As part of a youth consultation process, ACCORD participated in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Youth Network workshop, which aimed to gain insight from youth leaders and provide inputs on APRM youth processes and programmes. The workshop took place on 9 November 2022 and brought together representatives of National Youth Councils, Think Tanks, Civil Society Organisations, and the African Union (AU) sister Organisations. Mr. Adam Randera, Programme Officer; Ms. Thokozile Nkgadima, Programme Administrator; and Nkanyiso Simelane, Programmes Intern represented ACCORD at the workshop.
In his welcoming remarks, Prof Eddy Maloka, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of the APRM Continental Secretariat, emphasized the APRM’s continued commitment to youth mainstreaming by providing platforms for meaningful youth participation in governance institutions. Mr. Lennon Monyae, APRM Researcher & Youth Liaison Officer, provided an overview of key programmes, while Adv. Batlokoa Makong, APRM Chief of Staff, spoke on the 3rd African Governance Report that assesses the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government. Furthermore, he discussed the migration challenges and the Africa Summit on Migration and the link with youth having a role in migration governance and solutions.
The youth leaders discussed the implementation of the outcomes from the 3rd APRM Youth Symposium which took place from 4-9 July 2022 in Uganda, and planning for the 4th Symposium taking place next year with Namibia proposed as the host nation. The participants emphasised the need for a more structured plan for youth integration in governance & leadership on the continent. As plans for the 20th APRM anniversary celebrations are being finalized, youth are seen as key in advancing democracy, good governance and generating solutions to the challenges facing the African continent in the next two decades of the APRM’s work.
ACCORD recognizes youth as a key constituency in addressing complex conflicts. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity to identify the ways in which ACCORD can enhance youth’s role in preventing, mitigating, and resolving conflicts.
