This week African Heads of States will convene for the 22nd African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The summit focuses on Transforming Africa’s Agriculture for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, through Harnessing Opportunities for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development. That’s quite a mouthful, and almost hides the importance of this summit for African youth.
Looking at the summit’s draft agenda, however, there are no young people to be found at any of the debates and events. This is concerning since 65% of the continent’s population is below the age of 35 making Africa “the most youthful continent” according to the Youth Division of the African Union. In our countries, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, over half of the population is younger than 17 years. By 2020 it is projected that on average three out of four Africans will be 20 years old. In a continent whose population is dominated by youth, it seems ironic to talk about “inclusive growth and sustainable development” without including youth. Consider who will actually be driving this development over the next decade? It will be the continent’s emerging youth workforce.
Policy makers have to take action for African youth
The growing number of youth in Africa is an unparalleled opportunity for the continent. Policy makers have to take action to create relevant opportunities and platforms for effective youth participation in the development of communities.
When launching his Global Education First Initiative, the UN Secretary General stated, “Education is the basic building block of every society. It is a human right and not a privilege of the few.” We could not agree more. Without a relevant, 21st century quality education, African countries cannot realistically claim any sustainable future development.
We know first-hand that a quality education is a powerful tool to solve the complex challenges of unemployment, poor health, poverty, violence against girls, civil unrest and increased vulnerability various countries and Africa face. Unfortunately, as many African leaders continue to publicly praise their plans for development, we are witnessing negative trends in their countries’ investment in education. Seventeen African countries, out of 26 for which there is data, spent less than 5% of their GDP on education. Such a small proportion doesn’t inspire any confidence in countries’ plans for inclusive growth and sustainable development.
More investment in education needed
By investing so little in education, our leaders deepen the disparities between and within countries, let alone many young people whose lives and potential are wasted. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo alone only 58% of primary school students completed primary school in 2011 and a study of grade 3 and 4 students exposed that only 68% of students could read a simple text. Poor learning outcomes have the potential to stifle an entire generation of young people who could be future leaders.
It is high time that African policy makers realize the critical need to increase expenditure on education. Without strong education systems, all other challenges the continent faces will not be adequately addressed. The current plans of the African Union to transform Africa’s agriculture will either fail or achieve very little without a qualified work force.
New approaches for innovative agriculture
As African leaders deliberate on the future of Africa’s agriculture and its potential impact on families and communities, we suggest they also give a significant place to entrepreneurship and innovation in agriculture. In an article published before the African Green Revolution Forum in Maputo in September 2013, Dr. Strive Masiyiwa, the Founder and Chairman of Econet Wireless Group articulated his belief that, “agriculture possesses as much potential for entrepreneurship expression as telecommunications or mining.” At a time when the youth unemployment numbers are soaring across the continent, agriculture provides a golden opportunity for young African entrepreneurs and innovators to create jobs and help communities to thrive. However, they need capital and other institutional support that cannot be effectively found without the support of governments.
As they gather in Addis Ababa, the African leaders need to consider and take seriously the opinions and expertise of young people. We expect this summit’s outcomes to lead to relevant, actions that have an impact on youth. Make no mistake, African youth will hold our leaders accountable if they fail deliver to their promises. Our current leaders cannot afford to let us down by failing to invest fully in the future leaders of the continent, especially in an increasingly competitive global economy.