The African Union is seeking applications for the Youth Reference Committee, a public-private-youth initiative co-led by the Office of the Youth Envoy through the Austrian National Youth Council to establish a network of national and international youth champions.
Key Thematic Areas
- Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Youth Civic Engagement and Advocacy
- Climate Change, Climate Resilience & Climate Justice
- Youth in Peace, Security, Politics and Democratic Governance
- Youth and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA)
- Youth Development, Capacity Building & Bridging the Digital Skills Gender Gap for an Equal Labour Force
- Mental health and well-being of youth at risk (War, Political Instability, Forced Migration, Harmful Practices)
Responsibilities and duties of the reference committee:
- Demonstrate commitment to meaningful youth engagement in various development thematics, nationally and internationally.
- Liaise with the AU Office of the Youth Envoy and partners to define the collaboration around selected thematic and policy areas.
- Start conversations and work together with young people and relevant parties in your region and country.
- Be willing to conduct research, create products (such as podcasts), and draft youth-centred development policy advice on key thematics.
- Participate in dialogue on project topics between politicians and African and European youth.
- Participate in lobbying appointments and Co-drafting a youth position paper. Participate in Co-designing a toolkit on youth engagement from an international perspective.
Selection and Eligibility Criteria
- Proficiency in any AU language
- Have a valid passport with at least six months
- Be an African residing in any African country
- Eighteen to Thirty-Five years of age at the time of application
- Actively engaged with your local community of young people, online and offline Must be willing to amplify the project in your local community of young people Flexible and open-minded to work with diverse groups of people
- Socially involved and interested in development issues and policy dialogue on ending inequalities
- Young people with experience in youth engagement and affiliated with youth- led organisations, networks or movements are encouraged to apply.
For more information, visit Youth Reference Committee.
