implementation of the AfCFTA

5. Implications of inadequate involvement of youth for successful implementation of the AfCFTA

The phased implementation of the continental agreement did not recognise the involvement of youth in the entire process. For instance, no specific framework was put in place to address skill gaps among the youth, to prepare them to compete effectively in the large market that Africa would be transformed into and in the global economy that Africa would be integrated into (with the complete implementation of the AfCFTA). Young people expressed that the non-involvement of youth in the AfCFTA processes meant that the youth population, which constitutes the majority on the continent, are alienated from charting the future of the continent.

One direct implication of limited or no involvement of youth in the AfCFTA processes is that the dreams of industrialisation, diversification and enhancing the competitiveness of Member States – as enshrined in Articles 3(f & g) of the AfCFTA agreement – may be jeopardised. Africa currently abounds in unskilled and unemployed youth. As rightly pointed out by the UNECA and WTO in 2019, in order to benefit from the offerings of the AfCFTA, individuals entering the workforce require the necessary skills to gain employment in a growing industry, and the flexibility to choose a sector based on the availability of opportunities. Moreover, producers, individuals (or companies) will need to have access to adequate productive assets in order to be able to meet the demand for their products and move up in the value chain, as and when new opportunities arise (UNECA & WTO, 2019).

The youth in Africa lack the skills, adequate knowledge and productive assets required to tap into the offerings of the AfCFTA, implying that the youth will be unable to contribute to the full realisation of the AfCFTA’s objectives. This is because the youth who should make up the workforce will remain unskilled with vast untapped potentials, given that the AfCFTA gives no specific attention to skill development and education for the youth (as emphasised in Aspiration 6 of the AU Agenda 2063). Furthermore, the limited attention that the AfCFTA gives to investment in youth (through direct involvement of youth in its processes) means that the continent will not reap the demographic dividend that is expected to drive future industrialisation, diversification and overall development of African economies. As noted by Apiko et al (2020), improving digital connectivity is critical for boosting intra-African trade under the AfCFTA. Thus, if the youth as key purveyors of digital connectivity are not involved in the AfCFTA processes, the effective and successful implementation of the continental agreement – particularly in the areas of reducing transaction costs and barriers to cross-border trade – may be undermined.

Apparently, the failure to involve youth (through an emphasis on investment in youth empowerment) will deepen poverty among the youth and thwart the realisation of Article 3(e) of the AfCFTA, which aims to promote and attain sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, gender equality and structural transformation of the State Parties. According to UNECA and WTO (2019), young people in Africa may not be able to access the full range of opportunities created by the AfCFTA, and are more likely to resort to finding employment in the informal sector, or remain under-employed or unemployed.

This failure to involve youth also has implications for peace and security across the continent, especially the possibility of youthled violent social movements and unrest. Such unrest would, in turn, undermine the growth of foreign direct investment, free movement of persons and goods.