The African Union Commission (AUC), Human Resources, Science, and Technology (HRST) Department, is working on practical responses to ensure young Africans are taking personal responsibility to stay safe and ensure others do too during the Coronavirus pandemic. The response takes on a 3 x 4 model which focuses on reducing the health risk on young Africans, minimizing the impact of Covid-19 on their lives and mobilizing youth to be responders to Covid-19. The tenets of the response will be carried out through engagement, communications campaigns, innovation and partnerships.

“The COVID-19 pandemic arguably the worst event of our lifetime is currently disrupting lives as we move in all sorts of ways. Every single one of us is personally affected by this global crisis. The youth are not exempt from feeling the harsh effects of the pandemic; prior to the outbreak they were already in a crisis of serious unemployment issues and now it has compounded the problem” said the Commissioner for Human Recourses, Science, and Technology (HRST), H.E. Sarah Mbi Enow Anyang.

H.E Dr. Moussa Faki Mahamat in 2019, launched the 1 Million by 2021 initiative to provide opportunities for young people in areas of Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship, and Engagement. The AU has demonstrated resilience and ingenuity by seeking opportunities in a time of crisis and adapting models to respond to COVID-19’s influences on Education, Engagement, Employment, and Entrepreneurship.

The role of young people has never been more crucial. It is against this backdrop that the Youth Division of the African Union Commission, Human Resources, Science, and Technology implement the Youth Sector Respond to COVID-19. This framework is a timely response to channel youth energy, drive, and digital fluency towards solving problems and engaging communities.

As African youth take up their place iin the digital and frontlines of the response, taking the lead in engaging their peers, communities, and governments, proposing solutions and maintaining social connections – their efforts contribute towards building an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

For further information please contact:
Nontobeko Tshabalala | Human Resources, Science and Technology Department | African Union Commission | Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 77 00 | E-mail: NontobekoT@africa-union.org | www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia