| On September 2nd, 2022, the African Union Commission’s (AUC) Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate invited the Young African Policy Research Hub(YAPORH), through one of our Research Associates, John Austin Ladu, to join the 1st Cluster Meeting of the Women and Youth Financial and Economic Inclusion initiative. The meeting took place during the AfCFTA Conference on Women and Youth in Trade in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania on September 12, 2022. The Cluster Meeting followed the WYFEI 2030 Initiative Stakeholder Engagement Workshop held during the 1st AU SME Forum in Cairo, Egypt from June 27th to July 1st, 2022. The workshop aimed to gain a holistic understanding of scalable models of high-impact initiatives on financial and economic inclusion for women and youth in Africa, validate the WYFEI 2030 Strategy Document with stakeholders, and inaugurate the WYFEI 2030 Clusters. The purpose of the WYFEI Cluster Meeting is to create and validate a governance structure and work plan that supports, harmonizes, and facilitates the implementation of women and youth financial and economic inclusion initiatives and programs across the continent. The Cluster Meeting will also discuss and define functionality, performance, and impact indicators, as well as their implications for the implementation of the WYFEI 2030 Cluster Framework. The Contribution of the Young Africa Policy Research Hub during the event. Young Africa Policy Research Hub made a significant contribution to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area conference held recently. Mr. Mahamba Sebastian Ihonde, a research associate of the Young Africa Policy Research Hub(YAPORH), from Tanzania under the auspices of the Team lead of the International Trade Law and Policy Research of YAPORH, Brendan Chukwuebuka Ugwu, represented the organization during the event. |
| During one of the panel sessions, Mr. Sebastian acknowledged the African Union Commission’s Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate invitation of the Young Africa Policy Research Hub to the cluster meeting. He brought fresh ideas and perspectives to the discussion on the role of African youth in economic development and how they can benefit from the opportunities created by the AFCTA. He emphasized that Young Africa Policy Research Hub is a research-focused organization that aims to promote the participation of young people in policymaking and contribute to the development of evidence-based policies in Africa. One of the organization’s key areas of focus is promoting the participation of women and youth in economic development, particularly in the context of the AfCFTA |
| Mr. Sebastian stressed that Young Africa Policy Research Hub is working towards making the AfCFTA work for women and youth in Africa. The organization conducts research on the challenges and opportunities facing women and youth in the context of the AfCFTA to identify areas where policies can be improved to make the AfCFTA work for these groups. In terms of advocacy and policy engagement, the organization advocates for policies that promote the participation of women and youth in the AfCFTA and engages policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure that the policies that are implemented take into account the needs and aspirations of these groups. To make the AfCFTA work for women and youth, the organization provides capacity building programs in areas such as entrepreneurship, trade, and policy analysis. |
| Mr. Sebastian concluded by stating that Young Africa Policy Research Hub is ready to work with the African Union and AfCFTA state parties to build networks and partnerships that can support the participation of women and youth in the AfCFTA. The organization shares knowledge and best practices on how to make the AfCFTA work for women and youth in Africa, including publishing research reports, organizing workshops and conferences, and engaging with the media to raise awareness about the issues |
Pictures from the event
