AFRODAD and AYPN Collaborate to Deepen Young Legislators’ Involvement in Fiscal Policy and Governance

Arusha, Tanzania: In a significant move towards strengthening youth leadership in economic governance across Africa, the African Young Parliamentarians Network (AYPN) and the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This partnership is set to drive youth-led reforms, promote fiscal transparency, and deepen accountability in public debt management.

The signing ceremony took place against the backdrop of a pressing debt crisis that Africa currently faces. Reports from AFRODAD, in conjunction with the African Debt Monitoring Mechanism (ADMM), highlight that Africa’s external debt surged past $1 trillion in 2023. A staggering portion of this debt, estimated at approximately USD 685.47 billion, constitutes nearly 24.5% of the continent’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Such alarming figures underscore the critical necessity for effective oversight, inclusive policy advocacy, and targeted youth-centered interventions in debt and economic governance.

Signed during a high-level ceremony in Arusha, the MoU paves the way for joint initiatives to:

1. Build the capacity of young legislators in economic oversight and governance.
2. Promote fiscal transparency and accountability within parliamentary processes.
3. Enable secondment of skilled interns from AFRODAD to AYPN to enhance research, policy analysis, and administrative capacity.

The signing was officiated by Hon. Vuyo Zungula, Secretary-General of AYPN, and Mr. Jason Braganza, Executive Director of AFRODAD. Also present were Mr. Antony Buluma, Executive Director of AYPN; Hon. Zanele Tanele Magagula, Member of Parliament, Kingdom of Eswatini and Southern Africa Block Coordinator; and Hon. Hermione Bolumbe, MP from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Coordinator for Central Africa.

This partnership signifies a bold commitment to empowering young African leaders as transformative agents in the sphere of economic governance. By creating an inclusive platform for youth participation in decision-making processes, AYPN and AFRODAD are not merely addressing immediate fiscal challenges; they are laying the groundwork for a new generation of leaders who are prepared to confront these issues head-on and cultivate a future that is more accountable, equitable, and prosperous for all Africans.