By Lindiwe Majele Sibanda

Today’s generation of young people is the largest in history. In developing countries, young people, aged 15 to 24 years old, make up on average 20 percent of the global population and represent a huge potential resource to their countries.

Yet ironically, rural areas are not benefiting fully from this resource (Globally, young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults). In fact, many rural communities are ageing rapidly precisely because, in the absence of incentives to remain, young women and men are leaving rural areas to seek employment opportunities elsewhere.

In Africa, the demographics are even more pronounced and troubling. Around 44 percent of the total population of sub-Saharan Africa is under the age of 16, making it the youngest region in the world.

Most of this over 200 million group is employed in agriculture, yet 40 percent of the total unemployed in Africa are youths, and 70 percent of these live in rural areas, where young people face particular constraints in gaining access to land, credit, training and new technologies.

By 2050, predictions are that 60 percent of people in Africa will be living in cities.

This reality has wide-ranging implications for food production in Africa in that farmers are typically elderly and engage in traditional farming practices. The problem is compounded further by climate change and extreme weather.

Africa contains 25 percent of the world’s total arable land, yet it produces only 10 percent of total agricultural outputs. Labour productivity in some of the poorest countries in Africa is below 10 percent of developed world levels and can even reach as low as one percent.

Meanwhile, soil quality is declining year after year, with Africans using on average 8kg fertilizer per hectare, compared to 101 kg in South Asia and 145 kg in the developed world

So why is more money not being invested into agriculture, wider educational opportunities and access to relevant vocational training programmes for youth? And why are young people not sensing this rare opportunity to transform an entire sector?

Resolving this paradox and responding to the challenges of expanding agricultural productivity and rural economic growth requires a greater effort to engage youth in agricultural production and processing and make them important players in the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

INVESTMENT, INCENTIVES AND TRAINING

This challenge demands at least three things; investment in social and economic infrastructure in rural areas, creation of tailor-made opportunities and economic incentives for young people to engage in agriculture and the rural non-farm economy, and more training for young men and women to build skills in both agronomy and business.

It is for this reason that FANRPAN focused on “Advocating for the active engagement of the youth in the agriculture value chain” at its 2011 Regional Food Security Policy Dialogue, which recently concluded in Swaziland. Approximately 300 delegates explored critical issues, especially changing the mindset that a career in agriculture does not offer possibilities.

One delegate, a 28-year old Malawian named Calvin Kamchacha, who is the executive director of the Farmers Forum for Trade and Social Justice (FAFOTRAJ), summarized the challenge well:

“There is a misconception in African society that agriculture is an activity that should be done after retirement from a ‘white-collar’ career. In order to get young people into agriculture, the sector needs to be re-branded and seen in its totality.

“When you look at the whole agricultural value chain, you discover there (are so many places) one can get involved, from inputs manufacturing and supply, agro-processing, marketing and financing of agricultural products all the way to the production process itself.”

Another youth delegate, Maureen Agena from Uganda, explained how she had been consoled and comforted by her family after being granted a university placement to study agriculture. Her brother, by comparison, had received praise and excitement when entering a degree programme in medicine.

In deal with the problem, FANRPAN has just launched an initiative called “African Youth in Agricultural Policy ” (AYAP), which aims to engage youth in the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme processes, helping them collect evidence and case studies as well as helping them contribute to future policies across Africa.

For Africa to achieve food security, youths must be regarded as critical agricultural players who need and deserve special attention, support and follow-up. With their energy, their passion and their talents, they can help to solve many of the serious problems the world faces today.

But first we must give them the tools they need to drive Africa’s green revolution while also safeguarding the continent’s natural resources and the environment.

In short, youths need to be part of decisions and policy processes for agriculture in Africa as they are the generation that will have to ensure that the continent’s growing population is fed.

Lindiwe Majele Sibanda heads the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN).

