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T
he Vision of the African Union (AU) is one of an "
integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, and representing a dynamic force in the global arena
.
"
The Casablanca Group was Ahead of the Time.
To Africa's Youths, m
ore than 50 years later, the
foresight
of the legends of the Casablanca Group is the foundation on Agenda 2063, which is Africa's blueprint to actualize the AU Vision by transforming Africa into a global powerhouse through economic, social, political developments that include scientific innovations and common heritage.
In 2013, in marking the 50th Anniversary of the Organization of African Unity, which became the African Union, Agenda 2063 was conceived as a concrete manifestation of what Africa intends to achieve based on assessments of the past 50 years, including errors made and lessons learnt, and looking ahead at the next 50 years.
- Goal 8: United Africa (Federal or Confederate)
- Goal 9: Continental Financial and Monetary Institutions are established and functional
- Goal 10: World Class Infrastructure crisscrosses Africa.
All AU Member States are required to align their National and Regional Development Frameworks and Visions with Agenda 2063. Each Member State is to designate a focal point at the National level to facilitate the integration of Agenda 2063 into its National Vision and Plans.
Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are expected to ensure that their outcomes/results are comparable through harmonization and adherence to common guidelines with respect to the goals, targets, performance indicators, measurements, the methodologies for data collection and analysis.
AU adheres to a subsidiarity system. Agenda 2063 is, accordingly, implemented at National level, which includes Local Governments; Regional Economic Community; level; and at the Continental level.
The public and private sectors and civil society - all three are to engage in the implementation of Agenda 2063. Each has its unique importance. In the public sector, implementation, monitoring and evaluation are at the central, provincial, district and local government levels.
For Diaspora residents of AU Member States, their stakes in the implementation are not different from those of their peers in their Member States and Region since they you share the same Development Frameworks and at the Continental level.
All the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Vision 2030 are incorporated in corresponding Agenda 2063 Goals in what is known as the
Common African Position on the SDGs.
Therefore, implementing the SDGs, National and Regional developments, and Agenda 2063 Goals are not parallel or different processes; they are simultaneously addressed.
"While SDG does not determine how any country should attain the targets, Agenda 2063 is more detailed"
Citation: Abdelaziz, Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa.
https://conta.cc/2Syp1mR
The spirit and substance of the "Africa We Want" was captured in a witty yet insightful allegorical
letter presented by
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in her capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
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Dear Avid Reader:
I often begin on the coffee lane; not the technical desk, especially with target audiences.
O
rdinary, it is difficult for average Africans, unconnected in various areas and even skeptical of their own local governments, to wrap around their minds and readily grasp the big concept of an AU - especially without knowing the relevance to their lives. Hello, but they are expected to drive the vision.
Africa as a people, or what could have been, is often told through the legend of an era gone by - a missed opportunity by not embracing the ideal of the Casablanca Group.
For Friends of Africa, it is also complex. And there are the euphemistic "foreign partners" who are donors with apron-strings that lead to anti-development through dependency in "who pays the piper calls the tune." This limits Africa's policy space by the inability to apply policy instruments in implementing her own development goals and objectives when the foreign assistance are tied to the donors' paramount interests.
A new generation schooled in colonial-oriented curricula can be genuinely confused about what the AU is about when Commonwealth (Empire Day), Francophonie, and other neo-colonial contraptions are sanitized and celebrated but more African counties do not formally recognize African Liberation Day whose values are the anchors of the AU and Agenda 2063.
The AU, and also in its website, variously acknowledges the drawbacks of colonialism.
For example, in developing the Program Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA), it affirms "that infrastructure plays a key role in economic growth and poverty reduction. Conversely, the lack of infrastructure affects productivity and raises production and transaction costs, which hinders growth by reducing the competitiveness of businesses and the ability of governments to pursue economic and social development policies."
It states:
"many of Africa's 54 countries are small, with populations of fewer than 20 million and economies of less than $10 billion. Their infrastructure systems, like their borders, are reflections of the continent's colonial past, with roads, ports, and railroads built for resource extraction and political control, rather than to bind territories together economically or socially. Because Africa's economic geography is particularly challenging, regional integration is the best, perhaps the only, way for Africa to realize its growth potential, participate effectively in the global economy, and share the benefits of globalization."
