African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy to participate in ECOSOC Youth Forum

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By Baboloki Semele

The United Nations 2023 Annual Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum takes place amidst a world challenged by geopolitical tensions, a relentless climate crisis, rising poverty and inequalities, and a slow and uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Against this backdrop, the Forum is an opportunity for young people to voice their views and concerns and galvanize actions on transforming the world into a more sustainable place and engagement with Ministers of Youth.

As part of her mandate, the African Union Chairperson’s Youth Envoy will participate in and co-convene several events during the United Nations 2023 Annual Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC )Youth Forum alongside Africa’s Youth Delegates and AU Member States. Ms. Chido Mpemba will use the platform to amplify the need for collaboration between the AU Agenda 2063 and UN Agenda 2030 as being crucial to strengthening African youth participation in ending global inequalities and renewed commitments to strengthening values of international cooperation.

The AU Youth Envoy is set to participate at the UN Youth Ecosoc Forum and will moderate the Africa Regional Breakout Session to discuss Agenda 2063 and the AU theme of the year.

Ms. Chido Mpemba is also due to speak in the closing session of the ECOSOC Youth Forum to conclude with closing reflections and key takeaways from the forum alongside her counterpart, the UN Secretary General’s Youth Envoy, Mrs. Jayathma Wickramanayake, the President of the ECOSOC, H.E Lachezara Stoeva and the Under Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, Mr. Li Junhua.

On the sidelines of the UN Youth Ecosoc Forum, the African Union will convene aside event with AU member states and Miss Chido Mpemba will join the Permanent Representative of the African Union to the United Nations, Ambassador Fatima K. Mohammed for a Side Event to be held on the theme “Accelerating the COVID-19 recovery efforts, with and for the youth”.