Celebrating 3 Years of the AfCFTA Youth Advisory Council’s Role in Transforming Youth Engagement on AfCFTA.
Three years ago, on November 9, 2021, at the East African Community (EAC) Headquarters, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of Tanzania, launched the AfCFTA Youth Advisory Council (ICOYACA). With visionary guidance from YouLead Africa, GIZ African Union, and the esteemed African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, ICOYACA was born, a council built by youth, for youth.
Special acknowledgment to Ivan Atuyambe (AfCFTA YouthMan), Sodfa Daaji, Stella Agara and Moses Kanyesigye for their leadership in the AfCFTA Youth Inclusion Project, which brought our council’s dream to life. Their efforts paved the way for an innovative platform that amplifies youth voices in AfCFTA implementation.
Since our inception, hashtag#ICOYACA has expanded its impact across EAC and African Union member states, empowering young Africans through initiatives like:
– AfCFTA Youth Engage Series, Masterclasses, and Bootcamps.
– The AfCFTA Youth, Peace, and Security Project.
– AFRO-EURO Youth Trade and Economic Integration Exchange for diaspora youth.
– Soon to be implemented AfCFTA_ICOYACA MOOT COURT COMPETITION, a step toward strengthening trade justice and youth representation among others.
Over these three transformative years, hashtag#ICOYACA has actively co-created and shaped critical events such as the YouLead Summit, AfCFTA Youth Symposium, Youth Conneckt Africa Summit, Africa Youth Day, and AU MSME Forums. We have represented Youth in Trade resolutions at African Union Assemblies, forged dialogues between Europe and Africa, and built alliances with youth trade organizations across Asia, North America, South America, and the Caribbean.
A milestone we are particularly proud of is our contribution to the Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade, which was officially adopted in February 2024. This protocol is a testament to Africa’s commitment to inclusive trade, one that welcomes the power and potential of Africa’s youth and women.
With the support of partners like African Union, African Union Youth Division, African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, GIZ African Union, International Trade Centre, UNDP Africa, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, United Nations Human Rights, UNESCO MGIEP, UNODC and Mastercard Foundation and numerous Youth-led and Youth-focused organizations, ICOYACA has reached over #100,000 young people, equipping them with knowledge and tools to seize the opportunities AfCFTA offers. To all who have supported us technically, financially, and morally, thank you.
As we celebrate ICOYACA’s third birthday, we renew our commitment to building an inclusive AfCFTA where no youth is left behind. Together, let’s continue shaping a more integrated, prosperous Africa.
Asante Sana 🙏