It is incontrovertible that the peace and security challenges experienced in Africa from the 1990s put continental and international attention on the key roles played by young men and women in episodes of armed conflict and insecurity. Successive wars and violations of formal peace agreements and processes across the continent further heightened the attention and concern of policy institutions to the participation of youth in armed conflicts and violence. Across the divide, young people continue to constitute the core of combatants, while also representing a significant number of those affected by armed conflicts, violent extremism, banditry, violent protests and gender-based violence in Africa. For instance, in addition to disruption of education and youth-sensitive socio-economic activities, “estimates of direct conflict deaths in 2015 suggest that more than 90 percent of all casualties involved young males.”
A Position Statement on Climate Change and Health for COP28
We, The Youth Cafe, recognise the urgency of addressing climate change, with Africa facing heightened vulnerability to its devastating impacts. The latest findings from the IPCC’s Special Report on Global Warming reveal that our planet is now 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels, with projections indicating a potential 1.5-degree threshold as early as 2040. Disturbingly, each successive decade since 1850 has been more generous than the last. The escalating temperature trend driven by human-induced greenhouse emissions threatens health, food security, and economic stability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 250,000 deaths per year may be directly linked to climate change-related issues such as heat stress, malnutrition, vector-borne diseases and water-borne diseases.
African Youth Climate Assembly 2023 Declaration
The Declaration set out the ambition of the Africa Youth Climate Assembly as a precursor to the inaugural African Union Heads of State and Government Africa Climate Summit (ACS) with the outcomes of the Assembly feeding into the African Heads of State and Government Nairobi Declaration. Acknowledging the mounting uncertainties surrounding our future due to climate change and the escalating severity of its effects, there is one indisputable fact: We will bequeath this planet to today's children, young individuals, and the generations yet to come;
The African Continental Free Trade Area(AfCFTA) First Month Of Trading
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has wrapped up its first month of trading, having kicked off at the start of the new year. The nascent and wide-reaching trade area will be watched closely given its scope, size, and potential development impacts, along with what it means for existing regional communities and trading ties with other partners.
Unlocking Finance To Build Forward Better From The Covid-19 Crisis & Accelerate Delivery Of Sustainable Development.
The African government's economic crisis over the Covid-19 Pandemic equals (1 to 7)% of their GDP, contributed by African Governments deploying fewer funds and measures for high-quality recovery. At The Youth Café, we believe that there is a need for financial education. This will increase unlocking finance to build forward better from COVID-19 and accelerate delivery on Sustainable Development as intended: To identify effective measures to address the overarching challenge of mobilizing adequate and sustainable finance to invest in sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063. To identify and articulate the financing needs and provide high-level insights on opportunities to mobilize finance, focusing on the role of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility designed and launched by ECA and partners.
The Youth Café At The Voluntary National Review-Voluntary Local Review Workshop.
Voluntary National Review is a strategy based on the 2030 Agenda: Member states to "conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven. Like the 2030 Agenda of participation, The Youth Café strives for global connection, has reached over 72 countries, and is a local and national rope for achieving goals. The Youth Cafés principles are a call to action for governments, civil societies, private and public sectors, bi- and multilateral, and knowledge institutions. To invest in mutual prospects and work in partnership for sustainable development.
FAO and AUC Virtual Technical Validation Workshop: Investment Guidelines For Youth In Agri-Food Systems In Africa.
Through multi-stakeholder engagements and in-depth country case studies, a draft Investment Guidelines for Youth in Agri-Food Systems in Africa has been produced by FAO in partnership with the AUC. The goal of this handbook is to serve as a resource for governmental and private sector partners, including financial institutions, civil society actors, youth-led organizations, and enterprises across the region, who want to encourage more investment in job creation and agricultural growth in rural areas of Africa. On this note, FAO and the AUC are co-organizing a virtual technical validation workshop aimed at providing a platform for participants to share views and provide final recommendations towards the finalization of the Investment Guidelines for Youth in Agri-food Systems in Africa.
Africa’s Free Trade Area Opens For Business
The formal start of trading was given the official go-ahead at an extraordinary meeting in December 2020 where AU member states called on “women, youth, businesses, trade unions, civil society, cross border traders, the academia, the African Diaspora and other stakeholders to join them as governments in this historic endeavor of creating the “Africa We Want” in line with the Agenda 2063.
Youth-Inclusion In The ‘Silencing The Gun’ Initiative Of The African Union (A.U)
The growing momentum for the push towards inclusive peace and security matters by the United Nations marked through the passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2050 on Youth, Peace, and Security in 2015, has seen the efforts in Africa to include young people in the ‘Silencing the Guns’ initiative. The UNSCR 2050 affirms the positive role young men and women play in maintaining and promoting international peace and security and in building and advancing peace and security in their own countries.
Press Release By Women Of Kenya On The Advisory By The Hon. Chief Justice, David Maraga To His Excellency, The President On The Dissolution Of Parliament
The hallmark of a democracy is its adherence and fidelity to the Rule of Law and Separation of powers between the various arms of government. We note that the Two-Thirds Gender Rule is not about giving seats to women but it is about creating an inclusive and sustainable society in furtherance of its commitment to the SDGs, the Agenda 2063, and the Vision 2030. We note that while Kenya has made some great advancements in promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality.