By Deogratias Mmana:
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach has said it is a lost opportunity when the government and development partners fail to utilise the youth, who form over half of the population.
Skinnebach said this during the launch of the first ever EU-Malawi Youth Sounding Board, which will guide and inform EU’s actions in the country to ensure that the union’s interventions are relevant.
“Young people continue to make the largest and fastest growing proportion of the general population in Malawi. Nonetheless, Malawi is yet to harness its potential.
“Instead of this youth bulge being seen and used as an opportunity to renew the country’s social and economic capital, you, people, remain the most vulnerable, marginalised and forgotten, bridled with numerous challenges spanning from unemployment and economic exclusion, unwanted pregnancies, high maternal deaths, sexually transmitted infections and gender-based violence,” Skinnebach said on Thursday night during the launch at his residence in Lilongwe.
He said the launch of the Youth Sounding Board comes after the adoption of the Youth Action Plan in the EU external action for 2022-27, the first ever policy framework for a strategic partnership with young people around the world to build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.
“This youth action will help deliver on international commitments, such as the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement by enhancing meaningful youth participation and empowerment in the EU’s external action policies,” Skinnebach said.
The Malawian youth board comprises 15 young men from different fields and they will serve on the board for two years.
A member of the board, Wendy Chipofya, said she was excited to be among the youth who will work as advisers to the EU in Malawi.
“There are many issues that affect the youth and the country as a whole. We will be able to share those with the EU,” Chipofya said.
