What is SPEAK AFRICA?
SPEAK AFRICA
Continental Communication and Advocacy Platform for African Children & Young People
What is SPEAK AFRICA?
Speak Africa is a Pan-African communication strategy and platform designed to work in partnership with young people to improve opportunities for their expression, exchange and meaningful participation in advocacy, decision-making and development using multi-media tools and channels (i.e. online, TV, Radio and Print) as well as visual and performing arts and culture.
In November 2006, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) the African Union (AU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) organised the Fifth African Development Forum (ADF V) on ‘African Youth and Leadership in the 21st Century’. Following the forum, Speak Africa was recognized by the African Union as a mechanism to assist in institutionalizing the participation of young Africans and channeling of their potential towards meaningful engagement in the development of relevant policies and programmes in Africa .
While a Secretariat for Speak Africa is currently hosted by UNICEF Ethiopia, the governance structure for Speak Africa provides for leadership of partnerships and activities in various African countries by partner agencies (UN agencies, NGOs working on/with children and youth, associations, youth clubs etc).
Main Areas of Focus and Objectives of Speak Africa
Exchange and Networking :To facilitate sharing of experiences, ideas and building consensus on key issues amongst young people through face-to-face and virtual dialogue, as well as support for children and youth networks.
Media and Advocacy Training and Mentorship :To build the capacities of young people in utilising the media effectively in their advocacy and other communication initiatives.
Speak Africa Product Development and Dissemination: To increase visibility of young people and their impact on public opinion by broadening spaces on mainstream media and other channels for media products made by or about children and youth.
Advocacy and Exchange with Decision Makers, Policy Makers and Political Leaders: To facilitate inter-generational exchange and understanding and expand the influence of young people in holding leaders accountable for their promises and contributing to decision making at all levels including high level continental fora.
Knowledge Management :To provide a platform for sharing of information, documentation, research, good practices and lessons learned related to the children and youth agenda in Africa, for easy access and use by young people and those working to support them.
Partnerships and Resource Mobilization
To strengthen partnerships, resource sharing and resource mobilization amongst children and youth organizations and organizations working in their interest, in order to expand opportunities for meaningful youth engagement and development.
Speak Africa Work in Progress:
• Development of a resource pack that will bring together in one place relevant documents related to the children and youth agenda in Africa.
• Development of an advocacy and media training strategy and pack that will guide and focus future training programmes.
To partner Speak Africa on any of the above mentioned areas of focus, please send an email to info@speakafrica.org
