Background on the SADC Youth Parliament
The Southern Africa Youth Parliament/SADC Youth Parliament is a regional policy advocacy, engagement arm, and flagship program coordinated by the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) and other stakeholders. A platform for key decisions that influence policy and practice at national, regional, and international levels. Through consultative processes with young people in the region, the Southern Africa Youth Parliament adopts key policy decisions and recommendations to the policymakers, communities, and stakeholders in the Southern Africa region. The Parliament is composed of Young Leaders from diverse backgrounds not limited to Political, Health, Arts, Culture, Disability, Business, Environment, Agriculture, Religious Leaders, Academic, Media, and Sports among others. The SADC Youth Parliament is guided by values of Pan-Africanism such as Afro-centrism, Regional Integration, Ubuntu, African Unity, Respect of Diversity, durable Peace and Security, Self-determination, Patriotism, Solidarity, Promotion of Sustainable and Equitable Economic Growth and Socio-Economic Development, Sustainable Inclusion, Good Governance, Preservation of African Heritage, and Culture. The parliament prioritizes Gender Equality and Equity in all its parliamentary business. The Southern Africa Youth Parliament is in its 3rd Sitting, the 1st Parliament had its first sitting when Tanzania was hosting the SADC Heads of State and Government, and the 2 nd set when Mozambique, Malawi, and DRC were hosting the SADC summits. The first SADC Youth Parliament held its inaugural sitting in 2019 in Tanzania. Since then, there has been a cohort of 80 parliamentarians representing all 16 SADC countries. There have also been more official sittings in 2020 and 2021, during the annual SADC Youth Forum and other caucus sittings.
Many former parliamentarians have been empowered through this initiative, gaining access to more regional and international leadership, and joining governments among other organizations. The parliament has also evolved into a unique youth-centered space for regional consultation, linking regional policy issues to national implementation, advocacy, and debate on policy recommendations on issues facing the SADC region.
Why a SADC Youth Parliament?
Regional youth parliaments have become a common feature of modern international governance. The most notable examples include the Commonwealth Youth Parliament, the Global Youth Parliament, and the European Youth Parliament. A youth parliament is not an elected body like a conventional parliament but rather seeks to be a youth development platform that creates a channel through which:
1) Youth leaders of the region can debate and consult on regional policy issues that will affect their futures.
2) Youth leaders of the region can be mentored and orientated towards the values of Pan-Africanism, Democratic Regionalism, Parliamentarianism, and Public Service.
3) Youth leaders of the region are to be given a channel through which they might be equipped and empowered to build networks and skills relevant to entering public leadership offices in their home country, SADC, Africa, and at the international level.
4) Youth leaders of the region to join a community of peers and mentors through which they can initiate grassroots development projects in their country.
