Applications are now open for African Youth Ambassadors For Peace (AYAP) 2019. The Commission of the African Union, through its Youth for Peace (Y4P) Africa Program of the Peace and Security Department, will appoint African Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAP), one from each of the five (5) regions of Africa.

This is in line with the decision of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) via the communiqué of its 807th meeting held on 8th November 2018 on Youth, Peace, and Security. The Council requested the AU Commission to appoint the AYAP to work with the AU Youth Envoy in championing the promotion of peace and security across the continent. It is within this context, that the PSD is launching the call for application to eligible African youth.

The AYAP, working under the direct supervision of the leadership of the Peace and Security Department of the AUC shall champion the promotion and advocacy of youth participation in peace and security issues at the regional level and across Africa. Specifically, the AYAP will promote the actualization of the five priorities of the Continental Framework on Youth, Peace, and Security, which are guided by Article 17 of the AU Youth Charter (2006) and the United Nations Security Council Resolution Council (UNSCR) 2250 (2015).

What will the African Youth Ambassadors For Peace (AYAP) 2019? 

The specific tasks of the AYAP anchored on Article 17 of the Africa Youth Charter and the UNSCR 2250 as follows:

• Participation: 

  • advocate and promote active and meaningful participation of youths at all levels of decision-making, policy formulation, implementation and monitoring of peace and security decisions/agreements;
  • similarly, support cross-sectoral cooperation as a holistic approach to youth issues and for the elimination of structural barriers to youth participation;
  • also, support the development and implementation of national action plans to encourage young people’s meaningful participation in peace and security through existing national and regional structures.

• Prevention:

  • promote and strengthen youth capacity on prevention via peace education, support to the establishment and implementation of peace architectures;
  • also, facilitate entry points for competent youth to undertake violence prevention activities including youth-led or support to dialogue and mediation processes;
  • likewise, reinforce the potential of youth by canvassing support for the establishment of investments and funds that enable inclusion of youth into different projects to ensure access to education, vocational training as well as employment opportunities, with a view to reducing youth unemployment and their attendant vulnerabilities to exploitation, manipulation, radicalization and recruitment by extremist, criminal and armed groups.

• Protection:

  • advocate and promote compliance to international humanitarian and human rights law to guarantee the protection of young people during armed conflicts and facilitate safe movement and resettlement of displaced persons, to mitigate the risk of forced recruitment as well as sexual and gender-based violence.

• Partnerships and Coordination:

  • facilitate the effective coordination and communication between youth and relevant stakeholders on planning and evaluation of interventions to promote peace and security;
  • promote increased, coordinated and sustained political, financial and technical support to reinforce youth-led initiatives on peace and security.

• Disengagement and Rehabilitation:

  • promote programs aimed at effective repatriation, resettlement, disarmament, demobilization, reintegration, and rehabilitation of youth disengaged from armed or extremist groups.
  • similarly, promote training for young people to support reconstruction and stabilization activities of areas affected by war, including ensuring that the specific needs of young women and men are met;
  • likewise, promote young people’s capacities to act as relief and recovery agents in conflict and post-conflict situations.

What are the Qualifications and Requirements?

An African Youth with commitment and significant contribution to the promotion of sustainable peace and security. Applications from eligible youth including young women, displaced persons and persons with disabilities who meet the following criteria may also apply. The applicants must be/have:

• between the ages of 15 to 35 in tandem with the AU Youth age;
• further, a university degree in international relations, peace and conflict, political science, law, and related areas; a master’s degree would be an added advantage; or
• likewise, at least 2 years experience in peace and security with the ability for advocacy on youth, peace and security issues as well as resource mobilization;
• also, experience in promoting and supporting peace processes especially in initiating and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues and mediation efforts;
• a strong track record with the local community/area where he/she works;
• strong communication and advocacy skills;
• similarly, English, French, Arabic, Portuguese are the working languages of the AU. Fluency in any AU working language is required;
• knowledge of another AU language would be an asset.