Willice Onyango, the Executive Director of The Youth Cafe has been honored to be one of the speakers at an online event: Democracy In East Africa In The Wake Of The Coronavirus Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities. . Some of the speakers are Former President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan, Former First lady of Mozambique Graca Machel, and Ugandan Political and Human Rights Activist Kifefe Kizza-Besigye among others.

What does the term "next-generation" mean to you and how is this reflected in your work? Is the notion of "future people" something important for the way we think about politics? Who are these future people in your context and why should we think about them?

The Youth Cafe is focusing on, The next generation and Youth inclusion in politics. East Africa is young in democracy and its political institutions are not well established, youth are excluded from important decision-making processes. Governments and policymakers in  East Africa are reluctant to include youth in the formal political systems. What future do the youths want and how can they increase their participation in politics?

The Kofi Annan Foundation, in collaboration with the Society for International Development (SID), with the support of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), will host an online conference on 19-20 November exploring the state of democracy in East Africa in the context of the coronavirus pandemic – what challenges is the region facing and what opportunities could be identified particularly when it comes to protecting voters and protecting the vote?

Conference Programme

CET TIME: THURSDAY 19 NOVEMBER 2020

08.00-08.15: Welcome Remarks: Elhadj As Sy, Kofi Annan Foundation

08.15-08.30: Opening Address

08.30-09.00: Keynote Address: H.E. President Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria and Chair of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation; Graça Machel, International advocate for women’s and children’s rights, former freedom fighter and first Education Minister of Mozambique

09.30-10.30: The state of democracy in East Africa today: All countries in the region have transitioned to multi-party democracy, but most polls show high levels of dissatisfaction with the democratic systems. This is more apparent now in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, where East African countries are experiencing democratic backsliding. What has gone wrong? What can be done to fix it?

11.00-11.45:Are elections giving democracy a bad name? All countries in the region organize regular elections, yet democratic freedoms are in retreat. What is going wrong? What can be done?

12.45-13.45:The guilty party? The role of political parties: Political parties in East Africa have at times been defined more by individuals and ethnic or religious identities, than ideas or institutions. They are also not always very democratic internally. Is this where the problem starts? Can party reform lead to further?

14.15-14.45:Divide and rule? The instrumentalization of identity politics: The instrumentalization of identity politics is polarizing societies and threatening peace across the region. What can be done?

15.15-16.00:Anti-social media? Have the internet and social channels become a threat to democracy? Once championed as tools of democratic participation and expression, social channels are increasingly decried as weapons of disinformation, hate speech, and foreign interference. To what extent is East Africa concerned, and what is the right approach to take? This debate will turn on the recent report of the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age (KACEDDA) and its recommendations.

CET TIME: FRIDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2020

09.00-09.45: Settling electoral disputes – strengthening the judiciary’s hand: The judiciary has a critical role to play in building acceptance and tolerance for democracy in the manner through which it addresses electoral disputes. What is the record so far? What more needs to be done?

10.15-11.00: Civil society, uncivil environment? Civil society in the region is vibrant, but often under attack. It is sometimes politicized. What can be done to protect and support it? What can it do to instigate change?

11.30-12.15:The next generation? Youth inclusion in politics: The median age in Eastern Africa is 18.1 years, yet youth is largely excluded from power. What future do young people want and how can they increase their participation in politics?

13.15-14.00:The sinews of democracy: financing elections and election campaigns: Electoral financing is one of those issues that has a fundamental impact on electoral outcomes, yet one that does not attract much attention or interest. The shadowy networks of local and international interests, which underwrite election campaigns, need to be unmasked and better understood if we are to fully appreciate the role they play in our elections and in potentially distorting democracy.

14.30-15.30:With a little help from my friends: the role of the international community: States have long benefited from international assistance in organizing and financing elections. Political parties and civil society have traditionally set many stores by international support for human rights and democracy, sometimes in vain. What are the limits on the international community, and what can - and should - we expect going forward?

09.00-09.45: Settling electoral disputes – strengthening the judiciary’s hand: The judiciary has a critical role to play in building acceptance and tolerance for democracy in the manner through which it addresses electoral disputes. What is the record so far? What more needs to be done?

10.15-11.00: Civil society, uncivil environment? Civil society in the region is vibrant, but often under attack. It is sometimes politicized. What can be done to protect and support it? What can it do to instigate change?

11.30-12.15:The next generation? Youth inclusion in politics: The median age in Eastern Africa is 18.1 years, yet youth is largely excluded from power. What future do young people want and how can they increase their participation in politics?

13.15-14.00:The sinews of democracy: financing elections and election campaigns: Electoral financing is one of those issues that has a fundamental impact on electoral outcomes, yet one that doesn’t attract much attention or interest. The shadowy networks of local and international interests, which underwrite election campaigns, need to be unmasked and better understood if we are to fully appreciate the role they play in our elections and in potentially distorting democracy.

14.30-15.30:With a little help from my friends: the role of the international community: States have long benefited from international assistance in organizing and financing elections. Political parties and civil society have traditionally set many stores by international support for human rights and democracy, sometimes in vain. What are the limits on the international community, and what can - and should - we expect going forward?

The Youth Cafe has compiled different articles on issues being faced by youths during the COVID-19 pandemic season and solutions on how they can mitigate these issues. To explore more, visit our COVID-19 and Youth Page.

The Youth Café serves as a transformative and empowering force capable of showing ways of bringing Africa and the rest of the world closer in a win-win partnership, improving youth welfare and revitalizing communities.

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