The AU developed the Continental Education
Strategy
for Africa to redress the colonial biases and for students to acquire the competitive skills to drive developments and with core African values.
Young people are challenged to
envision anew!.
The focus on African core values in the education system is essential to "create" a new African citizen as an effective driver and change agent for Africa's sustainable development. The change maker embodies the African Personality with attributes that foster desirable standards.
Even for those who venture to do so, there is a nagging paradox -
why are Africans called foreigners in Member States? The fact blurs the vision.
In 2014, I was solicited by the AU Commission to help in organizing an event between the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Media on Agenda 2063. In my tenure as the Special Adviser of the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council of the AU on Diaspora Relations, the challenge to convey the essence of
"Agenda 2063"
lent itself to the adage: Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
It has to be clear, compelling, concrete, and worth the time of rational people and the common man and woman; not bandying theories, which will do more for organized confusion, nostalgia and fantasies - and eventual disappointments.
As I learnt, the average and normal person in the rural village as well as in the urban city in Africa, the Diaspora resident as a member or leader of his or her ethnic, national, professional organization or an independent entrepreneur should be able to relate to one of the 20 Goals or more. In other words, what is his or her stake in it? How does it help actualize, complement, or enhance a cause of interest or what the person is already doing? If it does not, it is not a Goal.
I customized each Aspiration and corresponding Goals, and update them with the adopted programs to achieve targets - because the Goals and Priority Areas do not include the specific programs.
As the programs are developed - from education, health, agriculture, gender, youth, etc., each Member State has to domesticate the programs at local levels.
Within these processes and dynamics, theories are translated to developments with instruments of measurements that are harmonized across Member States.
With the achievements, the AU
increasingly
takes
the form of Federal System.
I can imagine all of us asking about the African Passport. Yes, it should be due as it complements the African Continental Free Trade Area and connects the AU to citizens as one of the Areas of AU Institutional Reforms. That is another topic.
On this topic, the AU Demographic Dividend Roadmap is a policy document focused on youth and based on acknowledgement that young people hold the key to Africa's desired future. It is integral to the strategic means to achieve the Aspirations of Agenda 2063.
The AU Roadmap on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youths outlines four pillars:
employment and entrepreneurship;
education and skills development;
health and well-being; and
rights, governance and youth empowerment. It further identifies key deliverables under each pillar to accelerate development, and a monitoring and evaluation framework to ensure enabling environments for implementation.towards empowering African youths and realizing a better future for the continent.
Each Member State has to develop its local component and
complete the development of their Demographic Dividend Profiles, which are designed to provide a clearer picture of the high-impact areas that require strategic investments in order to harness the demographic dividend.
AU Member States are to
achieve the targets, including through reducing the proportion of youth unemployment by at least 2% annually and to provide annual progress reports.
Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments logically aims to actualize Aspiration 6 Goal 18: Engaged and Empowered Youths. One of its Indicative Strategies is for AU Member States is to develop / implement policies and program that protect the rights of young people living and working in the diaspora.
The program is closely related to the mandate
of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (www.acerwc.africa) and its program known as Agenda 2040.
The African Youth Charter, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2006, is another flagship policy document for youth development. It outlines the rights and responsibilities of youths, as well as stakeholders, such as National Governments, Regional Economic Communities.
In a fuller appreciation, Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youths is cross-cutting with multiple sectors, including peace and security.
As a young 9 year old, I could recite the names of African presidents and by the age of 14, marveling about the Casablanca Group was a special interest. My Mom was my mentor who encouraged my natural instinct to wonder and inquire - and traits that thrive on the ideal.
So this is not a job; but a passion. Believing
in the possibility is a priceless pursuit of the ideal. And the beauty of it is that you do not have be an official because Agenda 2063 is for the citizen to drive.
For the Africa We Want, each of us can do our part in our lifetime.
Cheers!
MsJoe
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The African Union Theme for 2017 was
Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth.
The African Leader in charge of the implementation of Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth is Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno.
A BRIEF EVOLUTION ON THE THOUGHT
In September 2015, during the launch of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, African Heads of State and Government, led by Malawian President H.E. Peter Arthur Mutharika, held a high level meeting that focused on commitment to champion the demographic dividend as a catalyst for Africa's development.
