Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction (AYAB DRR)
The Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction (AYAB DRR) is a board established under the African Union Commission (AUC) to promote meaningful youth engagement and involvement in DRR policy development, implementation and review across Africa.
Description
To help AYAB DRR achieve its objectives of meaningfully engaging young people in DRR processes on the continent, the following commitments are highlighted:
AYAB DRR commits to map and nurture a network of African youth-led and youth-focused organizations with decision-makers, to promote collective and meaningful youth engagement and involvement in Disaster Risk Reduction policy development, implementation and review by 31st December 2020.
AYAB DRR commits to using its online platforms to providing an inclusive, open, and transparent platform for young Africans to educate, create awareness, share, learn and exchange information on DRR in Africa at least once a week till December 2021.
AYAB DRR commits to using its online and physical platforms to showcase young Africans DRR initiatives for upscale and replication across Africa at each Africa and Global Platform for DRR.
AYAB DRR commits to acting as a bridge to connect young Africans to partners who can support the replication and upscale of best DRR initiatives in the DRR Stakeholder landscape once in 6 months till December 2021.
AYAB commits to promoting DRR at the community level by young people by mobilizing youth groups and facilitating their access to resources to take action.
The AYAB DRR commits to facilitating physical and virtual capacity building and empowering platforms for African Youth to enhance and upscale their ability to be ‘agents of change’ in Disaster Risk Reduction.
AYAB DRR commits to supporting the Africa Science and Technology Advisory Group (AfSTAG) by contributing to the developing of indicators to monitor targets that will be specific to measuring impacts of disasters on children & youth.
AYAB DRR commits to supporting AfSTAG by mapping young African Scientists and their work in DRR.
AYAB DRR commits to taking part in the biennial Africa Work Group on disaster Risk Reduction by presenting to key stakeholders’ achievements, challenges and opportunities of young Africans engaged in DRR on the continent.
AYAB DRR commits to providing advice to AU member states to meaningfully engage young people in DRR in their countries.
Did the Sendai Framework change or contribute to changes in your activities/organization? If so, how?
Yes, the establishment of the AYAB DRR was largely influenced by the Sendai Framework for DRR’s recognition of Youth as important stakeholders. In addition, it was inspired by the SFDRR’s promotion of a broader and more people-centered preventive approach to DRR, highlighting the importance of engaging children and youth in the design and implementation of DRR related policies, plans, practices and standards. AYAB's commitment is also inspired by the idea that, young are ‘agents of change’ and efforts should be made to empower them and develop their capacity so they can lead initiatives to address DRR and build resilient and sustainable societies
What led you to make this commitment/initiative?
What was your position before making this Voluntary Commitment / prior to the Sendai Framework?
AYAB DRR makes these commitments to the implementation of the SFDRR because we recognize the importance of advocating and facilitating capacity building initiatives to upscale and empower Youth as agents of change. Children and youth make up over 60% of Africa’s total population and for a very long time, this stakeholder group have been portrayed as helpless and victims of disasters. AYAB DRR believes it is possible to change this narrative through empowering and meaningfully engaging young people in DRR processes. Therefore, it is imperative that Youth are provided with a platform through which their interests can be heard, and their efforts amplified. Prior to the voluntary commitments, young people were engaged, however, with these current set of commitments, young people are better and more meaningfully engaged in DRR on the African continent.
Deliverables and Progress report
Deliverables
Deliverables are the end-products of the initiative/commitment, which can include issuance of publications or knowledge products, outcomes of workshops, training programs, videos, links, photographs, etc.
Press release;
Pictures,
Video link,
Pictures;
Poster;
Social media link;
Posters;
Pictures;
Social media links
Link
Porgress report
AYAB members continue to support institutions and Members States in DRR policy processes. The board continues to raise youth voices and work with stakeholders to engage youth in DRR. This is through their participation in DRR events. The new board is taking place in July 2023. They will develop a roadmap for the upcoming two years
AYAB participated meaningfully by advocating for youth voices in some continental DRR meetings. The members have been able to make significant contributions to the different events:
1) the data collection workshop for the biennial report on DRR for the five regions of Africa;
2) The 18th African Working Group on Disaster Risk Reduction;
3) Continental efforts towards the establishment of the Continental Civil Capacity Mechanism for Disaster Preparedness and Response (#3CMDPR);
4) the technical validation of the Africa Urban Resilience Programme by AU Member States);
5) the Sahel Resilience Project: Lessons' Learnt Workshop
6) The 19th African Working group on DRR
Additionally, one of the AYAB members has connected 5 local governments from Northern Ghana with UNDRR Africa for their engagement in the Making Cities Resilient 2030 programme.
Finally, We reached more than 13.000 followers on our different social media platforms
Organizations and focal points
Implementing Organization(s)
- GREEN Student
- Consortium pays pour la Réduction des Risque de Catastrophe
- Children and Youth Empowerment South Sudan
- Centre of Economic Study and Research for Development
- Bukedi Action for Integrated Development Initiatives-International
- Association des Jeunes Congolais pour le Développement
- Arab African Council for Sustainable Development
- Africa Alliance for Development Action
- Green Africa Youth Organization
- African Union Commission
- PERIPERI U - Partners Enhancing Resilience for People Exposed to Risk
Focal points
Partners
