African Power

Zimbabwean Leader Calls For The Return Of African Artefacts By Harbouring Nations

Africa Featured December 10, 2021 admin

 

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

 

President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of Zimbabwean has called for the return of stolen African cultural artifacts forcefully taken away by the colonial powers back to their original owners as according to him, the artifacts are an extension of the cultural, human and people’s rights of the cultures that created them.

“Within the purviews of the rights-based discourse, Africa and its people continue to unreservedly pronounce that ‘cultural rights are human and people’s rights too.’ In light of this, Africa must reunite with that which belongs to it.”

The Zimbabwean leader spoke when he
officially opened the third International Conference on African Cultures (ICAC) at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe on November 24.

Mnangagwa also called for the restitution and repatriation of African artifacts that were expropriated from Africa during the colonial era.

Themed, “Africa Speaks: Confronting Restitution and Repatriation of Artefacts, Human Remains, Objects and Archives from African Countries”
the conference explored issues of restitution, return and repatriation of African cultural property held outside the continent through
presentations, exhibitions and panel discussions.

Supported by UNESCO, the conference consisted of the participation of experts and heritage professionals from Africa and the Diaspora.

During the opening ceremony, the President challenged the academia, heritage experts and institutions to pursue “Chimurenga Chepfungwa/liberation of the mind” informed by African cultural belief systems and identity.

Highlighting the importance of the Conference, Mnangwagwa indicated that it is through such Pan African forums that African thought and
vast body of knowledge are deployed to accelerate sustainable heritage-based development and proffer concrete actions towards the promotion of African Renaissance.

In her opening remarks, the Africa Union highlighted the importance of the African Union model law on the Protection of Cultural Property and Heritage, which aims at guiding member states in developing and strengthening their legal frameworks.

She also noted the work that the African Union is undertaking on the restitution and repatriation of culture property, including the
drafting of a position paper on restitution and a framework for action on the return of illicitly trafficked culture property.

The Conference contributed to the African Union Agenda 2063, particularly to its Aspiration 5 “an Africa with a strong cultural
identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics”.

“We believe that the outcomes of the conference will strengthen the capacities of members states to implement various international frameworks, including the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property and the UNIDROIT 1995 Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects,” added Martins

During the panel discussion on “Dealing with Legal issues: Benchmarking UNESCO 1970 Convention and subsequent legal pieces”, the
Head of the Culture Unit at the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa,  Francisco Gomez Duran, recalled the role of UNESCO in
supporting countries in the fight against the illicit trafficking of African cultural property and the efforts of the Organization to promote its return and restitution.

Duran also highlighted that supporting African Member States in the fight against the illicit trafficking of cultural property within the framework of the UNESCO 1970 Convention and facilitating the return and restitution of cultural property in the framework of the Intergovernmental Intergovernmental Committee for Return and Restitution have been identified by UNESCO as one of the pillars of Flagship Programme 3 of the Organization’s Operational Strategy for Priority Africa 2022-2029.

Accordingly, UNESCO’s work on the protection of cultural heritage and the return of stolen or illegally exported cultural property contributes to the achievement of SDG 16, and in particular target 4, which addresses the recovery and return of stolen assets and combating all forms of organized crime.

 

African Power

It’s time we reignite the spark of African Renaissance mission

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki

Published Sep 12, 2021

Opinion

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THANDISIZWE MGUDLWA

CAPE TOWN - The fall of Thabo Mbeki from political power could be described as the end of the African Renaissance philosophy.

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Although there are still institutions and projects that are meant to carry forward the programme of 'Africa's Rebirth' as Mbeki was fond of saying.

The spark of the African Renaissance mission disappeared with the recalling of Mbeki as South Africa's second democratically elected president.

Much was lacking in the articulation of the philosophy from Mbeki's office as the president of South Africa.

Although Mbeki succeeded in promoting the concept of an African Renaissance, there's a lack of understanding as to the nitty gritties of the philosophy, so that the various sectors that form Africa are daily implementing the programmes and projects of renewing Africa.