They signed a
communiqué to rally efforts for the AU to adopt the demographic dividend as the theme for a future session.
This became a reality at the AU Summit in January 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme also set the pace for the July 2017 Summit.
Just like major Africa-wide programs that have African Heads of State as Champions, Chadian President Idriss Déby Itno is responsible for the implementation of Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth.
Engage him.
WHAT IS DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND?
The demographic dividend can be defined as the benefit that can arise when a country/region, or Africa in this case, has a relatively large proportion of working-age population due to declining fertility, and effectively invests in health, empowerment, education and employment through public action and private sector involvement.
As mortality and fertility decline, the population's age structure changes. These result in fewer births each year and the young, dependent population grows smaller in relation to the working age population.
This period presents the window of opportunity when the demographic dividend can materialize.
The window of opportunity for a demographic dividend is logically closely linked with the demographic transitions. There are no distinct criteria that define the beginning and end of the window. However, the window begins to open when the share of working age population is increasing and fertility reduction has progressed far enough to reduce the dependent child population.
The increasing share of working age population compared to other age groups leaves each working age person with fewer dependents to support and, therefore, more disposable income that can spur greater savings, production, investment, consumption, and, in turn, accelerate growth.
Africa's population grew at an average annual rate of 2.6 percent between 1950 and 2014, much faster than the global average of 1.7 percent as estimated from UN population projection data.
During this time, Africa experienced a demographic transition, moving from a period of high mortality and fertility rates to one of lower mortality, yet still high fertility rates. Other regions, most notably East Asia, took advantage of their transitions to accelerate growth, and reap the demographic dividend.
Citation: How significant could Africa's demographic dividend be for growth and poverty reduction? By S. Amer Ahmed.
Africa has similar window of opportunity to reap the benefits of demographic transition that would be open for a couple of decades.
This opportunity will not last forever and the region will need to take action to convert these changes into a demographic dividend.
THE FOUR PILLARS
Education and Skills Development
addresses the t
ransformation of Africa's skilled capacity through curriculum reform: enhancing content standards; learning outcomes/performance standards. It places emphasis on Technical and Vocational and Education Training, access to technology, connectivity, and to match the skills of Africa's youth with current and future labor market needs.
This pillar of action is related to AU Agenda 2063 Goal 2 in which in UN SGD 4 is already integrated. Education and Skills are comprehensively addressed in the Continental Education Strategy for Africa
(CESA 2016-25
).
In French
(CESA 2017-25) and
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGY FOR AFRICA:
STISA 2024
Employment and Entrepreneurship
is reflected in the d
emographic dividend when the burgeoning working age population is gainfully employed and savings are converted into investment. Therefore,
decent employment, entrepreneurship and apprenticeships for young Africans are vital to realize the demographic dividend.
These involve mobilizing investments in sectors with the potential for high employment multiplier effects and to engage the private sector to encourage on-the-job training and philanthropic programs.
Health and Wellbeing addresses
essential services and strengthening health, social welfare and protection systems, bringing them up to international standards, or beyond for countries already close to meeting them. It protects girls and women from violence, exploitation and abuse, especially child marriage and harmful practices; empowers children and women to participate fully in community, workplace and political life; and enhances access to culturally sensitive reproductive health services.
Governance and Youth Empowerment: This pillar emphasizes sound policies that support engagements in political and socioeconomic spheres.
Member States
renewed commitments to empower youths, among other tools, through the ratification, domestication and full implementation of all African Union Shared Values instruments, including the African Youth Charter and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. This pillar includes Peace.
From local, national, regional to continental levels, society needs to create spaces for civic engagement and political participation of African youths.
Pre-dividend countries:
Countries whose share of working age population will increase between 2015 and 2030 have an opportunity to reap a demographic dividend. Among them, those that had comparatively high total fertility (four or more births per woman) in 2015, are classified as 'pre-dividend' countries since the window of the opportunity for accelerated economic growth has not yet opened due to ongoing rapid population growth, resulting in a high child dependency ratio. Two thirds of countries in Africa (36 countries) are in this phase.