HARGEISA(SomalilandPress)—Admas College one of the top institutions in Somaliland higher education today graduated its third patched of graduates since the structure of the college. The college which has two campuses in Somaliland held an astonishing ceremony for its third class to graduate from the college at hotel Maansoor in Hargeisa. Approximately two hundred eighty nine students graduated from several schools from school of management to school of engineering.

Speaking at the ceremony first was Chancellor of Admas College Mr. Ahmed Dahir Mohamed who lectured the audience the part that Admas College has played in Somaliland’s higher institutions from the time when the college was established. Mr. Ahmed Dahir Mohamed stressed Admas College’s was the first institution that created an identical curriculum to Ethiopian universities. Mr. Ahmed went on farther to say that the college has certificate, diploma and degree both in their main campus in Ethiopia and its second campus in Hargeisa.

Also present at the graduation ceremony and gave few encouraging words to the class of 2011 were Vice President of Somaliland Mr. Abdirahman Abdillahi Ismail, former Vice President Mr. Ahmed Yasin,Director of Education Mr. Khadar Diiriye, Chairman of UCID party Mr. Faysal Ali-Warabe, former Chancellor of University of Berbera Mrs. Fadumo Said. Admas College has two campuses in Somaliland; the main campus is located in Hargeisa and the second is located in the city of Burco.

Somaliland National Television, interviews Robleh Mohamud Aidid “Lafcanbe”. Chairman of the Somaliland Youth Alliance of North America.

HARGEISA (SomalilandPress)—Somaliland Minister of Youth and Sports today inaugurated the first annual Somaliland Youth Exhibition at Crown hotel located in the heart of Hargeisa. Hundred of youth filled the banquet hall of Crown hotel for today’s event which was the first of its kind in the country. This year’s exhibition was organized by SONYO an NGO with collaboration from Somaliland Minister of Sports and Youth, GAVO, Doses of Hope, Telesom Company and Danish Refugee Council. The trade fair was made possible with the support and funding from Danish Refugee Council an NGO based in Somaliland.

This year’s fair featured variety of events that consisted of poetry contest, traditional dancing, debate about the danger of illegal migration of youth and arts showcase. Young Somaliland debated about the dangers of illegal journey to the Middle East and Europe that Somaliland youth experience and also that majority of migrants do not reach their destination.

Minister of You and Sports Mr. Abdi Said Fahiya was the first speak of the fair as he stressed the need to create jobs for the country’s youth. Mr. Fahiya said 70% of Somaliland population is youth therefore it is very significant to create jobs for these youth in order to avoid mass exodus of them from the country. Ahmed Wacays the director of SONYO also spoke at the fair and was quick to highlight that Somaliland Youth Group (SONYO) has been creating activities for the youth of the country with the minimum resources that the NGO has.

To sum it up Somaliland Youth Fair drew a huge audience from high school students to university students as this was the country’s first Youth Fair. The Youth Fair a success today as it concluded with a music concert and a promise to repeat the fair in 2012 with much more achievement.

HARGEISA (SomalilandPress)—Somaliland’s youth groups today celebrated International Youth Day at Guled Bark in the capital. International Youth Day is the official day when government and NGOs put a spotlight on youth issues worldwide since its United Nations designation in 1999. This year’s International Youth Day was on August 12, however the 12th turn out to be on a Friday which is a holiday in Somaliland. Today’s theme was “Youth empowerment” for this year’s international Youth Day, Somaliland ‘s population is 70% youth and only make up less than 5% in the government positions.

Today’s celebration at Guled Bark hotel was organized by Somaliland Youth Group (SONYO) and was attended by members of the government lead by the speaker of the house Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Ciro), Minster of Youth and Sports Mr. Abdi Said Faahiye and many other government officials. Somaliland Youth Group (SONYO) director Mr. Ahmed Abdi Wacays was the first to speak at the event where he expressed his concern with the government’s lack of involving the country’s youth in the new administration. Director Wacays recalled the ruling party’s campaign promise of encouraging a greater involvement of the country’s youth in the government administration so that they can be part of the new change that was to come. Mr. Wacays acknowledged that the youth has not received their share of the new administration and that they are still waiting for it.

