AfCFTA Youth Symposium Fuels African Trade Advancements

Lusaka, Zambia is gearing up to host the inaugural AfCFTA Youth Symposium from August 21st to 23rd, 2023, under the resonating theme “Igniting the Future for Youth in Trade.”

The symposium holds a unique promise for Africa’s young generation, who represent the continent’s largest demographic group. With over 60% of Africa’s population under the age of 25 and projections indicating a doubling by 2050, the event gains paramount importance in shaping the future of the continent.

A Dynamic Platform for Youth Engagement

At its core, the AfCFTA Youth Symposium aims to foster direct interactions between African youth and influential figures such as the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, policymakers, academia, and financial institutions. This platform facilitates the exchange of ideas, particularly focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategies for achieving structural transformation under the AfCFTA regime.

Taking a hybrid approach, the symposium extends its reach to both continental and diaspora-based African youth. The symposium embraces a solution-driven ethos, spotlighting the ingenious and entrepreneurial potential of the continent’s young minds.

Pivotal Objectives

The AfCFTA Youth Symposium sets forth a comprehensive agenda designed to accomplish several key objectives:

1. Deepened Understanding: Enhancing comprehension of AfCFTA’s objectives, principles, and scope among youth involved in trade.
2. Strategic Networking: Creating linkages between young producers, suppliers, potential partners, and investors.
3. Trading Insights: Disseminating information on effective utilization of trading tools under the AfCFTA regime.
4. Amplified Networks: Facilitating connections among youth in trade, forging an interconnected community.
5. Guiding Protocols: The symposium’s outcomes will contribute to shaping the implementation of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.

AfCFTA: Fostering Transformative Change

Beyond its role as a conventional trade agreement, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a monumental initiative rooted in Agenda 2063’s vision for “The Africa We Want.” Functioning as a catalyst for change, AfCFTA transcends trade barriers, stimulating economic growth, and nurturing a unified and prosperous Africa. The creation of a single continental market for goods and services under AfCFTA’s umbrella promises to expedite intra-African trade, bolster regional integration, and cultivate a more resilient African economy.

Youth’s Vital Role

Africa’s youth hold a pivotal role in realizing the potential of AfCFTA:

1. Economic Opportunities and Employment: Fast-tracking AfCFTA implementation opens avenues for economic growth, catalyzing entrepreneurial ventures and generating essential jobs, addressing the continent’s pressing youth unemployment challenge.
2. Empowerment through Entrepreneurship: AfCFTA fosters an environment conducive to entrepreneurship, enabling young entrepreneurs to overcome trade barriers, expand their markets, and achieve faster scaling.
3. Skills Development and Education: The accelerated AfCFTA implementation underscores the need for upskilling and reskilling, aligning education with emerging opportunities.
4. Driving Innovation: AfCFTA’s full realization propels innovation, offering a diverse platform for young African innovators to test and upscale their solutions.
5. Inclusion in Socio-economic Growth: The rapid AfCFTA implementation underscores the commitment to integrating youth into Africa’s socio-economic development processes.

The @AU_YouthEnvoy is excited to participate at the upcoming @AfCFTA Youth Symposium!An opportunity to engage with leaders on the AU theme of the year& learn more on the progress @MeneWamkele
Register to attend: https://t.co/rsfobyvWBM#AfricaYouthLed@AUC_MoussaFaki pic.twitter.com/K5moDFF47N

— AU Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba (@AU_YouthEnvoy) August 5, 2023

Empowering Youth Advocates

Tanatsiwa Dambuza, a Regional Trade Consultant and Co-founder of Zimbabwe Institute of African Integration, lends their voice to the symposium’s significance. Dambuza, an advocate for Youth, Women, and SME inclusion in AfCFTA, underscores the transformative potential of the event, emphasizing the need for youth to actively engage in shaping the future of trade and development in Africa.

Addressing Key Challenges

The symposium addresses vital issues hindering youth involvement in trade and development:

• Limited access to finance, markets, information, skills, and technology.
• Absence of supportive policies, regulations, and institutions bolstering youth entrepreneurship and innovation.
• Lack of representation and voice in decision-making processes affecting trade and development.
• Scarce opportunities for networking, collaboration, and learning from peers and mentors.

Driving Future Momentum

The symposium coincides with the development of the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, currently under negotiation. This protocol aims to address challenges faced by women and youth in trade, promoting an environment conducive to their participation and success within the AfCFTA framework. The symposium provides a dynamic platform for youth to actively contribute to shaping this protocol, ensuring their voices and concerns are central.

The AfCFTA Youth Symposium holds the promise of kindling the potential of Africa’s youth, fueling progress, and empowering the future generation to take the reins of trade and development.