IGAD recently convened a Ministerial Meeting in conjunction with the Horn of Africa Youth Network (HoAYN) and Save the Children. The purpose of this significant gathering was to advance the adoption of the IGAD Youth Policy.
This policy, crafted after extensive consultations with Technical Experts responsible for Youth Affairs from member states, National Youth Councils, Youth-Led Organizations, and the IGAD Secretariat, serves as a pivotal framework for championing youth rights in the IGAD Region. Its primary aim is to provide guidance and integrate youth priorities into policies, laws, and programs that seek to empower young people and ensure their meaningful involvement in political processes.
During the event, Ababu Namwamba, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Arts, and Sports, lauded the conference as a momentous step in the collective endeavor to empower and engage youth in shaping their destinies and the region’s future. Namwamba underscored the alignment of the IGAD Youth Policy with the African Youth Charter, emphasizing the vital role youth play in continental development and the imperative of their increased participation in decision-making arenas.
Namwamba conveyed the message in a speech delivered on his behalf by Mr. Ismail Maalim Madey, the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Youth Affairs and the Arts, during the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) High-Level Technical Experts and Ministerial meeting on the IGAD Youth Policy Framework held at a Nairobi hotel.
Moreover, Namwamba shared information about Kenya’s dedication to youth development through initiatives like the Talanta Hela program, aimed at fostering creativity and talent among young individuals. He emphasized that this initiative has been modernized for efficient operation and seeks to identify, nurture, and monetize the skills of young creatives.
Furthermore, Namwamba announced the launch of the groundbreaking Sports and Arts Infrastructure Masterplan (SAIM), a multifaceted project designed to elevate Kenya’s sports and arts sector to international standards.
While addressing the audience, Namwamba stressed the urgency of capitalizing on the demographic dividend, especially in the face of challenges such as instability, armed conflicts, natural disasters, and the marginalization of specific groups of young people. He highlighted that the adoption of the IGAD Youth Policy would mark a pivotal moment in the region’s journey toward a unified and comprehensive framework for addressing youth-related issues.
The CS reiterated the full support of the Government of Kenya for the development and adoption of the IGAD Youth Policy, pledging collaboration with both the IGAD Secretariat and youth to ensure its effective implementation.
The event, attended by dignitaries from across the IGAD region, aimed to confront the challenges and harness the vast potential of the youth demographic, recognized as the cornerstone of development in the participating nations.