November 1st is Africa Youth Day. This date is commemorated every year and was proclaimed on the adoption of the African Youth Charter in Banjul, Gambia in 2006 and it recognizes youth as key agents for Africa’s socio-economic growth and sustainable development.

The African Union Commission Chairperson Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat took opportunity of the day to announce the appointment of Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, a native of Zimbabwe as the next Envoy for Youth.

The creation of the position of the AU Youth Envoy derives from a report of the meeting of the second Specialized Technical Committee on Youth Culture and Sports (STC-YCS 2) and specifically decision 25 thereof which “CALLS for the appointment of an AU Youth Envoy to assist in championing youth development issues in Africa.

Specifically, the mission of the Envoy on Youth is to:

• Be the spokesperson of the African youth before decision-making bodies on the continent.
• Advocate and raise awareness about the implementation of the African Youth Charter among other AU strategies and policies; to share established good practices.
• Generate adequate funding for advocacy efforts through strategic partnerships
• Encourage AU Member States to define and implement national, regional and continental policies on the youth.
• Advocate for better youth mainstreaming in decision-making and promote African values across the continent and beyond.
• Coordinate AU efforts for the youth and reconcile the various AU initiatives of the African Union to the expectations and needs of the youth.

The mission of the AU Youth Envoy focuses on 4 priority areas:

1. Inclusive Participation
2. Advocacy
3. Partnerships
4. Harmonization.

Read the statement of the Chairperson on the appointment of Ms Mpemba https://au.int/en/pressreleases/20211101/statement-chairperson-occasion-africa-youth-day