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Declaration of 1st Conference of IGAD Ministers in Charge of Youth on Adoption and Implementation of IGAD Youth Policy Framework

By September 27, 2023October 8th, 2023No Comments

September 27, 2023 (NAIROBI, Kenya): The IGAD Ministers in Charge of Youth held its First Conference on Youth on the 27th of September 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the chairpersonship of H.E Dr. Hibo Moumin Assoweh, Minister of Youth and Culture of the Republic of the Djibouti and Chairperson of the IGAD Ministers of Youth, to adopt The IGAD Youth Policy Framework.

The meeting was attended by Hon. Ababu Namwamba, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts of the Republic of Kenya; H.E. Mohamed Bare Mohamud, Minister for Youth and Sports of the Federal Republic of Somalia; Hon. Dr. Abilno Bol Dhieu Bol, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of South Sudan; Hon. Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi, Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs of the Republic of Uganda; H.E. Rahma Saleh Al-Obeid Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Djibouti, representing Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Sudan and Mrs. Banchu Mulgeta, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Participation in the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, representing the Minister of Women and Social Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Also in attendance were Fathia Alwan, Director of Health and Social Development Division representing H.E. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD; and representatives from the core partners supporting the development of the IGAD Youth Policy: Save the Children International and Horn of Africa Youth Network as well as the youth-led organisations

The Ministers:

Recalling relevant national, regional and international youth strategies, frameworks and initiatives, notably the Continental Framework for Youth, Peace, and Security; Africa Agenda 2063; the African Youth Charter; Youth 2030; the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); the UN Youth Strategy; United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015) on Youth, Peace, and Security, as well as other relevant initiatives.

  1. Guided by the African Youth Charter, which entered into force on 8th August 2009;
  1. Noting the importance of the youth, who comprise more than 60% of the IGAD region’s population and who require inter alia, access to education, skills training and professional development;
  1. Reaffirming our collective responsibility to ensure that youth are at the centre of all policy formulations, get the necessary attention, and are provided with opportunities to participate in leadership in their respective countries and the region;
  1. Recognising the value of meaningful youth engagement and inclusion in the political processes, peace and security and socio-economic development in their respective countries and the region;
  1. Deeply concerned by the unprecedented high youth unemployment rates and underscoring the need to have youth-friendly policies that promote economic development for youth and address the root causes of irregular migration;
  1. Alarmed by the continuing displacement due to the impact of conflict and climate change on the youth in the IGAD region and the implications this has on their aspirations and their contributions to the development of their societies and the countries;
  1. Commend the four member states that have developed national youth policies and urge remaining countries to accelerate the development of the national youth policies;
  1. Further commend the three member states that have developed national youth councils and urgeremaining countries to accelerate the establishment of national youth councils;
  1. Recognising the importance of the engagement of the private sector in capacity development and skilling of the youth population, addressing the gender dynamics and youth living with disabilities and enhancing their role in providing employment opportunities;
  1. Recognise the contribution of youth-led organisations, civil society organisations and regional youth networks;

We hereby solemnly declare as follows:

  1. Adopt the IGAD Youth Policy Framework, taking into consideration the inputs and recommendations of the technical experts meeting and commit to domestication and operationalisation of the IGAD youth policy at regional and national levels;
  1. Endorse the recommendations of the High-Level Technical Experts Meeting on the development of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework held from 25th to 26th September 2023 in Nairobi and commit to accelerate the implementation of those recommendations;
  1. Establish IGAD Technical Experts and Ministerial Committees on Youth Affairs as a platform to oversee, follow up, and periodically take stock of the progress of the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework;
  1. A. On the development of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework
  1. Welcome the development of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework and Recognize the strategic partnership between the IGAD Secretariat, Save the Children International and Horn of Africa Youth Network;
  1. Task IGAD Secretariat and its partners to develop a Roadmap and Action Plan for the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework for tabling at the next annual Ministerial Meeting;
  1. Further task IGAD Secretariat to develop a Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning (MERL) framework for tracking the progress of the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy with clear roles and responsibilities for the IGAD Secretariat, member states and other partners;
  1. Appreciate The multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder engagement in the development of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework, including Meaningful Engagement of Youth and Youth-Led Organizations;
  1. B. On the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework 
  1. Commit to accelerate the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework at the national and sub-national level in complete synergy with the relevant national, regional and global frameworks;
  1. Task the IGAD Secretariat to develop a strategy for resource mobilisation for countries to fast-track the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy;
  1. Request IGAD Secretariat to facilitate coordination, capacity building, knowledge sharing and learning among IGAD member states towards the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework;
  1. Commit to engage youth in budgeting and increase domestic resources for the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy and the respective national policies;
  1. Nominate a national focal person from the Ministry in Charge of Youth Affairs from each member state to coordinate with the IGAD Secretariat for the implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework;
  1. Urge IGAD Secretariat to activate the Youth Unit structured under the Social Development Division to coordinate youth affairs internally with IGAD Divisions and Specialised Institutions as well as externally with member states, youth-led organisations and relevant partners;
  1. C. On Partnerships
  1. Call upon development partners, including the International Financial Institutions, to provide support to the IGAD Secretariat and its member states for operationalisation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework;
  1. Task IGAD Secretariat to coordinate and foster international cooperation and partnerships for operationalisation and implementation of the IGAD Youth Policy Framework;

Finally

  1. Thank the People and the Government of the Republic of Kenya for hosting this important Ministerial Meeting;

We commit to remain actively seized of this matter

            Done on this 27th Day of September 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya 

H.E Dr. Hibo Moumin Assoweh,

Minister of Youth and Culture of the Republic of Djibouti

  __________________________

  

Hon. Ababu Namwamba

Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts of the Republic of Kenya

__________________________

  

H.E. Mohamed Bare Mohamud

Minister for Youth and Sports of the Federal Republic of Somalia

________________________

 

H.E. Hon. Dr. Abilno Bol Dhieu Bol,                          

Minister for Youth and Sports of the Republic of South Sudan

__________________________

 

H.E. Hon. Sarah Mateke Nyirabashitsi,                                            

Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs of the Republic of Uganda

 

__________________________

H.E. Amb. Rahama Salih Alobeid,

Ambassador of the Republic of Sudan to Djibouti representing Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Sudan

 

__________________________

Banchu Mulgeta      

Chief Executive Officer of Youth Participation in the Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, representing the Minister of Women and Social Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

                                                                                 

   ___________________________

Download Attached PDF Document Below

Declaration of the Meeting of Ministers in charge of Youths Affairs-Sep 27, 2023

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