In its essence, the African Renaissance is the concept that the African people shall overcome the current challenges confronting the continent and achieve cultural, scientific, and economic renewal.

First articulated by Senegalese historian Cheikh Anta Diop in a series of essays he wrote between 1946 and 1960.

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And later collected to produce a book titled Towards the African Renaissance: Essays in Culture and Development, 1946–1960.

Diop had written these series of essays on charting the development of Africa as a student in Paris.

Diop's ideas were further popularized by Mbeki during his tenure when he was SA's Deputy President.

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Today, the African Renaissance has been pinned in a broader fashion as a philosophical and political movement to end the violence, elitism, corruption, and poverty believed to plague the continent, and to replace them with a more just and equitable order.

Mbeki proposes achieving these goals by primarily encouraging education, and reversing the "brain drain" of African intellectuals to foreign lands, hence the African Renaissance is meant to play a key role in South Africa's post-apartheid intellectual agenda.

Mbeki further encouraged Africans to take pride in their heritage, and to take charge of their lives, rather than depending on outside factors to be able to re-create our destiny.

However, according to Noel Moukala, the African Renaissance cannot exist without first achieving African Unity.

Professor W.A.J. Okumu compiled a list of perceived African traits that he believes are worthy of preservation and continuation.

These include aspects of interpersonal relations, such as "social inclusion, hospitality, and generous sharing," as well as attentive and perceptive listening. He additionally argues that social acceptance is not based on wealth, but on the basis of relationships to others.

Okumu's perspective perfectly joins the African Renaissance with the philosophy of Ubuntu/Botho which is about 'Humanity Towards Others'.

When giving his famous "I Am an African" speech in Cape Town, celebrating the adoption of a new Constitution of South Africa in Parliament on May 8, 1996, Mbeki said: “I am born of a people who are heroes and heroines.. Patient because history is on their side, these masses do not despair because today the weather is bad. Nor do they turn triumphalist when, tomorrow, the sun shines. Whatever the circumstances they have lived through and because of that experience, they are determined to define for themselves who they are and who they should be.”

This was followed by the April 1997 Mbeki articulation on the elements that comprise the African Renaissance which include social cohesion, democracy, economic rebuilding and growth, and the establishment of Africa as a significant player in geopolitical affairs.

Vusi Mavimbela, an advisor to Mbeki, two months later, wrote that the African Renaissance was the "third moment" in post-colonial Africa, following decolonisation and the spread of democracy across the continent in the early 1990s.

Later on Mbeki would codify Mavimbela's beliefs, and the reforms that would comprise them, in the "African Renaissance Statement" given August 13, 1998.

All this would culminate in the African Renaissance Conference in Johannesburg in 1998, where 470 participants attended.

And in 1999 the book titled African Renaissance was released, with 30 essays arranged under topics corresponding to the conference's breakout sessions: "culture and education, economic transformation, science and technology, transport and energy, moral renewal and African values, and media and telecommunications.

Mbeki then led the formation of the African Renaissance Institute (ARI) in Pretoria on October 11, 1999, with its initial focuses on the development of African human resources, science and technology, agriculture, nutrition and health, culture, business, peace, and good governance.

In his book The African Renaissance, Okumu wrote that,

"The most important and primary role of the African Renaissance Institute now and in the coming years is to gather a critical mass of first-class African scientists and to give them large enough grants on a continuing basis, as well as sufficient infrastructure, to enable them to undertake meaningful problem-solving R&D applied to industrial production that will lead to really important results of economic dimensions."

The African Renaissance is now part of the International Decade for People of African Descent from 2015 to 2024, in which the Door of Return Initiative seeks to bring members of the African diaspora back to the continent.

This initiative is spearheaded by the historical Maroon community of Accompong, Jamaica, in cooperation with Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Ghana.

The associated Renaissance revival is led by Accompong Finance Minister Timothy E. McPherson Jr., and Nigeria's Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, Abike Dabiri.

