Network of African Youths for Development (NAYD)
held its 2nd Google hangout this year on the 14th of
March which focused on the ability of Africa to
effectively implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will be
adopted this year. NAYD was privileged to have the presence of three
amazing changemakers; Patson Malisa, NAYD CC
South Africa, Petrider Paul, NAYD CC
Tanzania and Alivn Nyika NAYD CC
Zimbabwe. As always this particular
discussion was not without internet connection challenges, something we hope will improve as we move towards the
next phase of development in Africa, but we managed to get informed insights
from the young people on whether Africa has what it takes to implement these
goals.
To determine how well Africa is prepared to
handle the next development goals bearing in mind that we are just emerging
from another phase of development characterized by MDGs, a few things came into
the forefront from the opinions of the guests;
Technology
Over time Africa has been challenged in not only
implementation but also in monitoring and design of projects by inadequate or
lack of technology. It was emphasized that it is
not as much the technological capacity but the distribution of this technology
within countries and even regions. In a country that has access to the
latest technology in most of its major urban areas then development actors in
that country must ensure that access is not a preserve of a few but an open
resource that even the people in rural livelihoods can benefit from. Africa
needs to make sure that access to technology is uniform regardless of physical
location and status, with the government taking charge of distribution to
ensure affordability.
Funding
The question of the probability of SDGs being
viewed as just another excuse to ensure inflow of aid into Africa can’t be
overlooked. It is therefore very important for Africa to determine right from
the onset how the SDGs will be financed. With an example of the Financing for Sustainable Development Forum that
was hosted in London on February 3rd this year by Investec Asset
Management (IAM) and SDSN, and another coming up in July in Addis Ababa, definitely
the international community is already having this conversation and Africa
can’t be left behind. It goes that Africa already has a vast amount of natural
resources that have not been fully exploited or are exploited at the expense of
the local communities. This is what Africa needs to focus on, how they can exploit these resources profitably and
within environmental boundaries. On that note Africa will also need to
understand the global climate so that it is not shortchanged in trade as has
been the case. One of the guests put it very clearly ‘we are going to have to learn how to be
smart’ that means trade smart and engage with the international
community in a profitable way as partners. Another emerging issue was the need
to bring in private investment. Often the private sector has been overlooked
yet they play a very huge role in the economy, to fully implement the SDGs the
private sector will also have to be brought on board.
Education
system
The education system featured strongly in the
discussion since it is responsible for the next generation of young people who
not only benefit from these goals but also who will play an active role in
implementation. The debate surrounding the education system in most African
countries is ongoing in different forums. It is important to note that most of
it has been inherited from the colonial period and it is a system which often
is a tool that, unfortunately, keep the majority of the young people from
developing. University graduates go through the
system and gain a sense of entitlement, to a job, to a house, to a car…which is
something that doesn’t speak to development which seeks for innovations, and
proactive engagement at the community level.
On that same note there is some disconnect
between the academia and development actors. The academia being the custodians
of the next brilliant minds of Africa should play an active role in ensuring
they emerge as young people who are ready to use the skills they acquire to
address challenges at the society. The research that is conducted by many
students shouldn’t just be another project which is done and after the student
is awarded a degree certificate that is it, rather the academia should come
together with the government and the local community and seek to get solutions
for the challenges at the community level. The need for governments to invest
more in higher institutions of learning and research centers can’t be
emphasized enough.
Human
capacity
Africa has an enabled human resource but it will need a lot of
capacity building that will ensure that the people, not only those working in
the development agencies and the civil society organizations but also those at
the grassroots understand what sustainable development goals are, their
relevance and what they mean to an individual at the community. This calls for
awareness drives to reach to the people and localize these goals, this is a
task that the civil society Organizations can do very well. Besides linking up
the people and governments CSOs should also put the
SDGs into a language that speaks to the people which in turn will stimulate
action.
Governance
Now more than ever there needs to be a change in
the governance processes and institutions within Africa which will be partly in
charge of implementing the SDGs. There’s need for more collaboration between
the governments and the CSOs. The era of hoarding
information or approaching collaboration efforts with mistrust between the
government and civil society is over; SDGs will require more open and
interactive joint efforts.
The government must also make sure to encourage flexibility
in terms of investments such that when disaster
strikes a country is not incapacitated but has an alternative source of revenue.
This will also call for more innovations to widen the alternatives within
countries and in the region. It was also
stressed on the need for interdependency, which means that African countries
need to enhance favourable relationships with each other to foster positive
exchanges especially in trade.
Finally there is need for youth organizations to
be more involved not only in the implementation stage but also in the drawing
of policies and in decision making. Consultations
have been done but more is needed for a balanced representation of views from
the youth. At the same time during public awareness drives a change in
approach is needed, there is a tendency to politicize most things in Africa,
thus it is important for these youth organizations to be careful how they
address the people at the grassroots as they outline the importance of the
SDGs.
NAYD is very excited at the response from young
people across the globe towards SDGs and the ongoing efforts at the community
level. Further NAYD is seriously committed to giving young people a platform to
actively engage in conversations on the effective implementation of SDGs in the
next phase of development. Let us build Africa together.
Judyannet Muchiri
The full hangout can be viewed at http://youtu.be/jv9nQOCm2TI
