Last month, I had the honor of participating in the third Business & Human Rights Africa Forum at the United Nations Office in Nairobi. It was a profound experience to join fellow advocates and policy experts to address the pressing challenges facing African youth and women in trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework.
During my session, I shared insights into the barriers limiting African youth from fully harnessing the potential of the hashtag#AfCFTA such as Limited Access to Capital and Resources, Trade Barriers and Bureaucracy, Digital and Knowledge Gaps, Human Rights Concerns in Business Practices among others. The discussion illuminated the urgency of embedding human rights into trade practices to create inclusive growth.
I am thrilled that the solutions I proposed such as Enhanced Financial Inclusion Programs, Policy Harmonization and Simplification, Digital Empowerment and Skills Development and Implementation of Human Rights Frameworks: Enforcing the AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade among others, made there way into the forum’s key outcomes, highlighting the importance of youth-driven perspectives in shaping Africa’s trade and economic landscape.
A special thank you to Maria Andrea Echazu and Martin Lauri Browne from the United Nations Human Rights Office, UNICEF and UNDP Africa for organizing this impactful event. Together, let’s continue to champion solutions that empower our youth and women to thrive in Africa’s trade ecosystem.
Wishing you comrades a prosperous new month and a joyous Africa Youth Month!
Asante Sana 🙏
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat AfCFTA Youth Advisory Council African Union Youth Division