That should make us wonder why Mbeki's predecessors in South Africa have turned to ignore the African Renaissance philosophy.

Continentally, figures associated with the African Renaissance are President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda.

What about the others?

And what about the men and women on the African streets?

African literature could be a start.

Mgudlwa is an award-winning journalist

Cape Times

YOUTHSPARK POWER

Microsoft YouthSpark is here to uplift millions

Posted on 16 February 2013 by Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

AFRICABUSINESS.COM 

An initiative by Microsoft which aims to engage youth to drive sustainable African economic growth and development is on.

Microsoft YouthSpark is a global initiative to create economic opportunities for 300 million youth over the next three years.

News coming from JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, this week report that unemployment remains rife on the African continent. With almost 200 million people aged between 15 and 24 in Africa today, the youth community represents more than 60 per cent of the continent’s total population and accounts for 45 per cent of its growing labour force.

However, the imbalance between the demands of the labour market and the supply of appropriately skilled workers in Africa is reaching its breaking point. In light of this, Microsoft Corp. announced its ongoing commitment to driving opportunities for African youth through its YouthSpark initiative.

Microsoft YouthSpark is a global initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries during the next three years. This company wide initiative includes Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and other company programs — both new and enhanced — empowering youth to imagine and realise their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.

Djam Bakhshandegi, CSI Program Manager at Microsoft in Africa, “It is a sad reality that while young Africans are more literate than their parents, more of them remain unemployed,” Bakhshandegi  adds.“At the core of our YouthSpark and other CSI activities is our belief that relevant innovation holds the key to unlocking the answers to our most pressing challenges in the region. Through YouthSpark, in sub-Saharan Africa alone, we have already reached over half a million young people and made $1.1 million worth of software donations to non-Government-organisations.  In addition we have trained almost 30,000 teachers through our Partners In Learning tools as well as equipping hundreds of small & medium businesses with relevant start up skills.”

Further revealed is that as part of its broader strategy, Microsoft views Africa as a critical investment market. Its flagship African investment and growth drive, 4Afrika,  which YouthSpark falls under on the African continent, was launched in February 2013.   Through 4Afrika, Microsoft will actively engage in Africa’s economic development to improve its global competitiveness.

And by 2016, the Microsoft 4Afrika Initiative plans to help place tens of millions of smart devices in the hands of African youth, bring 1 million African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) online, up-skill 100,000 members of Africa’s existing workforce, and help an additional 100,000 recent graduates develop skills for employability, 75 percent of which Microsoft will help place in jobs.

Also, “YouthSpark forms part of this 4Afrika vision and through YouthSpark, we are paying specific attention to the next generation of our ecosystem through our work with schools, students, start-ups and the developer community to drive skills and ICT integration which will in turn trigger growth,” says Bakhshandegi. “Through our partnerships with governments, non-profit organizations and businesses, Microsoft YouthSpark aims to empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential.”

In addition, Microsoft YouthSpark goes beyond philanthropy and brings together a range of global programs that empower young people with access to technology and a better education and inspire young people to imagine the opportunities they have to realise their potential, including Office 365 for education, free technology tools for all teachers and students to power learning and collaboration, and Skype in the classroom, a free global community for teachers to connect their students with others around the world. Other YouthSpark initiatives include:

• Partners in Learning Network (http://www.microsoft.com/education/pil/partnersInLearning.aspx). An online professional development platform for government officials, school leaders and educators to help them with new approaches to teaching and learning, using technology to help students develop 21st century skills.

•  Microsoft IT Academy (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/itacademy/default.aspx). A career-ready education program available to all accredited academic institutions, providing students with 21st century technology.

•          DreamSpark (https://www.dreamspark.com). Free access to Microsoft designer and developer tools for students and educators, helping advance key technical skills during the high school and college years, a critical time in a student’s development.

•          Imagine Cup (http://www.imaginecup.com). The world’s premier youth technology competition, which challenges students to apply their knowledge and passion to develop technical solutions for social impact, to develop engaging games, and to demonstrate innovation that can benefit others, local communities and the world.

