Seminar: Youth Democratic Engagement in Africa – What works? (København)

• How versed are you with the topic of African youths and democratic participation?

• Why is it relevant to talk about youth democratic engagement within the African context?

• Is it possible if at all for African youths, to draw a pattern of practices that have positively contributed to strengthening their democratic engagement in their local communities?

These and related questions are an everyday reality in the global discourse on international development, and of course the wish for functional democracy in Africa. And although the debate has been on for over 100 years of development funding to democratize Africa, there continues to be a disequilibrium among who decides policies, who the majority segment of the population is, and who the burden incidence of the continent’s future social-economic development falls to.

Indeed, while the world is faced with the largest number of youths in history where over half of the world’s population is under 35 years (UNFP, 2014), nine out of ten of these youths live in developing countries, and more than 60% of these find themselves in Sub Saharan Africa.

In fact, by 2050, it is postulated that one out of every three young people will be African (UN Concise, 2014, Bloom, 2012). With this demographic power, one should expect the continent to have youths in the driving seat of its development, as well as policies that support this positioning. However, despite progress on many levels, thanks to young people’s continuous push for democratic changes to enable them be involved in designing, implementation and monitoring of policies that affect them, there remains limitation in their participation (DFID, 2016). Youths continue to be perceived as mere policy receivers, and not as active participants in decisions that affect them (ADB, 2018).

But how long should this continue? Or how can we put a sustainable end to it?

This is an invitation from Crossing Borders to an afternoon of tales from the field, inspirations, discussions and debates about the topic of youths and young people in general, regarding their place and space within policy making and influence in their local communities in Africa.

We take inspiration from four social-development activists, namely:

1. Ms. Camilla Olesen from 100% for The Children Denmark,

2. Mr. Peniel Rwendeire from Uganda Youth Network (UYONET) in Uganda,

3. Mr. Samora Nkomo from the University of Botswana and Democracy facility in-charge at My Age Zimbabwe Trust (MAZ) from Zimbabwe,

4. Mr. Zach Khadudu an Journalist and Human Rights activist, with wide youth work and policy knowledge around Kenya his birth place.

The afternoon is structured to start with an information session where selected speakers will tell the story of how they work in engaging young people in Africa around participatory policy participation and democracy. The second session will then lead into a discussion and debate session on what we see as working well, and what works as detrimental to this process.

The event is relevant to all stakeholders of development – no matter your angle, as policy engagement and influence in favour of the population of tomorrow if not today is all round central to a 360-degree success in our work. Policy makers, Academics and researchers will gain from grounded perspectives on current trends in youth engagement, and an opportunity to delve into more specific details during the discussions. The general public will gain first hand updates on what the world of youth participation in Sub Saharan Africa looks like, and what could be relevant for a more empowering future. We look forward to hosting you.

Signup information:

Write to: [email protected]

Signup through: http://crossingborders.dk/event/youth-democratic-engagement

Sign up is possible until 12:00 o’clock on March 27, 2019

Youth Democratic Engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa:

Highlights from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe

Programme

15:00: Arrival and registration

15:15: Opening remarks Crossing Borders

15:30: Perspectives from Uganda by Mr. Peniel Rwendeire of Uganda Youth Network (UYONET)

15:45: Perspectives from Zimbabwe by Mr. Samora Nkomo of My Age Zimbabwe Trust (MAZ)

16:00: Perspectives from working with young people as agents for change by Ms. Camilla from 100% for The Children, Denmark

16:15: Perspectives from International Human rights and development activist Zach Khadudu (Kenya & Denmark)

16:30: Short Break

16:40: Panel discussion – What has worked & what hasn’t?

17:30: Rounding off and closing remarks

17:45: Reception and networking