Over 800 international and local youth delegates participated in the symposium. H.E. Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda was accompanied by his Cabinet, Special Representative of the Chairperson of the APRM Forum of Heads of State and Government (name of the representative), Ministers from African Union Member States, AU Permanent Representatives, APRM Panel of Eminent Persons, Representatives of AU Organs, the African Union Youth Envoy, European Union Ambassador to Uganda, representatives Uganda National Youth Council and leaders of youth led organisations. The Symposium agenda was tailored to bring youth and decision makers for an intergenerational dialogue to upscale youth participation in democracy and good governance.

THE SYMPOSIUM:

RECALLLED the Decision by H.E. Idris Derby Into, the late President of the Republic of Chad, Chair of the APRM Forum of Heads of State and Government (2018-2020) and AU Champion of Youth, for the APRM to host an annual APRM Youth Symposium so as to mainstream youth participation in the APRM Processes and in promoting democracy and good governance on the continent.

FURTHER RECALLED, the Outcomes of the First APRM Youth Symposium held under the patronage of H.E. Idris Derby Into, the late President of the Republic of Chad, in Ndjamena, Republic of Chad, in July 2018, which amongst others called for youth mainstreaming in APRM processes and in the promotion of democracy and good governance as well as the institutionalization of the APRM Youth Symposium.

INSPIRED, by the Outcomes of the Second APRM Youth Symposium held under the patronage of H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, the President of the Republic of Kenya, in Nairobi, Republic of Kenya, in September 2021, which amongst other requested APRM Member States to consider targeted reviews on youth governance issues, inclusion of youth APRM National Governing Councils and upscaling of youth participation in APRM processes and in the promotion of democracy and good governance.

NOTED, that African youth occupy an important place in the APRM philosophy, methodology and processes and therefore efforts of strengthening democracy and good governance will only be strengthened with their meaningful participation and contribution.

RECALLED, the African Youth Charter adopted by the 7th Ordinary Session of AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in Banjul, The Gambia, on 2nd July 2006, particularly, Article 11, which promotes youth participation in democracy and good governance in all spheres of society.

AFFIRMED FULL SUPPORT of the African Plan of Action for Youth Empowerment, African Youth Charter, AU Decision on Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth, and Targets on Youth articulated in Agenda 2063.

WELCOMED WITH GRATITUTE, the launch of the 1 Million Next Level Initiative for Uganda, an idea by H.E Moussa Faki, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and a follow-up on the 1 million 2021 Campaign, to create opportunities for young people through Education, Employment, Engagement, Entrepreneurship and Health and Wellbeing (4Es+H) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention launch of the AU COVID-19 Vaccination Bingwa Initiative.

CONCERNED, by the levels of youth unemployment and underemployment exacerbated by the COVID-19 Pandemic and historical socio-economic context of African countries.

URGED, AU Member States to draw lessons from the APRM Targeted Review on Youth Unemployment recently conducted in the Republic of Namibia, and urgently act in addressing lack of youth skills development, skills mismatch, unstable labour market, gender discrimination, inappropriate or lack of career guidance in schools for youth and lack of access for experience for youth in addressing the scourge of youth unemployment.

FURTHER CALLED on African governments to address Illicit Financial Flows to maximise their tax returns, keep a pool of resources within their economies, combat criminal and corrupt activities and mobilize resources for youth development.

REQUESTED AU Member States, Private Sector, Civil Society, Development Partners and African Youth to look at ICT as a new source of job creation and value addition on African products and services on the international market.

FURTHER REQUESTED, AU Member States to upscale digital literacy of the citizens/youth and overcome digital divide caused by lack of access to smart devices and connectivity and urgently legislate laws to protect data and intellectual property.

UNDERSCORED THE NEED, for African youth to pay attention to the resurgence of Unconstitutional Changes of Government that have remerged in AU Member States and request youth to reject Coup d’état’s and uphold constitutionalism, rule of law and the ideals enshrined within the Constitutive Act of the African Union.

URGED , AU Member States to promote peace, security and governance by signing, ratifying and domesticating all crucial governance instruments and for youth to support the implementation of Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council; The African Union Post-Conflict and Reconstruction Policy Framework; the Conference on Stability, Security, Development and Democracy (CSSDCA); the AU Convection Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa; the African Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa; the African Union Convection for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa.

NOTED, with concern the climate change disastrous consequences on the livelihood of African people and calling for youth and youth-led organizations to lead in developing strategies to fight climate change ahead of the COP26 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

FURTHER NOTED, the need for adoption of the Country Structural Vulnerability and Resilience Assessments (CSVRA’s) into National Early Warning Mechanisms for AU Member States and request youth to develop African Youth position on climate actions for implementation on national levels.

UNDERSCORED, the need for AU Member States and Youth to prioritize and leverage the potential of the African Diaspora and use migration as a positive phenomenon that can be harnessed for development of Africa.

ENCOURAGED ,by the AU Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment and other Member State and AU led frameworks to harness benefits of migration and development of people through movement and requests young people to promote the framework.

FURTHER ENCOURAGED, the inclusion of Youth Peace and Security Agenda into Continental Initiatives and National Action Plans & further recognising The African Union, African Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAP) as a good practice that could be replicated at the grassroot level. Therefore, calling on AU Member States to urgently appoint African Youth Ambassadors for Peace at National and grassroot levels.

NOTED WITH APPRECIATION, the APRM Bi- Annual Africa Governance Report (AGR): African Governance Futures 2021 prepared by the APRM and the African Governance Architecture Platform Members.

CALLED on African Youth through National Youth Councils to contribute towards the development of the African Governance Report 2023 whose focus is on Unconstitutional Changes of Government and will be championed by H.E Julius Maada Wonie Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the APRM Forum of Heads of State and Government at the 36th Ordinary Session African Union Assembly of Heads of States and Government scheduled to take place in February 2023.

EXPRRESED FULL COMMITMENT to implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063 particularly Aspiration 3, Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law, Aspiration 4, a peaceful and secure Africa, and Aspiration 6, Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by its people, especially women and youth and caring for children.

REAFFIRMED, the role of the National Youth Councils as legitimate representatives of youth in Member States and key stakeholders in youth development.

REQUESTED the concerned stakeholders to revitalize and reinvigorate the Pan-African Youth Union, which has been recognized by the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council held in January 2009, through Decision EX.CL/Dec.468(XIV). The Executive Council through as the continental coordinating body for youth organizations and as the focal agency of the African Union on youth matters.

EXPRESSED GREAT APPRECIATION to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Namibia, and Republic of Kenya for committing to pilot the APRM Youth Toolkit for Targeted Reviews.

FURTHER EXPRESSED PROFOUND APPRECIATION to the coming into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and commencement of trade by Member States under the agreement.

CALLED on AU Member States to promote descent jobs and income for young people by promoting youth start-ups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to thrive under the AfCFTA lowering costs of trade and free movement of people.

AKNOWLEGED WITH GRATITUTE, the unwavering support provided by the Government of Uganda, the AU Policy Organs, the African Union Commission Woman, Gender and Youth Directorate, The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and other AU Organs and Institutions, the International Organization for Migration, European Union in Uganda, UNICEF, GIZ, Youth for Tax Justice Network and Uganda National Youth Council.

REQUESTED, an APRM Member States from either the North African or Southern Africa regions that have not yet hosted the Symposium to offer to Host the next APRM Youth Symposium.

FURTHER REQUESTED, the APRM Continental Secretariat, the African Union Commission, the Host State and the relevant stakeholders to organize the next APRM Youth Symposium earnestly and mobilize the necessary resources for the successful organization of the meeting.

CALLED on the APRM Continental Secretariat, the African Union Commission to present the Outcomes of the Third Youth Symposium to the relevant APRM Structures and AU Policy Organs for consideration and possible action.

DONE ON 9 JULY 2022 IN KAMPALA, REPUBLIC OF UGANDA