•          Students to Business (http://www.microsoft.com/studentstobusiness/home/default.aspx). A program that matches university students with jobs or internships in the technology industry.

•          BizSpark (http://www.microsoft.com/bizspark). A software startup program, providing young entrepreneurs with access to Microsoft software development tools and connections with key industry players, including investors, to help them start a new business.

•          Employability Portals. An all-inclusive platform that links users – who wish to plan their career, get career advisory, acquire training, build their capacity, apply for jobs and internships – with customized resources, counselors, mentors and jobs.

Another example is Microsoft’s Build Your Business programme (http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_on_the_issues_africa/archive/2012/02/13/building-your-own-business-a-new-curriculum-helps-young-people-find-success.aspx), a comprehensive and inter-active training course designed to support aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs. David Arkless, Manpower Group’s President of Corporate and Government Affairs, says, “Start-ups and small businesses are the backbone of Africa’s economy, and this learning course will encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to take the leap to set up a business venture. We are committed to helping new small businesses get off the ground and provide them with the skills to deal with the rigors of competition and day-to-day business tasks.”

“We are committed to using our technology, talent, time and money to help create sustainable growth across the African continent,” says Bakhshandegi. “Microsoft YouthSpark is not just about enhancing young people’s digital skills. Rather it is about helping young people having a more balanced set of skills that is required in today’s very competitive work environment.”

A full list of Microsoft YouthSpark programs can be found at the YouthSpark Hub (http://www.microsoft.com/youthsparkhub).

Schools Football POWER

Morocco combines its FIFA Talent Development Scheme to schools football programme, paving the way for other countries to follow suit

It’s a scheme in which has consultants taking part along with experts, coaches from around the world, former players, former coaches and former directors of football

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

 

 

In conjunction with the development of facilities and as part of the talent detection process, the  Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) is also in schools, trying to close the net as tight as it can and make sure that no potentially gifted individuals slip through it.

“We’ve embarked on a sports studies programme with the Ministry of National Education to create school structures across the country that can accommodate boys and girls who play football all the time, offering them a timetable adapted to every level of schooling,” says
Fouzi Lekjaa, President of FRMF.

And based on an innovative study on talent development launched two years ago, the TDS ties in seamlessly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s 2020-2023 Vision: Making Football Truly Global. As part of this second phase and in line with the study’s results, national associations can focus on specific aspects of their development needs.

“By way of example, the idea of football development at school has taken root among CAF member associations,” explained FIFA technical director Steven Martens. “It’s a great idea but a huge challenge too. It involves all the associations and all the countries organising a
regular schools competition that could perhaps lead into international competitions. The most important thing, though, is local activity and giving young people the chance to meet up and play regularly.”

The FIFA Talent Development Scheme (TDS) workshop was recently held in Morocco.

Moreover, the Moroccan Football Association (FRMF) is making great strides in developing the country’s young talent, pointing the way for others to follow; FRMF president points to three key elements: facilities, talent and qualified personnel.

With five FIFA World Cup appearances to its name and a sixth to come at Qatar 2022, a thriving domestic scene and a clutch of clubs regarded as continental heavyweights, and a solid reputation for producing dependable defenders, creative midfielders and stylish forwards, it is no exaggeration to say that Morocco is a hotbed of talent.

It was in this football-loving country that FIFA held a June workshop devoted to the Talent Development Scheme (TDS), which was launched in February 2020 by Arsene Wenger, FIFA Chief of Global Development.

More than 50 development specialists and regional technical advisers attended the Mohammed VI Football Academy to discuss talent development strategies, share best practice, and prepare the ground for the rest of FIFA’s member associations to support the scheme.

FRMF is devoting all its energy to these goals, as its president, Fouzi Lekjaa, made clear in his opening speech at the seminar: “The development of football in Morocco is founded on a triangular approach that should form the basis of the development of any system: facilities, talent and qualified personnel. Along with my colleagues at the FRMF, I am convinced that those three fundamentals have to be in place for the process to develop as it should.”

