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The AFS Forum 2024 underscored and reaffirmed the fundamental importance of food systems, and the critical situation faced by the food and agriculture sectors on this continent. Under the theme “Innovate, Accelerate, and Scale: Delivering Food Systems Transformation in a Digital and Climate Era”, it set out to launch Africa’s food systems into a transformative era based on sustainability and resilience.
The Africa Youth Forum, held on 15th August 2024 at the United Nations Office in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together a diverse assembly of 382 delegates, including leaders, policymakers, youth advocates, and other stakeholders, to explore and advance youth-led solutions for transformative change. The forum was attended by representatives from all 47 Kenyan counties and 6 African countries—Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. Notably, 72% of the delegates were between the ages of 18 and 35, and 42% of the delegates were women, highlighting the forum's commitment to inclusivity and gender representation. The event centered around breaking barriers and amplifying youth voices through constructive dialogue, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development.
The Youth Café has been working with partners to produce research relevant to young people such as the more recent Covid-19 impact on youth in partnership with University of Sussex. How do you see youth-led research impacting youth development in a way the more “traditional” research doesn’t?
The meeting assessed the implementation of the ICGLR Heads of State and Government Declaration on Youth Unemployment and the Pact on Security, Stability and development. Further, it looked at ways of developing the ICGLR Regional Action Plan on UNSC Resolution 2250 on Youth, Peace and Security as adopted by the ICGLR Heads of State and Government during their 8th Ordinary Summit held on 20th November 2020. The meeting also received presentations on the UNSCR 1325 process for peer learning. This came on the heels of a developments in the region, including elections in the Republic of Burundi, Tanzania and Central Africa Republic.
The conference is jointly organized by the African Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Development Programme, on the theme “Jobs, Entrepreneurship and Capacity Development for African Youths,” The topic aligns with the sustainable development goals on ‘inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all’.
