AFLI’s Project Pakati has partnered with the African Union Office of the Youth Envoy on the Joint Youth Inclusion Project. The African Union Youth Envoy, Aya Chebbi, was appointed by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in 2018, with a mandate to serve as a representative of and advocate for the voices and interests of African youth to relevant AU decision-making bodies. Aya Chebbi is an award-winning Pan-African feminist and the youngest diplomat in the African Union Commission Chairperson’s Cabinet.

This partnership will advocate for best practices in terms of policies and actioning youth inclusivity in African governance and build on the AU African Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment (APAYE) and Status of Africa Youth Report.

Guided by the Youth Charter, the African Charter on Public Service and Administration, the African Union Office of the Youth Envoy (OYE) 2019/20 Action Plan and Agenda 2063, AFLI’s Project Pakati supports the AU Youth Envoy’s belief that “it is inevitable today for our generation to own our voices, occupy leadership positions and lead our continent to where she deserves to be.’’ Like the AU OYE, Project Pakati also wishes to: “inspire impactful actions; reinforce the implementation of progressive policies and projects including African Youth Charter, African Youth Development Fund, etc.; and, promote agency, participation and accountability.”

Through this partnership we co-hosted a two-day workshop entitled Greater Inclusion of African Youth in Public Service: A Workshop for Progressive Reforms and How Best to Achieve Them from 4- 5 May 2020. This high-level workshop facilitated an intergenerational and pan-African conversation with policymakers, experts, stakeholders and young people in office about the importance of co-creation and co-ownership of governance and state leadership. The outcomes of which will be published in a report.