The FRMF is delivering on its promises, focusing first of all on facilities both nationally and locally. A high point in its development plans came with the 2019 opening of the Mohammed VI
Football Academy, which covers 30 hectares and boasts the latest facilities and equipment – all of it compliant with FIFA standards. The jewel in the crown of Moroccan football, it is one of the biggest and highest-achieving sports academies in the world.

In the meantime, the Moroccan authorities have also been developing local facilities, as Lekjaa revealed: “We have a team overseeing development across the country’s 12 regions, starting with talent detection, with young players attending club academies. That’s why we’ve made such a big effort to make sure clubs have their own academies. The regional academies are the same as the national academy, just smaller. The best players from the regions go to the centre of excellence, which has coaching and medical staff who work with young players spotted in grassroots football and take them up to the next level. That’s the way our development cycle is designed. It starts with talent detection at grassroots level, with that talent then channeling into the clubs, the regional academy and on to the national centre of excellence.”

“Morocco is a young society and our young people have raw talent,” continued the FRMF president, who also said that that the Moroccan climate is ideal for playing football. “We are trying to deliver maximum added value in footballing terms so that we can take that raw talent at the age of ten and allow them to express it and raise their game. The idea is to prepare them for life as professional players and for them to kick on and join clubs.”

The talent is there and the facilities too. All that is needed are qualified people to ensure that potential is harnessed to the full. “If the game is going to develop, we need to have professional staff with the ability to deliver,” added Lekjaa. “That’s the vital link that we’re working on and investing so much of our energy in, all with a view to closing the gap and giving everyone the opportunity to enhance their skills with training delivered by the National Academy at both amateur and professional level.”

As a result, Morocco is leading the way with the Talent Development Scheme, setting an example for others to follow, as FIFA technical director Steven Martens confirmed. “The Moroccan FA is very important for FIFA and football in Africa, not just because of its facilities but because of its programmes, the president’s vision and the quality of its training.”

Convinced that the country’s investments will pay off, Martens added: “I know you are anxious for things to happen and are expecting big results but there is no question that the work Morocco is doing now will yield results in the long term. Those results might even come in the medium term. After all, you staged the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations this year, you have qualified for the 2022 World Cup, and your youth teams are starting to put some excellent performances together.”

Impressed by the welcome they received and the facilities, the workshop’s participants had an ideal setting in which to explore the themes raised. ”As a high-performance specialist involved in the TDS project, I’d like to congratulate the Moroccan FA on its amazing facilities. The association and its president had the vision to build this infrastructure with the aim of developing talented young players,” commented former Portugal striker Nuno Gomes, while ex-France defender Mikael Silvestre hailed the quality of the national academy: “It is outstanding. It’s lush and green, the pitches are ready and the working environment is first class.”

“It’s a huge honour that FIFA has chosen Morocco to organise this workshop,” said FRMF Director of Training Fathi Djamal. “Morocco was selected because of its many facilities and major logistical resources. It was selected because of the excellent reputation it enjoys around the world for organisation. Our country always led the way in that respect, as a sort of football laboratory, and we can do so again.”

According to FIFA, the workshop gave Martens and his team the perfect opportunity to explain the importance of the TDS and FIFA’s development programmes. “The TDS is a scheme designed for everyone. It seeks to give every talented player a chance,” he said. “It’s a scheme in which we have consultants taking part along with experts, coaches from around the world, former players, former coaches and former directors of football. We are here to train the leaders of today and
to prepare them. Some 154 countries have already signed up for the scheme and it is vital that we help each and every one of them at their own level.”


“Thanks to the scheme, we are starting to give a chance to every talented player because we believe that to be in the interests of every national association,” he added. “Every association wants their national team to do well, but there’s a lot more to football development than just a path to the top. You have to make sure players stay in the game and are excited by it.”

In Morocco, that excitement is spreading across the nation, organisers attest.

