Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement(AfCFTA): Unlocking opportunities for youth engagement in intra-African Trade

Abstract

Timely efforts by the African Union (AU) to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a unique opportunity for the continent to refocus its energy and resources on youth empowerment interventions. Africa has the world's youngest population, as such the youth are among the most valuable assets of the continent. AfCFTA has huge potential to harness the power of young people to realize their full potential. However, the implementation of AfCFTA requires good governance, peace, and security to be successful. It is critical to ensure that peace and security are maintained throughout the implementation of AfCFTA as conflict and instability can negatively impact and hinder trade and economic growth. This paper therefore, firstly, seeks to explore the barriers of youth participation in trade and how they can be addressed. Secondly, it highlights the role of the youth in implementing AfCFTA and their potential to ensure there is peace and security to promote trade and economic growth. In response to the aforementioned, the paper adopts a qualitative methodology which reviews a wide range of published government policies, secondary data and related literature to the research. Preliminary findings indicate that Africa has a unique opportunity to lift millions of people out of poverty by empowering youth to change the continent’s trade and business environment. In addition, intra-African trade and the expansion of economic opportunities for young people, can create jobs for youth and reduce the unemployment crisis in Africa. The conclusions emerging from this research is a contestation over ‘youth are not involved in intra-African trade’ narrative and argues that if trade barriers are addressed young people can play a significant role in trade. They can propel the continent's social, economic, and political progress which can transform Africa and help achieve the ‘Africa We Want’.