ADEA participates in the creation of an international platform for Francophone youth

On April 28 and 29, 2014, ADEA took part in a workshop on the creation of an international platform for Francophone youth networks. The workshop was held in Paris, at the headquarters of the International Organization of the French-speaking Communities (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie – OIF).

The workshop was organized by the OIF, in partnership with the Parliamentary Assembly of the French-speaking Communities (Assemblée Parlementaire de la Francophonie – APF), the International Association of French-speaking Mayors (Association International des Maires Francophones – AIMF), the Francophone University Agency (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie – AUF), the Conference of Ministers of Youth and Sports of the French-speaking Communities (Conférence des Ministres de la Jeunesse et des Sports de la Francophonie – CONFEJES) and TV5 Monde. It was attended by many representatives of organizations and networks that are representative of the diversity, both geographic and thematic, of the French-speaking world.

The platform was created to provide a single, representative voice for Francophone youth in all global forums relating to youth and the French-speaking communities of the world.

The workshop defined the platform’s mission as follows: to unify the initiatives of Francophone youth networks and serve as a contact point for all parties interested in the issues and themes concerned by the platform.

Its objectives will be as follows:
•    to build the capacity of the various networks by encouraging cooperation and exchange of information and expertise;
•    to promote the use of French while respecting cultural diversity and facilitate access for young people to the opportunities available in the Francophone world;
•    to encourage active participation by the representatives of the network in all events and decision-making bodies relating to youth and the French-speaking communities of the world;
•    to stimulate and facilitate reflection on the post-2015 sustainable development objectives and encourage Francophone youth to contribute to achieving them.

The official launch of the platform will take place at the 15th Summit of the French-speaking Communities, to be held in Dakar in November 2014.

With the support of its youth network, which includes many young Francophones, ADEA will participate fully in developing the action plan for the platform and will be a member of the thematic group on youth employment that will subsequently be established.

For further information, please contact Raky Gassama-Coly, focal point, ADEA Youth Forum, r.gassamacoly@afdb.org