By:Hertha Ekandjo
The European Union has launched the EU-Namibia Youth Sounding Board (YSB) which aims to provide a space for meaningful involvement of young people in the EU’s cooperation with Namibia.
The launch took place earlier this week at the EU country office.
This youth-centric platform will provide a unique opportunity for young Namibians to voice to the EU their perspectives, ideas, and concerns on critical issues affecting their lives and communities.
The board consists of 25 members who were selected from a list of more than 200 applicants.
The EU-Namibia YSB will advocate for youth-centred policies and initiatives, ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of the younger generation are integrated into EU’s development cooperation.
Through the EU-Namibia YSB, the EU seeks to amplify the voices of young people and ensure that their opinions are heard and valued in decision-making processes.
EU Ambassador to Namibia, Sinikka Antila expressed eagerness for the historic launch of the YSB, stating that Namibia has become the 11th African country to establish this youth-centric platform.
The Ambassador said the EU believes young people are the driving force behind positive change in any society.
“Their energy, creativity, and passion have the potential to shape a brighter future for Namibia. Through this platform, we aim to create an inclusive and participatory space for the youth to be heard, respected, and acted upon,” Antila explained.
The EU-Namibia YSB has three pillars of action, with the first being to Engage, which is to increase young people’s voices in EU policy and decision-making including programming at all levels through constructive dialogue.
The second pillar of action is to Connect: this is to foster opportunities for young people to network and exchange with their peers.
The third is to Empower, where the platform will empower young Namibians by providing them with a space to express their views on matters that directly impact their lives, such as education, employment, social justice, climate action, and sustainable development.
The Youth Action Plan (YAP) for the EU external action for 2022-2027 is the first-ever policy framework for a strategic partnership with young people around the world.
“The main priority of the YAP is to shape external action in partnership with young people, to ensure their ownership and thus accelerate progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international commitments, such as the UN Youth, Peace and Security Agenda,” the Ambassador indicated.
The YAP comprises several programmes that aim at reinforcing the ties between the youth in Europe and their African counterparts.
“To build a stronger and more inclusive society, the EU recognises the immense potential of Namibia’s youth and acknowledges their role as catalysts for positive change. Together, we can build a more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable Namibia for generations to come,” the EU diplomat emphasised.
The launch took place in the presence of EU member states in Namibia, namely Finland, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain, who expressed their interest and commitment to support this new mechanism.
