one given the current circumstances that African youths find themselves in today. Consequently, I take this opportunity to call on all stakeholders in youth affairs on the African continent and beyond to attend and support this summit. I am thinking of the participation in the summit activities of our key political, business and social leaders from both within Africa and beyond.  I also call on African governments, foundations and philanthropists and other sponsors on the continent,   to provide financial support for this critical summit that is of immense significance for the future of the African continent.

I will surely be there and I hope that you will be there too!