PRESS RELEASE: AFRICA COMMISSION AGREES ON SIX CONCRETE INITIATIVES TO CREATE NEW JOBS FOR AFRICA’S YOUTH

Addis Ababa yesterday set the scene for the second meeting of the international Africa Commission, initiated by the Danish Government. The commissioners presented new measures to tackle one of Africa’s greatest challenges: the need to create new and better jobs for Africa’s youth.

The commission, chaired the Prime Minister of Denmark, brings together key international stakeholders such as the President of Tanzania, the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, the Chairman of the Commission of the African Union, the President of the African Development Bank, the President of ECOWAS, and the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation.

Other members of the Africa Commission include Dr. Mo Ibrahim, founder of Celtel and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr. Greg Mills, Director of the Brenthurst Foundation, and Ms. Betty Maina, Executive Director of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss concrete initiatives that can foster growth and job creation in Africa. The commission’s ambition is to bring about real change for Africa’s growing number of young people by improving its competitiveness in the global market.

The commissioners agreed on six concrete initiatives that will drive the commission’s work in the months to come:

1. Better access to investment finance and advisory services for small and medium sized enterprises.
2. Boost support to the private sector in order to add more value to commodities, especially in agriculture.
3. Increased support to additional and relevant post primary education, including technical and vocational education and training to facilitate private sector led growth and improve competitiveness.
4. Development of sustainable energy, especially at local level in areas such as wind, hydro, bio-mass, solar and bio fuel must be enhanced.
5. Support to young entrepreneurs in Africa through access to risk capital, skills training and advisory services.
6. Create an index for African competitiveness to spur action on concrete measures to ensure private sector-led growth.

The commission underlined that efforts towards good governance is fundamental for all of the initiatives. Efforts should aim at developing effective public sectors in order to combat corruption, protect private property rights and ensure the rule of law.

The Africa Commission was launched in April 2008. During 2008 the commission has carried out five thematic conferences in Africa with more than 500 participants. The recommendations collected during this thorough consultation process have provided valuable input to the commission. The commission’s final and concluding report will be presented in May next year.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please contact Head of Communications, Esben Q. Harboe, at esbeha@um.dk.