Empowering Youth in the Information Society

The African Regional Preparatory Conference for the WSIS

Break out Session
30-31 January 2005

Background

The median age of the African population is less than 20, yet many young people are disillusioned by the protracted political and economic crises afflicting the continent. Today's youth will one day be leaders in society making decisions that will have enormous impact. They have many assets, talents, and resources to offer. The challenge is to mobilize their energies and to adapt ICT policies and strategies so that they feel included and represented.

The importance of Youth in building the Information Society in Africa has been addressed by the African Information Society Initiative (AISI), the Action Plan of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva, the First African Development Forum ADF, held in 1999 and the Third Committee on Development Information (CODI III).

With this background, the Development Information Services Division of the Economic Commission for Africa conducted an electronic discussion aimed at creating a forum for African youth to share experiences and knowledge in order to help develop innovative approaches to their needs and to establish a dialogue with a range of stakeholders on the implementation of the WSIS Action Plan at country and regional levels.

The overall objective of the forum is to empower and involve Youth in the implementation process and establish Africa's Youth as a major partner in the information society. In order to guarantee the success of this process, a conducive ICT framework and capacity-building activities will be needed.

1. Youth and WSIS

The second phase of the Summit presents a unique opportunity to consolidate the efforts made by young people during the first phase, while also presenting an opportunity for them to continue implementing the initiatives that have already commenced. These include, but are not limited to, national campaigns, establishment of networks and creation of projects.

The African Regional Preparatory meeting on the second phase of WSIS to be held in Accra is an opportunity for Africa to understand, appreciate and support the role of her youth in the process of bridging Africa's digital divide.

2. Objective

The objective of the Youth Forum to be held in Accra is to discuss issues surrounding the various roles of Youth in the Information Society and the road map to Tunis.

The following questions will be raised and responded to through various presentations:

What can youth bring to Africa's table in her bid to "jump onto' the fast-moving Information Society train? What more does Africa need to do in order to get the best out of her youth? What kinds of mechanisms can be established for their sustained involvement in the process of building the Information Society?

3 Expected Outcomes

In line with the above-mentioned objectives, the following outcomes are expected:

a) Creation of a Network for the youth so as to focus on their role in the Information Society;

b) Development of concrete proposals for the operationalization of the Network beyond Accra; and

c) Formulate the Network's work programme.

4. Participation

Approximately fifty participants are expected.

5. Content

a) ICT Policy and Strategy for socio-economic Development and WSIS Action Plan

This session will focus on the African Information Society Initiative (AISI) - an ICT led socio-economic development framework adopted in 1996 to create effective digital opportunities to be developed by Africans and their partners. African countries have since used this Action Plan to speed their entry into the information and knowledge global economy. ECA's work programme in "Harnessing Information for Development" is based on the AISI. The presentation will also focus major actions of the first phase of the WSIS and the role of Youth.

b) ICT to promote Youth Employment - Best examples practices in Africa

This session will address how new technologies can be used to unleash creativity and innovation among the young people and what is needed for business, government, NGO's, and the international community for setting up more appropriate ICT environments for young people in order to prepare them to play a critical role in the global society. The session will also focus on education and training strategies for young people on ICTs so as to have an IT-literate generation prepared to face the challenges of employment and of the Information economy. Participants will present country cases studies on ICT to promote Youth employment.

c) Empowering Youth to create digital opportunities

The role of youth in leading and pioneering ICT initiatives in countries such as India and Malaysia is well known. There are also initiatives currently underway in some countries to support youth entrepreneurship in ICTs. This session will focus on the following key questions:

1. How can the experiences of other regions can be replicated in Africa?

2. How adequately prepared are African countries to address these challenges?

3. What are the financing schemes that can promote incubation, start-ups, SMMEs and SMEs?

d) Building Africa Youth Network for ICT4D

ICTs as a tool for development need to be mainstreamed in all development sectors. To ensure Youth voices and strengthen the integration of their causes in these sectors, an ICT conducive framework needs to be established. A Youth ICT-4D Network is an ideal framework for bringing together Youth at national, sub-regional and continental levels to discuss and establish policies and strategies for building an inclusive information Society. This session will present the objectives, structure and proposed by-laws of the network.