Nouakchott — The African Capacity Building Foundation and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania today opened a workshop on Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship in North Africa. The workshop is taking place in the wake of the forthcoming Africa Union Summit on Youth Employment to be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on 29 June – 1 July 2011.
The workshop, which will be attended by representatives from international organizations (including the World Bank, NEPAD and UNDP) and national youth employment agencies from Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, seeks to address specific youth and employment issues in North Africa and the capacity development dimensions that institutions like ACBF, in collaboration and partnership with institutions such as NEPAD, can put forward to tackle this particular development challenge. Two hundred million Africans between 15 and 24 years, making up 20% of the total population in Africa are in the youth category. With Africa's population growth at 2.2% per annum and the fertility rate of 5.2 children per woman, ten million youths are being added to Africa's population each year. Africa is not yet ready to accommodate these youths in the labour markets.
ACBF seeks to address some of the critical elements that are unique to youth and employment in Africa based on several perspectives. These include: the level of employment that does not keep up with the population growth; data shortage which makes it difficult to direct where policy development interventions should be targeted; sectoral policies that have implications on job creation; and the variance in Africa's picture of youth employment across the continent. ACBF also emphasizes that there are some five key focus areas that need constant attention, despite of the level of economic transformation of a country. These are: skills building, including innovation and the ability to manage uncertainties; viable policies that allow the expansion of the investment climate; supporting infrastructure and access to finance; trade and market access; a viable business environment that dictates the growth and size of markets and the possibilities for innovation; and potential actions by countries that address fundamental elements such as reforming educational systems, nurturing policy units or think tanks that create spaces for policy development and interface between all sectors in a given country.
The capacity development elements required to address this challenge are multi dimensional. ACBF emphasizes the role of regional integration in Africa, which allows individual countries and regions to leverage their creation of employment for the youth. Regional integration allows for better job creation, better skills mix and specialization, and above all stability for the national and regional markets. ACBF is strategically placedto assist countries in the development of policies that are tailor-made for specific national priorities to enable the growth of employment levels needed to meet particular challenges.
Institutional partnerships between development partners enable Africa to tackle the challenges faster and maximize existing human and institutional resources. Similarly, the interface between the private sector, government and civil society allows for sharing lessons and dialogue, leading to innovation and creativity. Speaking prior to the workshop, Dr Frannie Leautier, ACBF Executive Secretary commented that ACBF's recently published Africa Capacity Indicators 2011 (ACIR 2011) publication shows that African nations have a vision for capacity development. "As with all other development challenges including youth and employment" she said, "African nations need to make strategic policy choices that tackle our unique problems. Youth and employment in Africa is a significant challenge and, as we have always stated, capacity development is a long term business. The time to bring our youth into the fold is now, as we have to create future leadership in Africa that can manage the ever changing terrain of development" She added: " ACBF's new Strategic Medium Term Plan seeks to work with the youth through our 73 partner universities and training institutions, which we see as incubators for the development of a critical mass of leaders and drivers for change in Africa. Our ever growing portfolio of policy units and thinks tanks will remain our strongest base for the development of Africa specific policies."
ACBF has been present in Mauritania since 2002, with the establishment of the Centre Mauritanien d'Analyse de Politiques (CMAP). In 2006, ACBF approved a second phase of CMAP, enhancing the Centre's response to local demands for human and institutional capacity in Mauritania. The objectives of CMAP Phase II include supporting public policy analysis and impact assessment and the promoting dialogue among targeted development stakeholders in Mauritania. The total investment in the CMAP project to date is USD 2 650 000.
While in Mauritania, the ACBF mission will meet with various Government stakeholders to discuss how to strengthen the existing partnership and to explore ways of developing new partnerships to address capacity challenges in Mauritania.
About the African Capacity Building Foundation
ACBF was established in February 1991. It is the outcome of collaboration between African governments and the international donor community. Its mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Africa. ACBF's vision is for Africa to be recognized for its socio-political and economic capabilities and endowments – a continent with effective institutions and policies acquired through sustained investment in people and institutions. The Foundation aims to become a leader, major partner, and centre of excellence for capacity building in Africa.
For further information contact:
a.mpunzwana@acbf-pact.org
s.eboko@acbf-pact.org
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
PO Box 1562, Harare
ZIMBABWE
Tel: + 263 4 700208/210
Website: http://www.acbf-pact.org
