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Youth Caucus on the CFA Consultation Document
10 – 11 January 2005
“There can never be development in Africa without the development of the Youth.”
Preamble
We the youth from Southern Africa gathered in Pretoria, South Africa from the 9th
to the 11th of January 2005. On the occasion of CFA youth consultative meeting, organised by Southern African Regional Poverty Network (SARPN) in partnership with the SADC Youth Movement. We are highly excited about the CFA initiatives, intentions and objectives it aims to achieve. We are grateful towards the UK government in particular the Prime Minister Tony Blair for the CFA initiative; that seeks to mobilise the G8 and the EU to intensify aid for Africa’s development.
However, we are disappointed in the composition of the commissioners since it lacks adequate youth representation therefore reducing the youth agenda in the initiative. We are concerned that the CFA agenda may change the focus of global institutions such as G8 (for a new agenda for Africa).
We therefore request assurance that the commission will consolidate existing structures and programmes for development in Africa such as NEPAD.
In our meeting we resolved the following.
Governance
We agreed that the notion of good governance and democracy is the center stage for development. Hence we recommend that the G8 should support the strengthening of government institutions in Africa thus ensuring on-going stakeholder participation, particularly the youth of Africa. We further resolved that the G8 should engage the African Union (AU) for the speedy ratification and implementation of internal agreed legal instruments such as the World Programme of Action signed during the 1995-2000 period.
Youth Empowerment
We recognise that youth empowerment is an integral part of Africa’s development, and therefore recommend that the G8 should support youth organisations in their endeavors to implement development programmes through micro financing, youth entrepreneurship and leadership skills. We further call for the implementation of National Action plans for youth employment as agreed by International Labour Organisations.
HIV/AIDS & Other related diseases
We are aware that HIV/AIDS has the most devastating effects on young people in Africa than any other sector in African society. What also concerns us is the lack of change in behavior among the African youth. We therefore strongly advise that the funding of HIV/AIDS should be integrated with comprehensive sexual and reproductive health programmes. Therefore the G8 should be committed to their pledge to global fund for HIV/Aids and ensure that young people have access to the resources through recreation of a global fund for the youth.
Education and Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s)
We have noted that education is the corner stone for Africa’s development and prerequisite for the achievement of the MDG’s. We therefore call the G8 to support education in Africa and thus ensuring that the Dakar declaration on education for all in particular the girl child is realised.
We further call for the G8 to recommit themselves in the realisation of the MGD’s in Africa.
Gender
We have noted with concern about gender inequality in Africa and therefore recommend that the G8 should support existing initiatives of mainstreaming of gender in Africa and encourage initiatives which allow full participation for young women.
Trade and Investment
We have noted the disparities in global trade and finance between Africa and the developed nations. We call on the G8 for the transformation of global institutions in particular WTO, IMF and World Bank.
We further call for fair trade and removal of heavy subsidies in the Agricultural sector and call for effective foreign direct investment that promotes skill transfer, ownership and trade of tertiary products.
We call for reparations and 100% total debt relief with immediate effect.
Ownership
We have resolved that ownership of Africa’s development by Africans is crucial and call on the G8 to ensure full participation of AU in development and conceptualisation of programmes. Further we recognise that the development of Africa requires effective institutions that promote mass based participation. We call on the EU and the G8 to support and strengthen institutions such as
Economic Cultural Social Council (ECSOC) of the AU, conference on stability, security defence and co-operation as a mechanism for ensuring mass-based participation. We also call for the support of the African Youth Parliamentary Forum as an organ of young MP’s.
Culture
Culture is an integral component of Africa’s identity and we recommend that we promote fair culture that does not discriminate.
Peace & Security
We note that armed conflicts and political instability are reversing development and growth in Africa. We call on the G8 to support the strengthening of the Peace and Security Council of the AU and a global response to child soldiers.
Environmental and Natural Resources
We note that the environment and sustainable use of natural resources are crucial for Africa’s development and therefore call on he G8 to support the Commission for Sustainable Development and the Implementation of Johannesburg WSSD Plan of Action.
Corruption
We recognize that corruption causes heavy losses to national wealth and hinders development, therefore we call on the G* to support accountability, transparency and effective monitoring systems.
Civil Society
We recognize civil society as an important stakeholder on Africa’s development and we call on the G8 to continue supporting CSO’s and particular youth organizations. Thus recognizing youth organizations as institutions of development.
Conclusion
We wish to thank SARPN and its members of staff and indeed the Commission for Africa for giving us an opportunity to contribute to this important process for African. As the SADC youth movement and its member organizations, we are inspired by the recognisation from SARPN and the Commission for Africa. In conclusion we call for the extension of the term for at least a year for a recourse
and evaluation of the outcomes of G8 and EU.
Participants List
| Name |
Organisation |
Contact Details |
| Edford G. Mutuma |
Youth Vision Botswana |
Tel: 09267 3170961 / 09267 7188817
E-mail: edfordm@yahoo.com |
| Mabanlza Lomo |
SADC YM Secretariat |
E-mail: sadcyouth@yahoo.com / lomomabandla@yahoo.com |
| Armstrong Kraai |
SADC YM Secretariat |
Tel: 27731443750
E-mail: sadcyouth@yahoo.com |
| Hoolo Nyane |
Lesotho Youth Federation |
Tel: 266 58773320
E-mail: hnyane@yahoo.co.uk |
| Emmanuel Murwisi |
Tidal Thought Network |
Tel: 263 91904940
E-mail: emmanuel@tidalthought.org |
| Muzwakhe Alfred Sighundla |
SADC YM Secretariat |
Tel: 2772 4440507
E-mail: sadcyouth@yahoo.com |
| James Mwenda |
True Christian Youth Outreach/NYDC |
Tel: 260 1 231957 / 260 96 754359
E-mail: tcyoz@yahoo.com |
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