UNITED CITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OF AFRICA (UCLGA)

Capacity Building (CB) and Development 

Ref: CB10  Youth in Local Government

Purpose and Description

Despite initiatives undertaken at continental, regional and national levels to reverse the situation, the youth, like women, people with disabilities and other such traditionally disadvantaged groups, remain relatively marginalized from mainstream society in Africa. This marginalization manifests itself in the form of inequalities in income, wealth and power, unemployment and underemployment, vulnerability to various diseases, exposure to violence including gender violence, engaging in armed conflict, extreme poverty and restricted access to information and education. Reasons cited for this marginalization include the alleged low levels of interest and knowledge of political, economic, societal and development issues.

Young people account for more than 50% of Africa’s population. It follows that their marginalization impedes the continent’s chances for sustainable development. This position was emphasized in the African Common Position on Human and Social Development in Africa prepared by the Conference of African Ministers responsible for Human Development in a meeting in Addis Ababa in January 1994 for the World Summit for Social Development held in Copenhagen in 1995. More recently, the African Youth Charter - the first legal framework of action for the African Youth  adopted on 2 July 2006 by the 7th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union held in Banjul, The Gambia - recognizes that “youth are partners, assets and a prerequisite for sustainable development and for the peace and prosperity of Africa with a unique contribution to make to the present and to future development.”

Recent years have seen the emergence of a variety of organized youth structures such as youth parliaments, youth forums, youth movements, national youth councils, municipal junior youth councils, etc. established to ensure effective youth participation in decision-making at continental, regional, national and local levels.   

However, local government, as an integral part of the national governance system and the sphere of government closest to the people, remains timid in terms of contributing to the above process. Thus, through this project, the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA), as the umbrella organization of African cities, towns and villages, seeks to ensure increased, effective youth participation in local governance processes.

Specific activities will involve the following:

1. Establishing an Africa Youth Council
2. Developing a Strategic Framework for Youth Development for local Government
3. Developing and delivering appropriate skills and training programmes, such as Youth Leadership Programmes for Local Government to secure the involvement of youth and their preparation for future local government leadership positions as well as gearing the youth in infrastructure development
4. Experiential training for students as a mechanisms to secure capacity at municipal level
5. Raising awareness among youth on local government issues
6. Identifying barriers to effective youth participation in local governance processes;
7. Promoting and facilitating peer learning and exchange programmes between local youth structures
8. Document and disseminate best practices on youth participation in local governance.
9. Developing guidelines on youth development in municipal infrastructure delivery for vibrant local economies
10. Developing the following Youth Programmes:                                                                                                        - Youth in the City – Involves young people's participation in community and civic  affairs.                                                                                                                                                                    - Sustainable Futures - Involves young people's participation in addressing environmental and social issues.                                                                                                                                                                    -  Youth Employment - Investigates issues around youth employment.
11. Holding Bi-annual Youth Summits to enable young people from the continent to meet and exchange ideas and experiences on their roles and involvement in local government.

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001007/100778eb.pdf   

http://www.africa-union.org/root/UA/Conferences/Mai/HRST/Charter%20english.pdf