Early-dividend countries: Countries showing a relative increase in the working age population and a total fertility of less than four births per woman in 2015 are further along the path toward reduced fertility and thus experiencing lower child dependency ratios and a higher proportion of working age population. These countries are classified
as 'early-dividend' countries. 14 African countries fall into this category.
Late-dividend countries: Countries with a declining share of working age population between 2015 and 2030 face a closing window for their first demographic dividend. Countries that in 1985 (roughly one generation ago) had a total fertility rate above replacement level are classified as 'late-dividend' countries. Most late-dividend countries have a large share of working age population and are in a position to continue 'harvesting' the benefits of the first demographic dividend, but will face fundamental changes in coming years. Only four African countries - Mauritius, Morocco, Seychelles and Tunisia - are at this stage.
Post-dividend countries: 'Post-dividend' countries have experienced below-replacement level fertility since 1985, and will face a rapidly increasing elderly population, further decreasing the already diminishing share of working age population. No African countries have such characteristics, yet. In Asia, five countries or territories have already reached this stage: the Chinese Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore.
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HERE ARE FEW EXAMPLES, AMONG MANY, OF AU MEMBER STATES TAKING STEPS TO DOMESTICATE THE CONTINENT'S ROADMAP ON THE DEMOGRAPHIC DIVIDEND
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KENYA
Kenya's Domestication of the AU Demographic Roadmap: Click
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GHANA: THE BLACK STAR OF AFRICA
On December 11, 2017,
Ghanaian
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo unveiled Ghana's Roadmap f
or t
he AU Demographic Roadmap in Accra.
The theme of event was "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth." In his keynote address, the President said Ghana is working fervently towards implementing all the requirements in the roadmap designed by the AU.
"Ghana is working so hard to ensure there is a reduction in gender gaps in our educational institutions by the introduction of the Free Senior High School policy by my government, ensuring healthy lives by providing quality health care which is the objective of SDG goal 3 and business-friendly environment, which will make Ghana an Investment destination of choice" he said.
The President added that Ghana will continue to carry out public education to improve upon antenatal and post-natal care and to strengthen the family planning policy which will contribute to the Socio-economic development of the country.
The Minister of Planning,
Prof. George Baffour, in his remarks said the government will invest in four typical structures; Economy, Health, Governance and Education, which will have multiple effects on our economy in its entirety.
The Head of the Youth Division of the AU Commission,
Ms. Prudence Ngwenya,
congratulated the Government of Ghana for launching the Roadmap to domesticate the AU Policy and urged Ghana to go a step further in executing the key elements in the roadmap so as to deter the Ghanaian youth from traveling across the Mediterranean to Europe to seek greener pastures and promised the AU Commission's support to Ghana in implementing the program technically.
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CAMEROON: AFRICA IN MINIATURE
In June 2017, in Yaoundé-Cameroon, in line with the AU's Roadmap, the government of Cameroon took bold steps to put in measures to domesticate Cameroon's Roadmap on the Demographic Dividend.
The first consultative meeting took place on March 18, 2017 and culminated in the final consultative meeting that brought together 15 high representatives from government ministries and statistical institutions, 5 UN agencies, the World Bank, 6 representatives of civil society organizations and youth organizations from 19-20 June 2017.
The contribution of youth representatives focused on advocacy, sensitization and capacity development on issues directly affecting young people and their ability to influence planning and decision making. In a nutshell, youths are expected to play a critical role in identifying their challenges and opportunities and contributing as development resource as opposed to development recipients.
In recognizing the youth as a development resource through investing in them, the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Paul Motaze, stated that "For the government, investing in youth in general and on teenage girls in particular is a guarantee of human capital improvement that requires us to achieve the goal of zero school dropouts and zero adolescent pregnancy.
Investing in adolescents appears to be a means to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, to benefit from the demographic dividend and to support Cameroon's economic growth in its march towards emergence."
The Roadmap was submitted of the Ministry of Economy, Planning Regional Development and the Ministry of External Relations. The government had to put in place an inclusive technical and coordination mechanism for effective follow up and implementation.
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Above: March 2020. South West Region, Cameroon.
