AFRICAN UNION

UNION AFRICAINE
UNIO AFRICANA

ANNUAL HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND

GOVERNANCE

2015 DGTRENDS
OPEN CALL FOR NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS

Introduction
As part of the activities of the 2015 (4th) High Level Dialogue (HLD) on Democracy,
Elections and Governance which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 26-27
November 2015, the African Union Commission (AUC) will facilitate the inclusion of
young people's specificities and voices into the conversation through National
Conversations. These Conversations will be held around the theme Youth
participation and leadership in political parties in Africa: Special focus on young
women for the Continental Youth Consultations due to take place in Kigali, Rwanda
from 23-25 November, 2015. The theme of the Youth Consultation is linked to that of
the 2015 Dialogue under the theme Womens Equal Participation and Leadership in
Political Parties in Africa.
The overall goal of the 2015 Youth Consultations is to provide a collaborative, open
and inclusive space for young people involved in different spheres of political life
across their respective regions to discuss the current state of youth political
participation particularly young women and the prospects that they envision for
strengthening the ways in which young people and young women particularly can
lead and serve in political parties and governments.
In an effort to deliver on the above goal national conversations will specifically aim
at:
1. Sharing evidence-based knowledge and analysis on youth and particularly
young womens participation in political parties in Africa;
2. Exchanging comparable lessons, experience and practices on the roles of
young people in fostering accountable, responsive and effective governance
throughout the continent;
3. Assessing the effectiveness of the existing participatory structures of youth
and particularly young women in political parties; and
4. Identifying the specific roles of state and non-state actors (especially civil
society) as well as National development partners towards strengthening
youth engagement in democratic governance.
Expected Outputs and Outcomes
1. A synopsis of national specific challenges to and opportunities for youth and
women on political participation and governance;
2. An analysis of the priority issues for youth and women that could be
addressed through increased participation in political parties activities;
3. Increased numbers and quality of youth and women representation in
decision-making structures and political leadership in AU Member States;
4. A National Report from each participating country that outlines policy and
practical suggestions to the AU Member States, Organs, Institutions and
Regional Economic Communities on ways to support increased participation
of youth and women in political parties as an enabling factor to the promotion
of good governance and strengthening of democracy on the continent. These
Reports will be validated at the Continental Youth Pre-Forum and
subsequently adopted at the HLD in November 2015.

Call for National Conversation Facilitators

As part of the conversations leading up to the High Level Dialogue in November,
AUC call upon Youth led and oriented CSOs to express interest to facilitate non
partisan national conversations on the theme of the 2015 Youth consultations.
Participants
Participants should be drawn from both political and civic youth organisations. There
should be representation from across political divides, across the country and of men
and women. Invited participants should include:
Youth in political parties / youth wings
Youth in civil society organisations that focus on political participation or youth
and politics
Non-partisan youth who are interested in participating in politics
Young women currently within political parties or those interested in increased
participation in political parties
The consultations may take the form of physical or virtual meetings.
Through this open call, interested youth led or oriented organisations are requested
to send in a maximum of two page proposal on the proposed actions/activities in line
with the objectives and expected outcomes highlighted above. In the design of the
proposed actions/activities, priority will be given to proposals with clarity in the
following areas:
1. Participation of young wing/league members of political parties from various
divides (Leading and Opposition)
2. Demonstrate how the gender dimensions of the discussion will be ensured
3. Ensure the active engagement of both rural and urban youth in the
conversations
4. Utilise effectively social media tools
Successful organisations will be designated as National Conversation Leads and will
be required to provide technical, logistical and financial support towards the
convening of the national conversation. In addition, these organisations will be
required to work with other organisations in their respective Member States. The
national conversations should be undertaken between August 24 and September 25,
2015.
Interested organisation should address their two page proposal to Ibraheem Sanusi
at sanusii@africa-union.org. Deadline for the receipt of proposal is Friday 19th
August 2015.