The Youth Coalition of Portuguese Speaking African Countries, in partnership with the Government of Guinea-Bissau, UNDP, the NGO “Fondinkë NA FAYE – Forces of Youth with One Voice”, the youth association, RENAJ, and Espaço Casa, marked African Liberation Day, on 25 May this year, with the first ever inter-generational dialogue on Pan-Africanism with the slogan, Pan-Africanism in the 20^th Century XX1: Our health, Our Rights, Our Future.

The initiative was geared towards the empowerment and participation of the youth in political, economic and social development in Portuguese speaking African Countries.

The African continent has had to face enormous and multidimensional challenges over the years due to poverty, political instability, human rights violations, diseases, and corruption. The vision of Agenda 2063 of the African Union came to dedicate itself to the consolidation of the Pan-African Vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens themselves and representing a dynamic force in the global arena, based on the achievements and challenges of the past, and the continental and global trends in which Africa is making its transformation presently.”

The importance and role of African youth in the rebirth, transformation and integration of Africa is reinforced by the 42% of the population of the African continent who will be between 15 and 24 years old by 2030.

In the opening ceremony, the Resident Representative of the UNDP in Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Tjark Egenhoff, stated that “UNDP is betting on the youth.”

Last month, the UNDP launched, in partnership with the National School of Administration, the Leadership Academy of Guinea Bissau, with the aim to invest in young women and men as agents of change that can shape all aspects of the society, and who together can create communities and networks of change.

Additionally, through initiatives such as the YouthConnekt, UNDP has implemented across the continent awareness raising activities on issues related to youth development, and promoted youth citizenship through community work and inclusion in local and national policy dialogues.

“We want to work with the government to establish a new partnership system that can support young people in accelerating inclusive innovation and supporting a path of transformation that is sustainable,” concluded Mr. Tjark Egenhoff.

Through agents of change, UNDP Guinea-Bissau Country Office intends to support the creation of synergies to promote sustainable peace and inclusive and sustainable development in Guinea-Bissau, which will contribute to a long-term transformation of the country.