Berka Ngong, (second from left) born in the USA and based in the Diaspora - activist and entrepreneur; Albert Mukwele (extreme left), based in Cameroon - activist and entrepreneur; co-hosted an inclusive and novel Cameroon and Diaspora Youth Platform on Agenda 2063 Implementation, which will engage the private and public sectors and serve as a catalyst for Cameroonian youths living at home and abroad to drive developments and own the outcomes at local and national levels.
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NIGERIA: THE GIANT OF AFRICA
On July 7, 2017, Nigerian Federal Government launched the country's roadmap on the Demographic Dividend.
The event was held at the State House Abuja. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
was represented by the then Minister of Budget and National planning,
Udoma Udo Udoma,
who indicated that the Roadmap would refocus on program and activities to ensure a healthy population, enhance the potential of young people to contribute to the economy, mainstream social protection, create social safety nets in all critical sectors and promote good governance and rule of law.
The Minister explained that demographic dividend was an accelerated economic growth resulting from changes in a country's population age structure.
"It is expected that all sectors of the country key into the opportunity presented by demographic dividend to move the country to achieve economic growth that will improve the wellbeing of all Nigerians" he said.
"A demographic dividend observatory of key indicators from the action will be domiciled in my office for monitoring and tracking the achievements of all sectors" he concluded
Following this summit, stakeholders are expected to develop an action plan for the implementation of the roadmap with detailed goals with targets and indicators as well as clear tasks, roles and responsibilities for tracking progress towards its realization.
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The GAMBIA: THE SMILING COAST OF AFRICA
The then Gambian Vice President
Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang
On July 3, 2017,
The Gambia Government and partners launched the AU Roadmap on Harnessing Demographic Dividend Through Investment in Youths at the Kairaba Beach Hotel. The launching was presided over by the then Vice President who was also Women's Affairs Minister, H.E. Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang.
The launching brought together young people and youth organizations led by the National Youth Council under the theme: "Capitalising on the Gambia's Youthful Population: Reaping the benefits and diminishing the burden."
H.E. Fatoumatta Jallow-Tambajang said as experienced in most African countries,
The Gambia has over the years witnessed a rapid rate of population. S
he emphasized that the youthful age structure of the population has both social and economic ramifications.
"Government is aware of the disproportionate effect of unemployment among young people and some of the negative social consequences," she said
Mr. Sulayman Bah Henry Gomez, Minister of Youth and Sports, speaking on the occasion, also stressed that the growing population of young people in The Gambia poses development challenges but could also be transformed into an opportunity for effective contribution to national development.
He emphasized that without the relevant investments in youth to realize their full potentials, young people could easily be exposed to vices such as forced migration, radicalization and violent extremism.
"We have witnessed the massive migration of young people from the country to Europe using perilous routes and many young lives have already been lost in the process of trying to reach Europe."
The Gambia, he said, could reap the benefits of a bulging young population by investing in youth empowerment programs. To harness the demographic dividend of a youthful population would require effective investments in health, empowerment, education
and employment of youth through public and private sector involvement.'
Mr. Kunle Adeniyi, UNFPA Gambia country office Chief of Operation, said the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as well as other United Nations partners and development agencies agreed to, among other things, to develop the road map.
He explained that the roadmap identifies key deliverables, milestones and actions to expedite the implementation of the continental initiative on Demographic Dividend for Africa.
He said a large cohort of youth offers a potentially rich resource for developing countries as more people should naturally be available to work, but only if that resource could be effectively harnessed. He said there are two key pre-conditions to realizing the demographic dividend.
The first was to create a dynamic economy that would serve as an engine of job creation and provide productive employment for large cohorts of youth. The second pre-condition was a strong commitment of resources to the health and education of youth so that they are prepared to compete in a global economy.
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MALAWI: THE WARM HEART OF AFRICA
Malawi's Minister of Youth, the Honorable Henry Mussa MP
On June 27, 2017, the government of Malawi launched the AU Roadmap on the Demographic Dividend
under the theme. "Harnessing the demographic dividend through investing in the youth."
The Minister challenged the
youth of Malawi to
on develop a 'strong coordination' and 'mind set change,' which are vital to harness the Demographic Dividend.
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SWAZILAND - Now ESWATINI
On June 29, 2017, on behalf of the government of Eswati, formally Swaziland, the then Honorable Minister of Economic Planning, and Development,
Prince Hlangusempi ( current
National Chief Defence Officer) launched the African Union Roadmap on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth at a breakfast meeting.
