Promoting skills for youth in post-conflict contexts through innovative partnerships

In line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2019 between the African Union Commission (AUC) and the Coalition on Media and Education for Development in Africa (CAFOR), to provide a framework for integrating Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063 in education policy and implementation at the country level, Mr Calixte Mbari, Acting Director for Governance and Conflict Prevention at the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of the AU Commission, met with Dr Lawalley Cole, Executive Director of CAFOR, to explore ways and means to provide vocational and technical training opportunities for youth in post-conflict contexts.

In his remarks, Mr. Mbari highlighted the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council that encouraged the AU Member States to support and integrate youth into decision-making processes. He further emphasized the unique role of the youth in strengthening the capacity and resilience of communities in conflict and post-conflict situations. Collectively, Mr Mbari and Dr Cole agreed to enhance coordination, synergy and collaboration to provide youth with skills and empower them to play a meaningful role in peacebuilding. It was further decided that the AU Commission and CAFOR will develop a working document, considering their relative advantage in education policy, communication, and African development, to deepen interactions between the two organizations.

It must be noted that this agreement aims to support AU Member States to implement the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25), The Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024), and The Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET Continental Strategy); and thus builds on the Commission’s firm commitment to leverage partnerships with organizations within the frameworks of the African Governance Architecture, the African Peace and Security Architecture, the African Union Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy, as well as the African Union Roadmap on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend, through Investments in Youth to provide skills, educational and job opportunities for youth in post-conflict situations.

For more information, please contact:

Sandra Adong Oder, Post-conflict Reconstruction and Development Unit,

Governance and Conflict Prevention Directorate,

Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department| Email: OderS@africa-union.org