Youth empowerment is top on the agenda at the forthcoming African Union Summit scheduled for Equatorial Guinea on 30 June - 1 July.

Other issues for discussion include climate change, food security, economic development and peace in the continent.

Speaking ahead of the Summit, AU Commission chairperson Jean Ping, said youth empowerment is crucial for development, particularly now when the continent is reeling from the civil unrests witnessed in the Arab world and North Africa.

He said the mayhem in North Africa has “confirmed the imperious need to address the legitimate concerns and worries of the youth who are the largest component of our society.”

Available data show a high unemployment rate among African youth in most countries, yet they are the majority and future leaders of tomorrow.

Youths are often marginalized in national development due to policies that do not recognize their role and promote empowerment.

Thus the summit, running under the theme “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development” is expected to come up with lasting solutions to challenges facing the youths.

African leaders are expected to make a commitment to accelerate the implementation of agreed plans of actions that encourage youth empowerment.

These action plans include the African Youth Charter, which was adopted in 2006 to promote the participation of youths and their organizations in the development of policies and initiatives designed to ensure that the views of and aspirations of young people are considered.

To help achieve some of the goals, the AU Commission has since declared 2009-2018 as the Decade for Youth Development to encourage member states to implement policies that promote youth empowerment.

With regard to climate change, Africa is expected to maintain its negotiation position ahead of the climate change talks set for South Africa later this year.

Africa’s positions centres on increased finance, technology and capacity for adaptation and risk management.

At the last climate change conference in Mexico, the global community made a small step towards a global deal after member countries agreed to sign a draft agreement that aims among other things to cut emissions.

Building on this positive outcome and the ongoing negotiations that have been described by climate change experts as “satisfactory” it is expected that the forthcoming conference would produce an international agreement that would address climate change.

On the political front, the leaders are expected to address the unrest in Libya, Somalia and Madagascar.

In terms of food security, the summit is expected to review the situation in the continent and seek ways to ensure that there is adequate food for everyone.

Africa is endowed with vast fertile soils, favourable climate and water basins, which if fully utilized could lead to a green revolution that has the capacity to boost production and improve food security.

With regard to economic development, the summit is expected to strengthen policies that ensure Africa maintains its recovery of the global financial crisis that affected most of the world since 2008.

These strategies include deepening of economic integration to facilitate intra-regional trade among member states.

Prior to the AU Summit, senior and technical officials meet followed by a preparatory meeting of the Council of Ministers.

African leaders meet twice a year to track progress on continental programmes. The first meeting is usually held in January-February while the second is set for June-July.
 

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