Panel on African Commissions- Youth Coordinators

Introduction:

The African Regional Youth Initiative (ARYI), in partnership with the Forum for Global Action, has created a Panel on African Commissions (PAC) to promote participatory analysis and to develop national recommendations contributing to efforts leading to a strong and prosperous Africa. This panel was created as part of ARYI’s existing national and sub-regional structure allowing youth and adults to discuss and work jointly on development issues in Africa.

The PAC seeks to:

1. Facilitate public dialogue concerning Africa's place in the world.
2. Coordinate the work of at least ten (10) national commissions throughout Africa by October 2007 and produce clear recommendations to be delivered to government representatives, non-governmental organizations, donor agencies, and other development actors.
3. Popularize development initiatives at community and national levels through publications, research methodologies, conferences, and media work.

The PAC includes a team of leading figures in Africa such as former Ambassadors, Directors of national and international non-governmental organizations, representatives of foundations, a network of ARYI country and regional teams, as well as youth representatives from across Africa.

In February 2007, PAC identified nine youth coordinators tasked with managing PAC activities nationally and across Africa. Youth representation within the PAC is meant to foster meaningful youth-adult partnerships while deliberating and developing action-oriented activities promoting development in Africa. To date, there are nine PAC-Youth Coordinators in Africa.

In March, PAC-Youth conducted its first commission in South Africa. In April, another commission is planned in Zimbabwe and other African countries.

Interested to join the PAC-Youth initiative? get additional information about PAC? Visit the new PAC-Youth blog site at http://panelonafricancommissions.blogspot.com!