GENDER IS MY AGENDA CAMPAIGN YOUNG WOMEN NETWORK (GYWN)

7^TH YOUTH ADVOCACY TRAINING

Statement By

African Union Special Envoy on Youth Ms Chido on Behalf of AUC Chairperson

I wish to acknowledge the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign Young Women Network and the African Union under the complimenting themes for GIMAC which is, Advancing Women’s Access to Economic Resources to Build Our Continent’s Resilience in Nutrition.’ And for the African Union ,'Building Resilience in Nutrition on the African Continent: Accelerate the Human Capital, Social and Economic Development.'

Based on these two themes and the youth training before us, I believe this is an important topic and priority area to focus on. Food security and nutrition is of great importance on our continent. Additionally, aspiration (1) of Agenda 2063 envisions for a ‘prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development’ noting the critical significance of developing the human capital and building a healthy and well nourished population. For young people, our health , and wellbeing are critical part of our lives. The duty lies on all of us to ensure this is prioritized – as young people we must come to the table and once we are at the table we must use our voices , share our experiences , connect with our peers, learn from one another and be willing to learn from those who came before us.

My role as the AU Youth envoy is mandated to serve as a representative of and advocate for the voices and interests of African

youth. My office engages African Youth on the continent and in the diaspora to draw them towards supporting and promoting positive social change, intergenerational dialogue and concrete action for Africa’s development as underscored in Agenda 2063. Now three months into my appointment with aspirations and goals for young people, I envision this office as a Pan-African collaborative movement, mainstreaming youth activities and advocacy for the implementation of progressive policies and impactful actions that promote youth participation, engagement and leadership towards the realization of transformation across the continent.

It is my duty as the Youth Envoy speaking today at this event to ensure that my office promotes and provides spaces for young people to play a key role in the building of resilience in nutrition on the African Continent.

Women play an integral role in the nutrition, diets and access to food of their families and therefore statistics prove that the more women are economically dependent, the better equipped and educated they are to provide and take care of their families ensuring healthy citizens on the continent, but most importantly healthy children.

The economic and social empowerment and emancipation of women will lead to Africa being more food secure. Not only will that but the equipping of young women secure the destinies and lives of the future generations to come. Partnerships will be key in order to achieve this, with various NGOs, CSOs, Youth organisations and more.

I encourage young people to take the lead in lobbying, advocacy, innovation and participation in dialogue such as these, to achieve the Africa We Want. Let us turn our goals into action together, I believe that together we can achieve more. I am also looking to design campaigns that are favorable towards this, and at initial stage currently taking time to listen to each and every voice through one on one dialogue, focus groups, participation in workshops such as these, as part of my listening tour and public consultations to shape up an action plan that is represents my peers and fellow young leaders. I encourage young people to continue exploring pathways to champion initiatives that can better serve their communities and for our leaders to empower and enable them to do so.

As a young woman myself, given this huge responsibility to represent the youth, I aim to ensure that young women's voices are in the forefront

when it comes to issues of nutrition on the continent and to give them a platform through my office.

Let me conclude by extending my warm appreciation to the Gender Is My Agenda Campaign Network and all partners present here today who have facilitated this important conversation. Most importantly to the participants, I hope you have a successful and enlightening discussion, you commit to sharing impactful initiatives and that we can work together to achieve the same goal. I wish us fruitful deliberations and a successful outcome from this workshop.

I Thank you.