The Honorable Minister of Sports Culture and Youth Affairs and the United Nations Resident, Mr. Israel Dessalegne, were among the dignitaries who were present at the event.
Honourable Minister of Economic Planning & Development launching the document with Minister of Sports Youth & Culture. UN Resident Coordinator & MEPD Principal Secretary looked on.
UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Israel Dessalegne, delivering his remarks, looking on from right are ESARO Regional Advisor on Population Dynamics, Mr. Richmond Tiemoko, Honourable Minister of Economic Planning & Development, Prince Hlangusempi & Honourable Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs David Ngcamphalala.
Speaking at the event,
Prince Hlangusempi, noted that "the AU theme is most relevant to the population issues confronting Swaziland (now Eswatini) and that government acknowledges the sense of urgency that comes with seizing the demographic window of opportunity while it lasts".
In his remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator,
Mr. Israel Dessalegne,
said the United Nations System, under the leadership of UNFPA, highlights youth employment as a sti
mulus to harnessing the demographic dividend.
Other dignitaries at the launching included the Secretary to Cabinet,
Mr. Mbuso Dlamini;
Head of Operations at the European Union,
Ms. Ariane Labart;
WHO Resident Representative,
Dr. Tigest Ketsela-Mengestu;
the UNICEF Resident Representative,
Ms. Rachel Odede;
UNESCO Secretary General, Ms. Hazel Zungu;
FAO Assistant Representative,
Ms. Khanyisile Mabuza
; Principal Secretary (PS) from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development,
Mr.
Bertram Stewart;
and P.S. at the Deputy Prime Minister's Office
Ms. Khangeziwe Mabuza.
Youth Representatives from the Eswati - formerly Swaziland National Youth Council, Directors from government departments, parastals and non-governmental organizations were also present.
From left to right: WHO Resident Representative Dr. Tigest Ketsela-Mengestu, EU Representative Ms Ariane Labat,
UNICEF Representative Ms. Rachel Odede, Secretary to Cabinet Mr. Mbuso Dlamini.
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The Conversation between Nkosazana and Kwame puts Agenda 2063 in proper perspective, especially for the new Generation.
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T
he spirit of Africa We Want was captured in an allegorical
letter presented by
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in her capacity as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
NKOSAZANA'S LETTER TO HER FRIEND KWAME
is vividly insightful, witty, and a page turner. Here are some few excerpts below in no particular order.
Date: 24 January 2063
To: Kwame@iamafrican.com
From: nkosazana@confedafrica.gov
Subject: African Unity
My dear friend Kwame,
Greetings to the family and friends, and good health and best wishes for 2063.
I write to you from the beautiful Ethiopian city of Bahir Dar, located on Lake Tana, as we finalize preparations for the Centenary celebrations of the Organisation of African Unity, which evolved to the African Union in 2002 and laid the foundations for what is now our Confederation of African States (CAS).
Yes, who would have thought that the dream of Kwame Nkrumah and his generations, when they called in 1963 on Africans to unite or perish, would one day become a reality. And what a grand reality. At the beginning of the twenty first century, we used to get irritated with foreigners when they treated Africa as one country: as if we were not a continent of over a billion people and 55 sovereign states!
My friend, Africa has indeed transformed herself from an exporter of raw materials with a declining manufacturing sector in 2013, to become a major food exporter, a global manufacturing hub, a knowledge centre, beneficiating our natural resources and agricultural products as drivers to industrialization. Pan African companies, from mining to finance, food and beverages, hospitality and tourism, pharmaceuticals, fashion, fisheries and ICT are driving integration, and are amongst the global leaders in their sectors. Africa is now the third largest economy in the world.........
As the Foreign Minister's retreat in Bahir Dar in January 2014 emphasized, we did this by finding the balance between market forces and strong and accountable developmental states and RECS to drive infrastructure, the provision of social services, industrialization and economic integration.......