Minister of Youth and Sports Mr. Abdi Said Faahiye was second to speak at the ceremony and was quick to recognize that his party’s promise to get the youth engaged in the government administration during the election has not been forgotten. Mr. Faahiye said “we are aware of the slow changes that is taking place, we have began implementing some changes and still have more transforming to make in order to give the youth greater participation of the country’s political system. The speaker of the parliament Mr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi (Ciro) was last to address the audience at the well rehearsed event, Mr. Abdillahi first thanked the organizers of the event by saying “I like to first thank the Somaliland Youth Group and the Somaliland youth for today’s International Youth Day.” The speaker of the parliament affirmed him support to give the youth bigger part taking government so that tangible change can be seen in the administration.

Today’s International Youth Day’s overall conclusion was a positive one and organizers hope that the government acknowledges the youth’s contribution to country, a key message of International Youth Day.

August 12, is International Youth Day and the UN is reminding governments of their commitments. It has been 10 years since the United Nations set out its World Programme of Action for Youth with calls to improve the lives of the world’s young people. International Youth Day gives the world an opportunity to recognise the potential of young people, to celebrate their achievements, and plan for ways to better engage young people to successfully take action in the development of their societies. It presents a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to rally together to ensure that young people are included in decision-making at all levels. It also aims at encouraging young people to dedicate themselves to achieving the objectives of progress and development, including the Millennium Development Goals.

The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) resolved, during its Executive Council, that the years 2009-2019 shall be the decade of youth development in Africa. Uganda, among other AU countries, is urged to ensure a decent education and job opportunities for its young people, to lift them out of poverty and protect their health.

Tips on how the youth can commemorate this day tomorrow:
Team up: Create a strategic youth team in your own community/district. This can be organised by the District Youth Councils since the youth council leadership is charged with a responsibility of mobilising, raising awareness about Government programmes and coordinating the youth for active participation towards youth development. This is a great opportunity to rally support and get key stakeholders involved. Everyone has a role to play in creating a better future for the young people, their stabilization is a priority! Find out more about youth organizations that exist in your community or if your District Youth Council or other local youth organizations are taking meaningful action on youth development.

Organise: This day can be used to forge new partnerships and launch practical action to rally Government and the private sector to act and implement concrete solutions. Write letters to the heads of academic institutions such as schools requesting for students to participate in the international youth day activities, invite local youth NGOs to showcase their achievements. Conduct research on how your local community contributes to youth development or plan a local project to promote sustainable development strategies in your community.

Take action: Hold forums, public discussions and campaigns to find out more about how young people can act to address their pertinent issues. For instance, youth can team up to take action on climate change and environmental conservation by organising a tree-planting exercise before the real day, you may plant like 500 trees on an identified area or piece of land like a school or public space. Research and evaluate what has been done successfully in other communities.

Often, International Youth Day can be used to raise awareness about youth participation, issues that are important to young people through newspapers, radio and the Internet. The media are important partners that can greatly increase public awareness on youth action for sustainable development.

Celebrate: Use this day to highlight issues related to job creation or showcase the outcome of your project in your community. Invite Government and local UN officials, community and business leaders to participate in your event. Celebrate International Youth Day 2011!

The writer is a member of the National Youth Council (NYC)

OTTAWA, Aug. 12, 2011 /CNW/ – To mark this year’s International Youth Day, August 12th, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) have joined forces to draw attention to the many challenges facing Canadian youth today.

The unemployment rate for Canadians between the ages of 15 and 24 now stands at 14.1%—a level almost twice that of the overall national average. The figure still does not account for the thousands of youth who are underemployed and often working part-time jobs at wages too low to cover the basic costs of living. In fact, in July alone, 22,200 full-time jobs for Canadians 15–24 were eliminated, while 24,600 part-time jobs were created. The problem is amplified by a growing number of Canadians, 55 and older, who either cannot afford to retire or have had to re-enter the labour market, thus making it even more difficult for young workers to find good, first-time jobs. Without decent, full-time work many young Canadians simply cannot get a good start.

