Youth involvement vital for Africa's future, speakers note

Addis Ababa, 13 November - The fifth African Development Forum (ADF-V), which gets underway in Addis Ababa later this week, is aimed at giving "meaningful expression" to youth issues in Africa.

Addressing a pre-ADF news conference at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa on Monday, speakers from ECA and the African Union noted that young people were crucial to the continent's future, but their views and aspirations had become marginalized.

ADF-V, which revolves around the theme of "Youth and Leadership in the 21 st Century", will bring young people from the continent face to face with decision makers and other stakeholders for frank exchanges of opinion.

"It will be a very participatory forum," said Josephine Ouedraogo, ECA's acting deputy executive secretary. She noted that a third of participants were young people and they would have extensive input into the consensus statement to be issued at the end of the three-day forum which kicks off on Thursday.

Raymonde Agossou from the African Union told journalists that the forum would popularize the African Youth Charter, adopted by heads of state at the AU summit in Gambia earlier this year.

Both speakers pointed out the impact of past forums, where themes such as Information and Communication Technologies and HIV/AIDS had had a positive influence on national policies across the continent.

"ADF provides an opportunity to exchange ideas and contributes to change," said Ms Ouedraogo. "It has an intellectual impact."

She said policymakers would be enriched by the participation of young people whose input was essential for Africa's development agenda. The aim was to "change the mindset" of decision makers and show them the importance of involving young people in core issues affecting the continent.