The Mandela Washington Fellowship has congratulated the fellowship’s 2016 alumna, Chido Cleopatra Mpemba, on her appointment as the 2021–2022 African Union Youth Envoy.

The Chairperson of the AU, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in a statement marking the occasion of the 2021 African Youth Day, announced the Zimbabwean as his next youth envoy.

Data from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) shows that by 2030, young Africans are expected to make up 42 percent of the world’s youths and account for 75 percent of those under age 35 in Africa.

According to the AU African Youth Charter, young people in Africa make up the continent’s biggest resource, which offers enormous potential.

However, the 2019 Ibrahim Forum Report noted that almost 16 million young Africans were facing unemployment.

The African Youth Day, observed every 01 November, recognises youths as key agents for Africa’s socio-economic growth and sustainable development.

‘Mpemba was selected following a rigorous recruitment process of hundreds of applicants’, Mahamat said.

‘I am confident that, with her profound knowledge of issues affecting young people, and working in close collaboration with the relevant departments of the commission, she will contribute to the effective implementation of African Union youth policies and programmes’.

Mpemba is a youth advocate who works at the World Economic Forum as a member of the global task force for the Global Shapers Community.

Mpemba is also a consultant in environmental sustainability, social sustainability, community engagement, climate change and high level diplomacy.

She has a master’s degree in Business Administration from the Midlands State University and a bachelor’s degree in Labour, Organisational Psychology and Human Resource Management from the University of Cape Town.

Sources: AU, Mandela Washington Fellowship

Photo source: Chido Cleopatra Mpemba