Thandisizwe · Sport program at schools

 

AFRICAN TECH POWER

#1milliondevsprogram Is Power Learn Project’s Flagship Programme To Train African Techies By 2027

• Ndokwa Reporters
• 7 October 2022
• Enterprenuership, News

Power Learn Project (PLP)

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Goal is to drive transformative change for the youth of Africa through technology skilling

By Thandisizwe MGUDLWA

CAPE TOWN/South Africa: In the 21st century knowledge-based economic system, the wealth of our nations will not be based on what is found beneath the ground; but on what is found between the ears. Startup Business Campus is super excited to partner up with PLP on this exciting high-impact capacity building initiative; that seeks to unlock Africa’s digital economy and create pathways to sustainable prosperity for young people on the continent, says Lucky Litelu, Founder, and CEO of Startup Business Campus and head of Partnerships, Incubation & Investments.

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And at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Power Learn Project (PLP) in partnership with Adanian Labs S.A and the ICRD Group’s Startup Business Campus last month launched the #1MillionDevs4Africa Program in South Africa, in a bid to train 1 Million software developers across the continent by 2027. South Africa is the second country in Africa, after Kenya, to introduce the #1MillionDevs4Africa program. For South Africa to realize the opportunity the 4IR (4th Industrial Revolution) offers, it is imperative that the current tech capacity gap is addressed.

Moreover, in accordance with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to a “skills revolution”, PLP in partnership with Startup Business Campus, one of South Africa’s leading entrepreneurial investment hubs, are looking to build a large talent pool that are ready to build local solutions that scale globally, support the local and global tech industry, provide employment for young people, and solve pertinent local challenges. And launched in 2022 in Kenya, PLP is a Pan African impact organization with a vision of driving transformative change for the youth in Africa by empowering them with relevant technology capacity through the provision of quality, affordable and decentralized tech training. The transfer of skills, skills development, and technological capacity have been flagged as critical to developing solutions for unemployment and underemployment in South Africa, and Africa as a whole.

“Our goal is to drive transformative change for the youth of Africa through technology skilling. The program will offer online junior software development training, consisting of curated programming languages as well as a soft skills component in employability, entrepreneurship, and their mental well-being with our health partner AfyaRekod in order to enable the learners to not only acquire entry level smart technology jobs but to also be wholesome members of the community.

Through support from partners, the course will be covered on full scholarships, so the learners’ only concern is to learn and absorb as much as they can, as they prepare to navigate the digital revolution with us,” says Mumbi Ndung’u, Chief, Growth & Operations Officer for Power Learn Project.

“Upon completion of the course, learners will have access to a number of opportunities and alternative educational pathways through the organization, ranging from internships and proof of work opportunities or venture studio and incubator connections if they want to explore entrepreneurship,” states Ndung’u.

According to the PLP, it aims to kickstart software careers with entry level, fully funded training using free data access and a self-paced learning management over a period of 16 weeks. The course ranges from programming languages such as Python and Dart Programming with Flutter to Blockchain 101, Databases, Data Science, and Entrepreneurial skills. The learners will then have opportunities for hands-on practical experience through a proof of work module.

In addition, learners will earn a certificate upon successful completion of the course and join a community of young skilled Africans ready to take on digital opportunities. They will also be equipped with life skills such as financial literacy, Health and Well-being with our partner AfyaRekod, who will provide them access to their mental health data and support when in need among many more. These will help them navigate the fast paced evolving world as productive members of society.

“We are all working towards the Pan African dream of building relevant capacity to extract value from the fourth industrial revolution. We invite our partners and especially our learners from across Africa, to join us on this journey of transformation,” says John Kamara, chairman of the Power Learn Project board.

Furthermore, in the pilot phase of the South African programme, PLP aims to train 1000 software developers in South Africa over a period of four months. Over the next few months PLP is looking to launch four more pilot countries; Zambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda & Rwanda, with West and North Africa, envisioned for phase 2 of the programme. The scholarship program is officially accepting applications as of 1st September 2022.

