Background

The AU Youth Envoy and Austria National Youth Council have joined forces to establish a network of national and international youth champions to strengthen youth participation in reducing inequalities. This initiative seeks to establish a Youth Reference Committee of twenty-five (25) African and fifteen (15) European youth representatives.

These youth representatives will engage in international online and offline workshops, exchanges and consultations and attend lobbying appointments to improve the prospects of young people on the continent and beyond. In addition, the committee will contribute towards developing a youth position paper and a global toolkit for meaningful youth engagement to strengthen youth participation and reduce inequalities.

Key thematic areas:

• Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Youth Civic Engagement and Advocacy
• Climate Change, Climate Resilience & Climate Justice
• Youth in Peace, Security, Politics and Democratic Governance
• Youth and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA)
• Youth Development, Capacity Building & Bridging the Digital Skills Gender Gap for an Equal Labour Force
• Mental health and well-being of youth at risk (War, Political Instability, Forced Migration, Harmful Practices)

Responsibilities and duties of the reference committee:

• Demonstrate commitment to meaningful youth engagement in various development thematics, nationally and internationally.
• Liaise with the AU Office of the Youth Envoy and partners to define the collaboration around selected thematic and policy areas.
• Start conversations and work together with young people and relevant parties in your region and country.
• Be willing to conduct research, create products (such as podcasts), and draft youth-centred development policy advice on key thematics.
• Participate in dialogue on project topics between politicians and African and European youth.
• Participate in lobbying appointments and Co-drafting a youth position paper. Participate in Co-designing a toolkit on youth engagement from an international perspective.