African Youth Propose the Creation of "African Youth SDGs Fund"

In September 2017 the United Nations celebrated two years of the SDGs and since the adoption of a global agenda of this nature, there have been a lot of movements around the Goals as well as awareness creation. If you look at how ambitious the Goals are, it becomes very clear that there are more to be done at all levels and such responsibility is a collective one. In fact, the SDGs has a principle of leaving no one behind with much emphasis on persons living with disability, young people and women.

Again, there is a growing global interest in enabling youth participation in decision-making at all levels.

According to the African Youth Decade Plan of Action, May 2011, over 60% of Africa's population are young men and women under the age 35. Clearly, a new emergent and integrated Africa can be fully realized only if its demographic advantage, “large population of youth”, is mobilized and equipped to help drive Africa’s integration, peace and development agenda.

The maiden African Youth SDGs Summit was held in Accra, Ghana on the 1st & 2nd November 2017 under the theme "Youth as Drivers of Sustainable Development" which brought together 423 participants from 25 countries across Africa, Europe and America. The Summit is envisaged to be an annual and country rotational event aimed at elevating the African youth voices and to create a community of purpose for co-generation of ideas and awareness on the SDGs and Agenda 2063 whiles exchanging knowledge, best practices and innovative solutions to achieving these international development framework.

The summit Outcome Communique outlines the key issues identified during the various plenary and concurrent sessions. One major issue highlighted in the Communique is the proposal to set up the African Youth SDGs Fund. In section 1, C under the topic " African Youth, Governance and Participation", it clearly states that

A critical barrier to the participation of the youth and the management of youth-led organizations is resource mobilization and sustainability. We propose to set up African Youth SDGs Fund to finance and propel youth development on the continent."

This an interesting but also very critical proposal that needs to be discussed deeply with all relevant stakeholders to ascertain the structure of the fund as well as how the fund shall operate. Recognizing their collective power and the civic duty, the African Youth pledged to take action now in fulfillment of the key issues in the communique in order to "Create the Africa We Want". The African Youth again resolved to engage with governments, development partners, including United Nations agencies, and other stakeholders to ensure the full attainment of their joint aspirations as captured in the communique and also set up a committee to develop the framework for the African Youth SDGs Fund.

It is very important to note that this summit was hosted by Youth Advocates Ghana, Ako Foundation and the 2030 Youth Alliance with support from UNDP Ghana.

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