UNDP, AU launch fellowship for young African women leaders

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United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the African Union Commission (AUC) have joined forces to implement a fellowship programme for young African women leaders.

Known as African Young Women Leaders (AYWL) fellowship programme, it aims to equip outstanding young Africans with leadership skills and experience required to contribute effectively to decision making in public, private and multilateral institutions.

Coming as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) and the African development Agenda 2063, the partnership will build on the African Union’s “1 million by 2021” Youth initiative that seeks to connect 1 million young Africans to opportunities through education, employment, empowerment and engagement.

“This initiative is an important component of the strategic AU/UN partnership to strengthen and harmonize the complementary between the UN’S Agenda 2030 and the AU’S Agenda 2063. It is also a key activity by the African Union Commission to accelerate investment in the Youth, in order to achieve sustainable development by ensuring access to opportunity in the world of work for the youth of the continent, especially young women,” said Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

“With more partnerships from players in the development space and the private sector, we can pool resources and build a sustainable ecosystem to accelerate economic development for the Africa we want”, Faki added.

The programme also aligns with UNDP’S Youth Connekt initiative that is supporting young Africans to enhance their entrepreneurial skills. Through the Youth Connekt initiative, UNDP and the Tony Elumelu Foundation recently launched an entrepreneurship programme targeting 100,000 youth in Africa. This innovative fellowship programme is another unique opportunity to involve the youth in advancing the implementation of the SDGS in Africa.

“Investing in youth, especially young women, is critical for inclusive, sustainable and transformative development in Africa. We need to grow the next generation of women leaders and experts to drive the future of development, enhance gender parity in the political, economic and social domains and unlock creativity and innovation for the achievement of agenda 2030 and 2063”, said Assistant Secretary-general, Ahunna Eziakonwa, Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa.