ABOUT SPEAK AFRICA.ORG

SPEAK AFRICA
Continental Communication and Advocacy Platform
for the African Children & Youth Agenda

What is SPEAK AFRICA?
Speak Africa is a Pan-African youth-focused communication strategy and information platform designed to
harness political will for prioritizing youth on the development agenda in keeping with the African Youth
Charter. Speak Africa is a movement of young Africans using the channels of media, art and culture for youth to
express themselves and exchange ideas and information to transform their lives and continent.

When and why was SPEAK AFRICA initiated?
Speak Africa was conceived to enhance the preparatory process for ADF-V on the theme “Youth Leadership
for the 21st Century”, held in Addis Ababa, 16-18 November 2006. The initiative was supported by the African
Union and key United Nations agencies, including ECA, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNESCO, with a coordination
role played by UNICEF. Speak Africa contributes to the African Union’s work with youth and is endorsed by the
Post ADF-V Steering Committee as a preparatory and follow-up platform and communication strategy for the
ADF-V agenda.

Main areas of focus and objectives of Speak Africa

Advocacy with Decision Makers, Policy Makers and Political Leaders
• To facilitate inter-generational interaction and understanding, expand the influence of youth on decision
makers at all levels, support pan-African youth alliances that will have legitimacy to engage with African
leaders during high level decision making fora and to hold them accountable for their promises.

Youth capacity development, exchange and networking
• To facilitate connections amongst youth through face-to- face interactions and increased access to
communication technology in order to build consensus on common issues, increase sharing of knowledge,
experiences and best practices and strengthen youth networks.

Youth media training and mentorship
• To build the capacities of youth in advocacy, communication, media production, and leadership.

Speak Africa product development and dissemination
• To increase public visibility of youth and their impact on public opinion through wide dissemination of
youth-focused media products.

Knowledge management, partnerships and resource mobilization
• To provide a platform for strengthening exchange amongst personnel working with youth towards
sharing of experiences and lessons learned and expanding partnerships, resources and opportunities for
meaningful youth engagement and development.

Speak Africa and the Year of the African Youth

A Speak Africa consultation meeting was held in Addis Ababa January 9-13, 2008 attended by over 40 youth
representing all regions and major language groups of Africa (including the Diaspora), as well as partner
agencies including United Nations agencies, international NGOs (Plan International, Save the Children),
domestic NGOs including Africa Child Policy Forum, APPCAN, CONAFE, ENDA). The main aim and
outcome of the above meeting was the development of SPEAK AFRICA’s Plan of Action for the Year of the
African Youth, which was developed to align with the objectives and activities of the African Union’s Draft Plan
for the Year.

How is Speak Africa managed and operated?

Speak Africa will be under the guidance of the Post ADF- V Steering Committee consisting of the African
Union, UNECA and UN agencies. An expanded committee will include Ministers of Youth and Youth
representatives.

For the Year of the African Youth an interim governance structure for Speak Africa has been agreed that consists
of a Management Committee, and Editorial Committee, and a selection of satellite countries for outreach
activities. The following specific countries have been identified to assist in information dissemination and
partnership development towards implementing and modeling of Speak Africa strategies including youth
advocacy, media training, production and broadcast: North Africa – Egypt, Indian Ocean – Mauritius, East Africa –
Tanzania, South - South Africa, West Africa Francophone – Senegal, West Africa Anglophone – Nigeria/Gambia, Central Africa –
Cameroon, Mozambique – Lusophone.