Zim to host African youth climate indaba

Peter Tanyanyiwa Review Correspondent
Zimbabwe will host the first African Youth Conference on Climate “AfriYOCC 2015” from 26 to 27 October in Victoria Falls. The conference will run under the theme “African Youth Responses to Climate Change and Food Security, Action from the Frontline.

The Zimbabwe United Nations (ZUNA) has been a key partner in the planning of this conference. ZUNA president Mr Fischer Chiyanike has said the young people should put final touches to their presentations and concepts on climate change ahead of the conference.

“I am glad to say we have highly intellectual young people in our ZUNA chapters across the country and it is high time they present us with bright ideas as they are the leaders of today and tomorrow,” said Fischer Chiyanike.

Zimbabwean youths, like their counterparts on the rest of the African continent, have turned to various entrepreneurial ventures as their numbers continuously rise while formal employment opportunities remain limited.

Most popular businesses especially among the disadvantaged youths are agricultural-based ones like animal husbandry and horticulture as they mostly utilise local resources. Thus the youths have experienced the challenges of climate change first hand.

“We have created a platform for African youths and AYICC membership to come together to discuss current and emerging issues on climate change in Africa.

“This is so we can network amongst the membership through sharing experiences, knowledge and actions, to hold face-to-face strategic meetings on country and local level activities on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

“The objectives of the conference are to develop an African youth position paper ahead of CoP21 in Paris, Launch of CAHOSCC Youth Programme on Climate Change (CYPCC) through the ClimDev-Africa Youth Platform (CLAYP), to raise awareness of the Zimbabwe’s position on climate change and its statutory practises. Also to launch of the AYICC best practice database for youth response to climate change in Africa.

Unfortunately youths outside the networks do not seem to be aware of what is going on. A snap survey on the streets of Harare revealed that the majority of people aged between 15 and 25 did not know anything about the conference.

“Our source of information is the school. If they do not tell the schools what is happening then how can we know? Not all of us are members of these NGOs. It may not be that we are not interested but they have just never crossed our paths,” said Sheila Rakodzi (18) of Kuwadzana.

“There is also going to be a platform for the launch of the “Youth Farms Pilot Project’’ in 10 African countries, so as to develop the requisite skills needed by African youth to actively participate in climate change negotiations thereby influencing political decisions and policies at the national, regional and international levels.

“We also want to develop an African youth engagement strategy for the second decade of CAADP implementation with the validation of the AU Heads of State Malabo, declaration Roadmap and Implementation. To provide a platform for AYICC leaders and members to review AYICC Strategy, leadership and operations,” said Fischer Chiyanike ZUNA president.

African youth have proved their potential in both promoting and implementing climate change adaptation projects in their communities.

Innovations have continually been adopted in responding to climate change impacts. This has however been amidst various challenges that include low capacity and education, high rates of poverty and lack of financial resources.

African Union solidified their commitments to Africa’s youth participation in addressing climate change in 2014, during the 23rd AU.

Summits of Heads of States in Malabo. The summit requested the African Union Commission to set up a “Youth Programme’’ of the Committee of African Heads of States and Government of Climate Change (CAHOSCC).

In cognisance of the role and potential of the African youth in climate change mitigation and adaptation and overall sustainable development trajectory, shall provide an avenue for African youths to showcase their climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, projects and initiatives.

Best practices arising from the various AYICC country chapters shall be showcased and eventually developed to an African youth climate change adaptation and mitigation best practices data base and handbook.

The meeting will also discuss the role of African youths in accelerating the implementation of the second decade of CAADP implementation with the validation of the Malabo Declaration Roadmap and Implementation Plan and the development theme adopted by the African Union for the year 2015, Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063 agenda.