The document outlines COMESA's Youth Programme and partnerships to support it. The programme will be implemented across COMESA's 19 member states in Southern and East Africa, North Africa, and the Indian Ocean. It involves three pilot projects focused on youth empowerment, character development, and innovation/entrepreneurship. The programme's strategic priorities are increasing knowledge on youth issues, implementing the African Youth Charter, boosting youth participation and employment opportunities. Successful implementation requires partnerships with various stakeholders, including member state governments, private sector, civil society, youth groups, and international organizations. Partnerships are crucial to empowering youth and achieving peace, security, and sustainable development in the region.

1. COMESA Youth Programme &
Partnerships
By
Beatrice S. Hamusonde
Director Gender & Social Affairs
Global Peace and Leadership Conference,
July 23, 2015, Zanzibar, Tanzania

2. Presentation Outline
• COMESA Member States
• Youth Programme and Pilot Projects
• Partnership
• Conclusion

3. COMESA 19 MEMBER STATES
The 19 Member States (in
Southern and East Africa,
North Africa and the Indian
Ocean) give COMESA and its
partners:
1. A huge constituency to
address issues of the
Youth in the region
2. An opportunity to
contribute to the
promotion and
attainment of peace,
security and sustainable
development in the
region by engaging with
the youth people

4. COMESA YOUTH PROGRAMME
• COMESA in partnership with UNIDO and Global Peace
Foundation Development a Youth Programme to be
implemented in all the 19 COMESA Member States
• Three Pilot Projects drawn from the Youth Programme are:
– Youth Empowerment through Sustainable Zero Waste
Management and Afforestation Initiative
– Character and Creativity Initiative and Leap Hubs Project
– Innovation, Development and Entrepreneurship for All (IDEA):
Productive Work for Youth in Eastern and Southern Africa

5. Strategic Priorities of the Youth Programme
– Deeping the knowledge base on youth empowerment
and development through research, knowledge sharing
and documentation;
– Accelerate implementation of the African Youth Charter
and the UN World Programme of Action for Youth;
– Enhancing youth participation in national socio-
economic development and regional integration;
– Stimulating the expansion of decent and productive
work opportunities for youth in the private sector; and
– Enhancing education and training for greater youth
employment.

6. Detailed Components of the Youth Programme
– Entrepreneurship,
– Innovation and creativity,
– Education, Training, Internship and Mentorship for Employability
– Leadership: Civil and Political Participation/ and promotion of Peace,
Security for Sustainable Development,
– Social Responsibility, Volunteerism and Service to the Community, and
social values and norms of respect, love and peace,
– Health: HIV/AIDS, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Drug Abuse,
Alcoholism,
– Cultural Development and Exchange,
– Elimination of negative practices such as Early Marriages, FGM, gender
based violence,
– Environmental management,
– Networking and Partnerships with

7. Partnerships for the Youth Programme
– COMESA has an MoU with Global Peace Foundation
for the implementation of the Youth Programme
– For COMESA and GPF to be able to implement the
Youth Programme it needs partnerships with
various stakeholders:
• Member States (Ministries of Youth, Gender, Education,
etc), Eminent leaders to champion youth empowerment,
other RECs, African Union Commission, Private Sector,
Civil Society Organizations, Youth Groups and Experts,
Academia, Religious Bodies, Funding Agencies, UN
Agencies, Foundations in the region and abroad.

8. Conclusion
– Partnerships, Partnerships, Partnerships and
Partnerships is the approach to youth
empowerment, peace, security and sustainable
development
– We call upon the cooperating partners, private
sector, foundations, UN agencies, religious bodies
and well wishers to support the COMESA Youth
Programme so that we can implement it effectively

9. Conclusion
Thank You for Listening
God Bless You All.