Fund

Leveraging youth involvement for the success of the New Public Health Order for Africa

Young Africans make up more than 65% of the African population, and behind this number are young health professionals and health advocates who hold great potential to innovate and promote Africa's health. They play a critical role in African countries in promoting public health and reaching out to communities, and are therefore partners, assets and a prerequisite for the successful implementation of the New Public Health Order Africa CDC to Africa and boost health security on the continent and internationally.

Recognising this, Africa CDC has been engaging young Africans through initiatives such as the AU's Bingwa COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative and Youth Advisory Team for Health (YAT4H) Africa CDC's inaugural event. Another key element of Africa CDC's youth engagement efforts is its Youth Conference, an annual event that brings together young people from across the African continent to discuss and strategise on health-related issues. The conference provides a platform for young people to engage with public health experts, policymakers and other stakeholders to share ideas, experiences and best practices for tackling health challenges on the continent.

A Inaugural Youth Pre-Conference was held from 10 to 11 December 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda, before the^2ª Annual International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) 2022. Its aim was to initiate a long-term strategic engagement between Africa CDC and young people to promote sustainable health security in Africa. Conference participants called for inclusive youth engagement, youth involvement in decision-making, facilitation of a collaborative intra-continental network and building the capacity of emerging public health leaders to promote sustainable health security in Africa.

In this context and reflecting its commitment to meaningfully involving young people, the second edition of the Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference (YPC 2023), with the theme "Youth Leadership for a Safer and Healthier Africa", will be held in a face-to-face 25 a 26th November in Lusaka, Zambia, before the^3ª CPHIA (CPHIA 2023). Its aim is to continue and intensify the conversation about youth engagement in Africa CDC and provide a platform for exchange on innovative solutions to institutionalise youth leadership in public health on the African continent.

Objective and Expected Results

General Objective

Africa CRC's general objective Youth Pre Conference is to promote and institutionalise strategic engagement between Africa CDC and young people by providing a space for young people to critically reflect on the current state of public health in Africa; share perspectives on the role of young people in public health; and exchange on innovative perspectives and solutions to increase meaningful youth engagement in this area.

Specific objectives

Provide a collaborative, open and inclusive space for young people:

1. Reflect: build an in-depth understanding of the current state of public health in Africa and the role of young people in this area;
2. Strategy: define the role of young people in driving innovative solutions to health challenges in their communities and strategise on how young people can actively participate in decision-making processes that affect their health and well-being and take on leadership roles in the health sector;
3. Exchange and brainstorm: explore innovative solutions to health challenges and institutionalise youth leadership in public health on the African continent;
4. Networking and collaborate: unite and share their reflections and work on public health and network with peers, public health figures and mentors (intergenerational and peer-to-peer dialogue) to share lessons and experiences on youth engagement in public health;
5. Connect: bridge the gap between young people and organisations/initiatives across the continent working on public health in Africa.

Output

A long-term and institutionalised involvement of young people to promote the objectives of the CDC in Africa, the Vision for the New Public Health Order and health security in Africa.

Results

1. Young people understand the current state of public health in Africa (including the goals of the Africa CDC and its New Public Health Order).
2. The role of young people in driving sustainable change in the health outcomes of their communities is defined and feedback is provided on Africa CDC's youth engagement initiatives, such as the Youth Conference, the AU Bingwa Initiative and YAT4H.
3. Participants are able to advise on how Africa CDC can institutionalise youth leadership and engagement in the African public health sphere.
4. A space is provided for young Africans in public health to come together, share their thoughts and work on public health and network with peers, public health figures and find mentors (including intergenerational conversation/exchange with experts).
5. The Africa CDC Youth Conference has served as a platform to bridge the gap between youth and organisations/initiatives working on public health in Africa.

Proposed Framework

The 2023 Africa CDC Youth Pre-Conference will take place in-person from 25-26 November 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia. The agenda will include TEDx style talks, workshops, networking and cultural exchange spaces, presentations, and small working groups.

Participant Selection

Participants of the Youth Pre Conference will be representatives of each AU Member State as well as public health institutions, health organisations and start-ups, as well as youth-led medical associations and networks.

They will be identified through an open call that will be administered through an online application system. The selection of participants will be based on the following criteria:

Selection Criteria

• Act: 18 to 35 years
• Location: Applicants must be a citizen of an AU member state
• Experience and expertisehave an educational background (at least enrolled as undergraduate) and first professional experiences in the following areas: medical sciences public health/environmental health technology health
  • policy public service and health development cooperation media and journalism (with a focus on health)
  • Extensive work experience in public health may be used to supplement the application for those who hold degrees unrelated to health sciences or public health.
• Leadershipparticipants with demonstrated leadership potential through involvement in youth-led health initiatives, advocacy or community organising will be prioritised.
• Networks: Participants will be selected from youth-led and -oriented organisations and networks, associations, academia or in individual capacities. Young participants affiliated with a youth-led organisation, network or movement are highly encouraged to apply.
• Commitment: Youth participants must demonstrate a strong commitment to public health engagement in Africa as an advocate or a practitioner.
• Other factors: geographical balance (representation of all AU Member States), diverse ideological and professional backgrounds, gender, ethnic and social diversity, disability status, will be considered in the final selection of participants.

The application shall be opened by 26^th June 2023. The deadline is 25^th July 2023, 11:59 pm East Africa Time. The selected applicants will be contacted by 25^th August 2023.

How to Apply:

Applicants for the 2023 Africa CDC Youth Pre Conference are expected to fill out the application form online with their personal information, educational and professional background attaching:

• A Statement briefly detailing why they want to participate in the Africa CDC Youth Pre Conference, highlighting the role of the youth in advancing sustainable health security in Africa,
• An example of a time when they led a project or demonstrated leadership skills within the public health space,
• A curriculum vitae.

Please find this link for application: https://forms.gle/21yo3sbVNvWqDEA66.

When filling in your application, remember the following:

• Exceeding the word count for your essay answers will jeopardise your application. Make sure your essay answers are between 150 and 250 words.
• You will not be able to change any element of your application once it has been submitted. Before submitting, make sure that all your answers are accurate and that the files you have uploaded are the final versions of your documents.
• Fill in the form in one go so you don't lose your answers. We also suggest writing text answers (for example, your work experience in public health and qualifications) in a separate document and pasting it here after you've finished

Working Languages

The language of the conference is English and French. Interpretation will be provided for both languages.
The French version of the application is enclosed in PDF.