Progress report on the establishment of an African fund for youth : a feasibility study

Abstract

The present report summarizes the views of member States on the proposed fund, analyses the problems of youth which it should address and proposes how it might be organized and operated. The missions confirmed that in all the countries visited, youth problems were of utmost concern to the authorities. The definition of youth varied from the standard 15 to 24 years (as in Zambia) to 12 to 30 years (as in Swaziland) and 14 to 35 (Mozambique). In all cases, youth constituted a significant proportion of the population. All the government officials contacted identified youth unemployment, especially educated unemployment, as the biggest social problem which they have had to contend with over the years. This problem is further compounded by the deteriorating conditions in rural areas which have accelerated the rural-to-urban migration trends, involving mainly youth. A related problem is the one of skill deficiency which is prevalent among the youth and which the school system in many African countries has not as yet adequately addressed. Then there are the problems of access to factors of production, primarily land and credit, which further complicates the plight of youth in the labour market. Therefore, a growing feeling of frustration is emerging among the youth which is increasingly being translated into anti-social behavior and pushing up the levels of crime, drug-abuse and other social problems.