African-German Youth Initiative

The Human Resources, Science and Technology department (HRST) is hosting a three day introductory and planning workshop on the African-German Youth Initiative. The workshops aim is to clarify mutual expectations, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders. The African-German Youth Initiative (AGYI) is a multi-lateral initiative of the African Union Commission and the German Government aimed at enhancing youth exchange and mobility between African countries and Germany in the context of education for sustainable development. The intention is to contribute to the development of essential competencies and skills in young people from African countries and from Germany in view of a ´global citizenship´.

The AGYI will contribute to furthering the visions and objectives of Agenda 2063, the African Youth Charter (Art. 10/11), the African Youth Decade Plan of Action 2009-2018, and of regional and national youth policies in African countries for youth empowerment and development. It will also contribute on a global level to building on and strengthening global partnerships (as expressed in the SDG 2030 Agenda, Goal 17)

Speaking at the opening Dr. Birgit Pickel spoke on the importance of youth exchange, being the right way to invest in young people — “we need young people to make all these global agendas happen”.

Dr. Beatrice Njenga, Acting Head of the Youth Division presented on Youth Policies, highlighting the AU Agenda 2063 at the African level and the SDGs at the global level. Accordingly she emphasised the importance of these strategies in implementing youth policies. She also spoke of the importance of young people being empowered and the opportunity on reaping the demographic dividend.

The initiative will be launched in June in Germany.