By the intelligent application of centuries-old indigenous knowledge, acquired and conserved by African women who have tended crops in all seasons, within the first few years bumper harvests were being reported. Agronomists consulted women about the qualities of various grains which ones survived low rainfalls and which thrived in wet weather; what pests threatened crops and how could they be combated without undermining delicate ecological systems. The social impact of the agrarian revolution was perhaps the most enduring change it brought about. The status of women, the tillers of the soil by tradition, rose exponentially. .......
The girl child, condemned to a future in the kitchen or the fields in our not too distant past, now has an equal chance of acquiring a modern education (and owning a farm or an agribusiness). African mothers today have access to tractors and irrigation systems that can be easily assembled. The producers' cooperatives, (agribusinesses) and marketing boards these women established help move their produce and became the giant food companies we see today.' .....
We refused to bear the brunt of climate change and aggressively moved to promote the Green economy and to claim the Blue economy as ours. We lit up Africa, the formerly dark continent, using hydro, solar, wind, geothermal energy, in addition to fossil fuels...........
And, whilst I'm on the Blue economy, the decision to form Africa-wide shipping companies, and encourage mining houses to ship their goods in vessels flying under African flags, meant a major growth spurt. Of course the decision taken in Dakar to form an African Naval Command to provide for the collective security of our long coastlines, certainly also helped...........
Let me recall what our mutual friend recently wrote: "The (African) agrarian revolution had small beginnings. Successful business persons (and local governments) with roots in the rural areas started massive irrigation schemes to harness the waters of the continent's huge river systems. The pan-African river projects - on the Congo, the Nile, Niger, Gambia, Zambezi, Kunene, Limpopo and many others - financed by PPPs that involved African and BRIC investors, as well as the African Diaspora, released the continent's untapped agricultural potential.
On the east coast, former island states of Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar and Mauritius are leading lights of the Blue economy and their universities and research institutes attract marine scientists and students from all over the world. My dear friend, you reminded me in your last e-mail how some magazine once called us 'the hopeless continent', citing conflicts, hunger and malnutrition, disease and poverty as if it was a permanent African condition......
Few believed that our pledge in the 50th Anniversary Declaration to silence the guns by 2020 was possible. Because of our firsthand experience of the devastation of conflicts, we tackled the root causes, including diversity, inclusion and the management of our resources. If I have to single out one issue that made peace happened, it was our commitment to invest in our people, especially the empowerment of young people and women...........
By 2013 we said Africa needed a skills revolution and that we must change our education systems to produce young people that are innovative and entrepreneurial and with strong Pan African values. From early childhood education, to primary, secondary, technical, vocational and higher education - we experienced a true renaissance, through the investments we made, as governments and the private sector in education and in technology, science, research and innovation...........
Coupled with our concerted campaigns to eradicate the major diseases, to provide access to health services, good nutrition, water and sanitation, energy and shelter, our people indeed became and are our most important resource. Can you believe it my friend, even the dreaded malaria is a thing of the past. Of course this shift could not happen without Africa taking charge of its transformation, including the financing of our development...........
As one esteemed Foreign minister said in 2014: Africa is rich, but Africans are poor. With concerted political determination and solidarity, and sometimes one step back and two steps forward, we made financing our development and taking charge of our resources a priority, starting with financing the African Union, our democratic elections and our peacekeeping missions............
The Golden Jubilee celebrations were the start of a major paradigm shift, about taking charge of our narrative. Agenda 2063, its implementation and the milestones it set, was part of what brought about this shift. We developed Agenda 2063 to galvanize and unite in action all Africans and the Diaspora around the common vision of a peaceful, integrated and prosperous Africa...........
Let me conclude this e-mail, with some family news. The twins, after completing their space studies at Bahir Dar University, decided to take the month off before they start work at the African Space Agency, to travel the continent. My old friend, in our days, trying to do that in one month would have been impossible!.....
But, the African Express Rail now connects all the capitals of our former states, and indeed they will be able to crisscross and see the beauty, culture and diversity of this cradle of humankind........
The marvel of the African Express Rail is that it is not only a high speed-train, with adjacent highways, but also contains pipelines for gas, oil and water, as well as ICT broadband cables: African ownership, integrated planning and execution at its best!........
The continental rail and road network that now crisscross Africa, along with our vibrant airlines, our spectacular landscapes and seductive sunsets, the cultural vibes of our cities, makes tourism one of our largest economic sectors.........