SMART YOUTH POWER

WiseYouth: Do Africa and its youth need another AU project?

 

WORLD

By Virginia Abernethy On Jun 19, 2022

 

The African Union (AU) has started another youth initiative to advance peace. WiseYouth was endorsed in February by state leaders and will create a network of practitioners under 35 years to join AU conflict prevention and mediation processes.

At face value, WiseYouth shows the AU’s commitment to dealing with youth grievances about their exclusion from peacebuilding processes. If done right, it could draw more young people into election observation, conflict mediation and dialogue. But will it be fully resourced and implemented, and can it help resolve Africa’s violent conflicts?

The initiative is intended to enhance inclusion and participation at a continental level, but there is no guarantee that it will do the same at the country level. In the past, similar projects such as FemWise Africa have barely induced action among African states. They have also struggled to overcome problems of limited financing and participation by the AU.

Nonetheless, WiseYouth could carve a niche for itself and stand out among the other similar AU youth initiatives. Membership will comprise youth with skills and experience who can initiate and sustain peace and security work. WiseYouth could draw young people into AU plans to guard democratic values, especially in the face of increasing coups and unconstitutional changes of government.

The job will mean working not just with the AU but also at the regional level. Africa’s regional economic communities must extend the WiseYouth initiative to their member countries. This will require allocating more resources and capacity to youth issues. Some regional blocs like the Southern African Development Community have yet to establish projects bigger than a youth desk in their secretariat.

WiseYouth should take lessons from other AU attempts to mainstream young people into governance and security processes. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Network has existed since 2019 and has succeeded in getting youth input ahead of country reviews. The APRM has also consulted and documented vital youth-related issues. The African Governance Architecture of the AU Commission has done the same via its annual youth gatherings.

The AU must learn from these initiatives to plan a roadmap for WiseYouth. In particular, the latest project must achieve more – both for young people and for stability in Africa – than convening meetings and drafting documents.

Lessons from other AU Commission initiatives such as the Panel of the Wise and its subsidiary, FemWise-Africa, are also worth considering. Both comprise conflict prevention experts deployed by the AU to support peace efforts across the continent. Although endorsed by the AU, they still struggle for equal representation and effectiveness.

WiseYouth is intended to be a continent-wide mechanism whose members represent all five of the AU’s geographical regions. AU Commission youth leaders have short-term contracts to ensure opportunities for as many young leaders as possible. This should be adapted to enable a regional rotation to retain skilled young peacebuilders.

Four steps can ensure that WiseYouth’s goal of sustainable and inclusive youth participation in AU peace and governance efforts is achieved.

First, when WiseYouth is operational, the AU Commission should make funds available to ensure its members are present when peace and security issues are discussed and acted upon. New initiatives in the AU continue to be underfunded. A recent example is the Youth Envoy’s Office which, now with its second envoy in place, lacks the funding and technical backing to represent youth effectively.

Second, WiseYouth could bring together the best personnel in the AU Commission’s growing Youth 4 Peace Africa network. The network of young peacebuilders has been built up over the past four years and includes youth already active in their communities. They should be given a chance to be part of this new venture. The first African Youth Ambassadors for Peace cohort finished their terms in February, and their skills should also be used.

Third, the AU must urge African states to increase youth participation in conflict prevention. This will enable WiseYouth to grow deep roots across the continent and capitalise on the vast potential of young people.

Last, WiseYouth has timing on its side. Young people are increasingly playing a role in the AU system, with a Youth Envoy and a string of ambassadorial positions rotationally filled with youth leaders.

Rather than being seen as another ceremonial initiative, a well-planned campaign is needed to show countries the value of WiseYouth for Africa’s stability. Although the impact of conflict remains devastating, excluding the youth worsens the consequences of crises.

Muneinazvo Kujeke, Research Officer, Training for Peace, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

This article is published as part of the Training for Peace Program (TfP), funded by the government of Norway.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).