Many young Canadians also rely on public post-secondary education to acquire the skills and training they need for today’s job market. However, as a result of cuts to public funding in the past three decades, more and more of the costs of post-secondary education have been downloaded onto the backs of students and their families through massive increases in tuition fees. Average tuition fees increased four-fold between 1990 and 2010, forcing students to take on unprecedented levels of student debt and preventing thousands of youth from pursuing education. Young Canadians are not only entering the labour market at some of the highest unemployment levels in 30 years, but also with levels of debt higher than ever before.

Well-funded and high-quality public services are essential for youth as they transition into both post-secondary education and into the workforce. Employment programs, child care, health care, shelters, and affordable education are critical to young Canadians reaching their full potential as students and as workers.

They are also essential in ensuring that all youth have equal opportunities regardless of their socio-economic background. However, across the country these very services are facing cuts at a time when youth need them more than ever.

Aboriginal youth are especially vulnerable to cuts to public services. As Canada’s fastest growing demographic, Aboriginal youth are essential to Canada’s future economic stability and growth. However, cuts to social programs and the unfair cap on the Aboriginal student grants program, the Post-Secondary Student Support Program, mean that many Aboriginal youth cannot receive the training and educational programs they need to secure decent work.

On this day, the CLC and the CFS call for adequately funded and high-quality public services in order to make sure that youth in Canada have a fair chance.

The Canadian Labour Congress, the national voice of the labour movement, represents 3.2 million Canadian workers. The CLC brings together Canada’s national and international unions along with the provincial and territorial federations of labour and 130 district labour councils.

Web site: www.canadianlabour.ca

The Canadian Federation of Students unites more that one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organizations have represented students in Canada since 1927.

Web site: www.cfs-fcee.ca

As Ramadan begins, the Somaliland Youth Alliance of North America would like to send our best wishes to our fellow Muslims around the globe. Hope you all have a blessed month!

Somaliland Youth Alliance of North America

Robleh Mohamud Aidid (Lafcanbe) and Kulmiye Adam ‘Mardaadi’ of SYANA met with the Honourable Jim Karrygiannis – MP of Scarborough-Agincourt on Friday July 29th, 2011. The aim of the meeting was to introduce SYANA to Rt. Hon. Jim Karygiannias.

Many of the constituents whom Mr. Karygiannias represents in the parliament are of Somali decent, as such we believe it is important that the representatives of those constitutents are familiar with our work. Mr.Karygiannis is particularly a friend of Somaliland, was already familiar of Somaliland and its quest for international recognition. He acknowledged his support for the organization and felt that not only was it the right timing for Somaliland but it was much needed for North America. Mr.Karygiannias also provided advice for SYANA and pledged to keep up with the organization and work with SYANA in the future. He encouraged Robleh and Kulmiye to continue educating people about Somaliland and spread awareness. SYANA will continue to keep in contact with Mr. Karygiannis and will with periodical meetings like this one. Robleh and fellow members of SYANA intend to meet with more politicians and community leaders and organizations in the coming months.

Jim Karygiannis is the Liberal Member of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt. He is currently the Liberal Multiculturalism Critic in the House of Commons. Prior to this, He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development in October 2005, Mr.Karygiannis also served as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, with special emphasis on Transport and the Environment in 2003.

You can visit SYANA’s links at
www.somalilandyouth.com
www.facebook.com/somalilandyouth
www.twitter.com/somalilandyouth

Written By: Timothy A.Ridout
Master’s student at the Fletcher School at Tufts University

Most think of Somalia as a single entity, but it needs to be conceptualized in terms of three distinct regions: Somaliland, Puntland and southern Somalia. The first two are functioning states in northern Somalia, whereas the rest of Somalia is an anarchic region allegedly governed by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG).

