Few milestones for the African Union’s Youth agenda
At its midpoint, the Continental Framework for Youth, Peace and Security would benefit from reinvigorated efforts.
The Continental Framework for Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) adopted in June 2020 builds on regional and international efforts and initiatives to promote the role of young people in peace, security and socio-economic development. The foundations of the YPS agenda draw from frameworks such as United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 (2015), the African Youth Charter and other initiatives. The framework’s primary objectives are facilitating and appreciating the efforts of young Africans in peace and security, enhancing partnerships and collaboration and developing youth-led and -centred projects. Building on the momentum of resolution 2250 and the African Union (AU) 2017 theme of the year, the framework aimed to create a comprehensive document to action the YPS agenda in Africa.
The result was the development of the Continental Framework on YPS 10-year implementation plan spanning 2020 to 2029. The plan is a programming tool to achieve activities, outputs and outcomes by 2024 and 2029. It sets out priorities, determines responsibilities and allocates stakeholders and resources for implementation. At its midpoint, it is important to reflect on the framework’s progress, and mitigation of challenges and recommendations for 2025 to 2029.
Framework snapshot
The framework encourages the participation of young men and women in all spectrums of governance, peace and security in Africa. In line with articles 11 and 17 of the African Youth Charter, it has five priorities in line with resolution 2250, namely participation, prevention, protection, partnerships and coordination, and disengagement and reintegration. These cut across and draw from the African Peace and Security Architecture, integrating youth in peace processes from early warning and prevention to post-conflict reconstruction and development.
The framework prioritises participation, prevention, protection, partnerships and reintegration
The framework’s implementation plan outlines 23 indicators for the AUC, regional economic communities (RECs)/regional mechanisms (RMs), member states and youth to enact. Its value-add is an actionable document with detailed indicators for effective YPS programming. However, few targets have been met.
Assessing implementation
Meagre resourcing and a lack of political will and commitment have impeded YPS agenda implementation, with most 2024 targets yet to be achieved. Against outcome 1 –participation, for example, none of the milestones or indicators has been realised, as seen below.
| Key activity |
Target by 2024 |
Lead actors |
Progress |
| Popularisation of and advocacy for national and regional domestication and application of the YPS framework |
40% awareness of the YPS framework by member states, RECs/RMs and other stakeholders |
- AUC
- RECs/RMs
- Member states
- Youth
|
No data available. The AUC has yet to assess its popularisation of the framework |
| Development of action plans on YPS in line with the framework and national youth policies |
25% member states develop youth-led and -centred national action plans on YPS |
|
Only two member states have action plans |
| Advocacy for the fulfilment of action plans, including youth participation in decision-making |
20% member states implement action plans
At least 25 youth serving in key statutory decision-making and elective positions in peace and security regionally, nationally and continentally |
- Member states
- RECs/RMs
- AUC
|
No data available. Given that only two member states have fully developed plans, this target is unlikely to be achieved |
| Capacity building on leadership and peacebuilding processes for senior officials and for female and male youth, including displaced persons and those living with disabilities. This should include a network of YPS regional, country and continental advisers |
At least 250 people, especially youth, capacitated on leadership and peacebuilding skills |
- Member states
- RECs/RMs
- AUC
|
No data available. While various youth capacity-building programmes have been undertaken by the AUC, clarity is lacking on whether these activities are aligned to the continental framework and implementation plan |
As indicated above, a priority is the development of action plans that detail governments’ political will and commitment to meet YPS obligations. The implementation plan specifies that 25% of member states (about 13 countries) should have developed and adopted youth-centred plans by 2024. However, to date, only the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria have done so.
While several other member states are developing plans, 11 countries would have to adopt them to reach the 2024 target. The plan also calls on at least 20% of member states to implement action plans, but there are no further criteria to guide their development nor clear reporting responsibilities to assess national application. While the Youth for Peace programme (Y4P) has developed guidelines, a first step is to improve member states’ development and adoption of context-specific plans.
Only two of the targeted 13 member states had developed youth-centred plans by 2024
A comprehensive, rigorous and detailed assessment of the continental framework would provide proof of progress. At present, the information and data available indicate that several of the five priority indicators are yet to be enacted. In some cases where capacity building and youth training were provided, the direct reporting link to the framework is absent. Clearer reporting requirements for member states, civil society, development partners and the AUC would help to track impact and milestones.
Reporting requirements
A benefit of the 10-year plan is its reporting requirements. Under outcome 4 – partnership and coordination, the plan commits to periodic reports assessing youth’s contribution to peace and security and the status of the YPS framework. The AUC has committed to five annual reports covering 2020 to 2024, but it is unclear how many reports have been submitted since the framework’s adoption.
Although reporting requirements to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) are outlined, that stipulation is not placed on member states nor RECs/RMs, the lead entities in framework execution. Their implementation of the YPS agenda will have to be captured to inform the AUC’s reports to the PSC. Member states and RMs should, therefore, report on the framework’s outputs and activities. However, no responsibility for this is placed on the AUC.
With few YPS achievements, actors must work with technical, financial and human resources challenges
Thus, it is a herculean task for the Youth for Peace programme – the primary continental actor – to trace and report on 55 member states’ progress against the YPS continental framework. This makes it nearly impossible to update the matrix yearly to reflect the status quo. Without clearer reporting requirements and mitigations, assessment of YPS agenda accomplishments will continue to be anecdotal.
Moving ahead
The expected 2025 midterm review is a well-timed opportunity to evaluate framework implementation. This review is expected not only to feed into the 10-year anniversary and celebration of resolution 2250, but to allow for review and assessment of continental, regional and national efforts to advance YPS.
With few achievements, member states, RMs and the AUC will have to contend with the technical, financial and human resources afforded to realise YPS and with persisting challenges. These lead entities and stakeholders should clarify reporting requirements.
The annual PSC session on YPS in November could be the perfect platform to consider and promote uptake of the continental framework. The agenda should take stock of the adoption and implementation of national action plans and encourage the development of more plans. This would ensure that the meeting is not a thematic rendezvous but a focused forum reviewing governments’ responses to the needs and priorities of youth.