Kinshasa now the fashion capital of the world..........
I end this e-mail, and look forward to seeing you in February. I will bring along some of the chocolates from Accra that you so love, which our children can now afford.
Till we meet again, Nkosazana
GET THE SPIRIT OF AGENDA 2063 : SAVE OR READ AT YOUR PACE
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Agenda 2063
In Your Village, City, Nation, Region.
Myth persists about A
genda 2063 as a top-down system. It will not materialize without local stakeholders.
The concrete, comprehensive, and implementable framework is based on 7 Pillars of Aspirations, 20 goals, 39 priority areas, and clear targets and indicators.
The processes established in the Agenda 2063 are to be:
Results Orientation
:
Targets are set for each of the goals / priority areas in the Agenda at all the three levels -National, Regional and Continental where appropriate or applicable. A monitoring and evaluation framework should be in place at each of the three levels to ensure that progress is being attained with implementation.
Evidence Driven:
Decisions / conclusions reached or made regarding the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation should be based on the facts on the ground. Since facts will in general be common to all stakeholders, decisions to be made by stakeholders would be predictable.
Agenda 2063 also has
fast-track programs that are linked to the economy and to accelerate integration such as:
- The African Integrated High Speed Train Network that crisscrosses Africa;
- African Commodities Strategy;
- Africa Continental Free Trade Area;
- The Pan-African E University;
- The African Passport and Free movement of People;
- An Annual Consultative Platform for policy dialogue;
- Silencing the Guns by 2020;
- Implementation of the Grand Inga Dam Project;
- Africa Outer Space Strategy to strengthen Africa's use of outer space technology and to bolster its development.
The AU Institutional Reform led by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda emphasizes the Connection to Citizens
The Regions are the building blocks of Africa's integration. They have respective Visions and Strategic Development Frameworks Some have their own Parliaments and courts.
Le us use ECOWAS as an example.
ECOWAS came into existence in 1975 and has a combined population of 385 million. The 15 Member States comprises of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.
The current ECOWAS Chairperson is President Issoufou Mahamadou of Niger who took over from President Buhari of Nigeria.
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Whether living in their Member States or in the Diaspora, citizens from ECOWAS are entitled to the
ECOWAS Biometric Identity Card
that makes it possible for the populations of Member States to move around the region.
The ECOWAS Identity Card has been used as a voter's card in Senegal. ECOWAS Diaspora residents can obtain the card from their Embassies.
The ECOWAS Card serves as a residency permit, passport at the airports and to vote.
On Friday, July 12, 2019, the court said it recorded the highest number of judgments and rulings in 2018/2019 legal year. The President of the Court, Justice Edward Asante, explained that since the inception of the court, the court recorded 28 judgments and eight rulings, which were the highest the court had ever recorded. "Many more people have come to the court, it used to be an inter-state court, so therefore, at that time there were no cases, and just two cases were filed.
On Thursday, December 12, 2019, the apex court of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ordered Sierra Leone to revoke a ban on pregnant girls in school.
In a ruling, the top regional court found that a 2015 directive barring pregnant girls from attending school amounted to discrimination and a violation of human rights.
Sierra Leone's ban was adopted in 2015 during the regime of former
President Ernest Bai Koroma, whose two-term presidency spanned from September 17, 2007 to April 4, 2018.
Read more
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THE ECOWAS ANTHEM
West African States, of Historic solidarity,
Come, unite and develop a buoyant economy!
Freedom returning from the yokes of past captivity,
Now West Africa becomes the Economic Community!
Great were the kingdoms of our past:
Ever our bond renewed shall last!
It's no mystery,
We'll make history-
From the ocean, to rain forests and the Savannahs;
Working hand In hand,
Each and every land,
We shall progress happily ECOWAS!
Peace and unity and social justice everywhere,
Cultural integration and liberty we declare!
Women and youth, all shall maintain our future bright,
In health;
Human and natural resources shall sustain our wealth.
West Africa, our region State:
Steadfast shall stand our union great!
It's no mystery,
We've made history
From the sea shores to the desert, through the Savannahs:
Each and every land,
All will, hand in hand,
Ever progress happily in ECOWAS!
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