The TFG is not actually a government, and the state it purports to govern does not exist. Both are fictions perpetuated by the United Nations and its member states. By doing so, the international community is impeding peace, development and anti-piracy efforts in Somalia.

In the strictly legal sense, the TFG is the internationally recognized government of the Somali state. But by every other measure, the Somali state ceased to exist in 1991, and no government has effectively administered all of Somalia since. The TFG exists only because of financial and military assistance from foreign supporters. It does not have domestic authority or control outside of Mogadishu, and if it tried to assert any claim over Puntland or Somaliland, it would be rebuffed by the established authorities in those states.

Puntland has governed itself as an autonomous region since 1998, but it has not officially broken ties with the rest of Somalia. Somaliland declared independence in 1991 and has since become one of the most robust democracies in Africa. Southern Somalia remains anarchic and stateless.

The TFG has never enjoyed much support among Somalis. Created in 2004 after a peace conference in Mbagathi, Ethiopia, it could not even enter Mogadishu until the Ethiopian invasionof 2006-2007. Backed by the United States, this invasion routed the Shariah-based Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). Before the invasion, the home-grown UIC had defeated warlords and was establishing a rudimentary government. It brought the greatest level of order to southern Somalia since 1991.

After destroying the relatively moderate UIC and implanting the unpopular TFG in Mogadishu, Ethiopian troops went home, leaving the task of supporting the TFG to a few thousand African Union soldiers operating under a UN mandate. Known as AMISOM, this primarily Ugandancontingent has been fighting hardline Islamist militants who emerged from the shattered UIC. The main militant group is familiar to many: al-Shabaab.

Although the TFG’s mandate was set to expire in August 2011, it was recently extended for another year at a UN-sponsored conference in Kampala, Uganda. This was a mistake. Conferences held outside Somalia that attempt to graft a government onto Somali society have failed for 20 years. Instead of embracing and learning from indigenous Somali successes in the north, the international community undermines them by supporting the TFG.

Somaliland and Puntland were created by Somalis through extensive clan-based consultation, incorporating traditional leaders and culminating in local peace conferences. They have achieved levels of peace and stability unknown in the south.

Puntland initially flirted with democracy, but it has moved toward a more authoritarian model. Puntland’s first president was Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed. Though criticized for his strong-arm tactics, he strengthened the state apparatus and helped build institutions. However, he soon became focused on leveraging his position to become the head of the TFG, and Puntland started to languish.

Yusuf led the TFG from 2004 until 2008. He was succeeded by Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, who had been a prominent leader in the UIC.

Puntland still has a functioning government, but it has not lived up to its early potential. Piracy has flourished in Puntland because of corruption and lawlessness. Had the international community offered institution-building assistance in the early 2000s instead of trying to artificially reconstitute the Somali state, Puntland probably would not be the pirate haven it is today.

Somaliland is a stable democratic state that respects the rule of law (it even has a pirate prison), but its economic growth has been hampered by its lack of international recognition. Investors, aid agencies and Somaliland’s diaspora have been deterred by Somaliland’s ambiguous legal status.

Last year, the Obama administration implemented a “dual-track” approach toward Somalia, engaging both the TFG and the governments in Somaliland and Puntland. This is a good first step, but the TFG should be taken out of the equation as soon as possible. The international community should find a way to combat al-Shabaab without supporting the TFG. Military assistance in southern Somalia should be geared toward providing security while locals are encouraged to build their own government from the ground up.

Meanwhile, Puntland should be given incentives to root out corruption and enhance the rule of law. Assistance should be offered to help build its institutions and professionalize its security apparatus. Whether it declares full independence or someday forms a state with southern Somalia is Puntland’s decision to make.

Somaliland should be recognized as a sovereign state. It is a model of effective self-governance in a chaotic region, serving as bulwark against terrorism and piracy. The politics of international recognition are complicated, but South Sudan shows that they are not insurmountable.

Recognizing the reality on the ground and adjusting our policies would do much to help the Somali people. Continuing to pretend that Somalia is one state governed by the TFG will bring more of the same.