The Youth Cafe (TYC) participated in the EU Multi-Annual Indicative Program Review consultative meeting in the esteemed presence of The European Union ambassador to Kenya, Ms. Heinrette Geiger. The consultations included presentations of the EU Kenya bilateral program (MIP) priorities, progress to date, and what is expected to happen during 2024-2027. The key priorities of MIP are:
i. Green Transition: Environmental Sustainability and Resilience,
ii. Leave No One Behind: Human Development and Digital Inclusion,
iii. Democratic governance, peace, and stability. TYC representatives shared their views and proposals, which will be used to refine the MIP for the period 2024-2027.
Kenya is a crucial partner of strategic interest for the EU in Africa, notably in the areas of stability and security in the Horn of Africa, but also for climate resilience and promoting the green economy agenda. Kenya is an economic hub in the region, a market with growing potential for export and investment for European companies, and a strong partner in pursuing universal values and multilateralism. Kenya has a sound policy framework, setting the frame for a partnership that allows for the relationship to grow. The partnership between Kenya, the EU, and its Member States is progressively transforming beyond development cooperation into a relationship based on shared values and mutual interests, in which the EU aims to holistically support Kenya’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and commitments under the Paris Agreement.
The Youth Cafe’s recommendations included that the EU facilitate access to the internet and technology in rural and remote areas as this will help human development and digital inclusion in the communities including the marginalized youth living there. Kenya is rapidly shifting to a digital economy with even most government services being digitized, it is, therefore, imperative to ensure that even the marginalized and rural communities have access to the internet and technology. Another recommendation was that youth be meaningfully engaged in the EU programs. TYC is open and available to offer best practices and strategies on how to meaningfully engage the youth.
In addition to what the EU has, TYC recommended the integration of more opportunities for training to facilitate self-employment among the youth as this will help reduce the huge number of youth who are unemployed; the EU currently has a program of absorbing youth from the localities they operate in for manual, this is good but for sustainability, training and facilitating self-employment opportunities will be more effective.
In conclusion, the meeting was a landmark event that fostered productive discussions and collaborations among diverse stakeholders. The engagement allowed for valuable insights and perspectives to be shared, ensuring that the voices of Kenyan youth were heard and taken into consideration. As a result of this meeting, promising partnerships have been formed, greatly enhancing The Youth Cafe's ability to effectively advocate for the interests and empowerment of African youth in the context of EU-MIP.