27 April 2019 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: To drive the successful realization of the African Union Commission initiative on youth empowerment and inclusion in the continental development agenda, partners have committed resources towards the “One million by 2021 initiative.”
In a pledging ceremony held during the three-day Pan-African Youth Forum at the African Union Headquarters, development partners, the private sector, institutions of higher learning and the civil societies, pledged millions of dollars and offered opportunities aimed at benefiting millions of African youth across the continent, in the key areas of Employment, Entrepreneurship, Education and Engagement (4E’s).
The following pledges were made;
- Open Society Foundation pledged USD 1 million.
- Trace TV pledged USD 50 Million to set up online learning platform to educate young people across the continent.
- Facebook offered to train 40,000 small and medium sized enterprises (SME's) across the various African countries on digital marketing skills.
- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) pledged USD 500 million targeted at 6 million young Africans by 2021.
- German Government committed to increase to 40 million Euros, and an additional 1.5 million Euro, for technical assistance to youth programs.
- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) committed to deploy 200 African Youth to the support the AU activities through the African union Volunteer corps program.
- Afrexim Bank offered training in the banking sector and to further provide employment opportunities by offering internships that are integrating to the initiative. In Addition to the existing post-graduate degree program, the bank will offer start-up capital to entrepreneurs.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) committed to organize the first global youth employment forum in Africa to be hosted in Nigeria. ILO will also increase internships for young women and men.