On 12 August 2024, the EAC-GIZ Programme joins the global community to commemorate International Youth Day, themed "From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development". This theme emphasises the crucial role of digital technology in empowering youth and fostering sustainable economic growth. Digital technology offers unprecedented opportunities for education, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, enabling young people to access information, develop skills, and create innovative solutions to address local and global challenges.
Youth participation in the EAC integration is enshrined in Article 120(c) of the EAC Treaty, which advocates for a common approach to youth involvement through education, training, and mainstreaming across EAC policies, programmes, and projects. This strategic intervention aims to realise a fully integrated community.
The EAC, in close collaboration with GIZ, has been at the forefront of promoting youth engagement in regional economic integration, recognising the transformative potential of digital technology through various initiatives to support youth in harnessing these opportunities.
Through the joint EAC and GIZ project, Digital Skills for an Innovative East African Industry (dSkills@EA), numerous training workshops on digital skills have been conducted across the region. These trainings are equipping young people with essential skills in coding, digital marketing, and data analysis, enabling them to secure employment in the digital economy and start tech-based businesses. In the ongoing initiative, a total of 84 young people across the seven EAC Partner States will be trained in short-term digital training through the project.
EAC-GIZ has supported digital startups through partnerships with local incubators and accelerators in the region and provided mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities to young entrepreneurs. This support has led to the creation of innovative startups that drive economic growth and address social issues in the region. Further, the establishment of regional digital platforms has connected young people across borders, enabling them to collaborate on projects, share knowledge, and participate in regional dialogues on sustainable social and economic growth and development.
In policy, EAC-GIZ has facilitated youth engagement in key policy development, review, and implementation processes at national, regional, and continental levels through platforms like the East African Youth Network (EAYN) and the East African Youth Ambassador’s Platform (EACYAP), particularly in the development of the AfCFTA Protocol on women and youth in trade in Africa and the review of the EAC Simplified Trade Regime.
With co-funding from the European Union, EAC-GIZ aims to further boost youth involvement in policy-making and develop the EAC youth policy and two regional gender strategies.
In light of addressing youth unemployment and improving digital skills through training, entrepreneurship, and innovation in East Africa, EAC-GIZ recommends that the EAC Partner States invest in digital infrastructure, promote digital literacy in education, create an enabling environment for digital innovation, i.e., reduce regulatory barriers, foster public-private partnerships, and enhance regional collaboration on digital initiatives.
While reflecting on the success of the youth in line with the afore-mentioned theme, International Youth Day also underscores the challenges faced by youth in the region, including educational barriers, limited access to healthcare, and economic instability. The EAC-GIZ Programme, continues to make significant contributions to promoting youth engagement in the digital economy. Nevertheless, with continued support from the EAC Secretariat and Partner States, the full potential of young people can be unlocked to build a prosperous and sustainable future for the region.
Find more information on the dSkill@EA project here. Find more information on EAC-GIZ support to youth engagement in policy here.
