THE National Association of Youth Organisations (NAYO) in Africa on Monday took part in the European Union-African Summit Open Forum meeting in Bulawayo which brought ambassadors from Africa and the European Union resident in Zimbabwe to advance youth development in Zimbabwe.
BY ALEXIS SIBANDA
Speaking at the meeting, managing director of Youth for Innovation Trust (YIT), Thando Gwiji said the international context and the EU-Africa relations are constantly evolving, presenting new challenges and opportunities since the historical first EU-African Summit in Cairo in 2002 where EU-Africa partnership was established.
“Bringing these continents together has changed the way Africa and Europe perceive each other,” she said.
She said EU-African Summit of Heads of States and Governments takes place every three years alternatively in Africa and Europe, whereby the stock of progress made in the implementation of commitments are made and provide political guidance for further work.
Gwiji said on November 29 and 30, African and European Heads of State will meet in Abidjan for the fifth AU-EU Summit to discuss the priorities for the partnership between the two continents for the years to come.
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She said the theme will be Investing in Youth and ensuring an active and meaningful inclusion of young people in the run-up and at the summit given.
“African and European youth have many challenges in common, so by bringing together African and European Youth organisations and engaging young people, the fifth EU-Africa Summit and the EU-AU Youth Plug-in Initiative will strengthen the direct participation in the political progress affecting the livelihoods and future prospects of youth on both continents,” she said
She said the fifth EU-Africa Youth Summit will gather 115 youth leaders from both continents, including African Diaspora, on 9 to 11 October in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to agree on a declaration with recommendations and messages on themes including education, peace and security, climate and environment, business and job creation, political inclusion and culture.