The African Union and France Volontaires Partner to Advance Youth Volunteerism in Africa
The African Union (AU) and France Volontaires (FV) have formalized their partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration in promoting volunteerism and strengthening the capacity of AU Member States to develop a robust volunteer ecosystem.
Rooted in shared values, this partnership aligns with the Women, Gender, and Youth Directorate (WGYD)’s mandate to foster youth meaningful engagement in achieving AU’s Agenda 2063 and advances the implementation of the 1 Million Next Level Initiative.
Ms. Prudence Ngwenya, WGYD’s Director, lauded the collaboration for promoting youth meaningful participation in Africa’s development. “This strengthened collaboration with France Volontaires will allow us to further engage African youth through volunteerism across the continent. We recognize the crucial role volunteering plays in equipping young people with both hard and soft skills, enabling them to become agents of change for inclusive and peaceful societies,” she stated.
Similarly, Mr. Yann Delaunay, General Manager of France Volontaires, commended the continued partnership between the AU and France Volontaires and highlighted the steadfast commitment to strengthening volunteerism on the continent. “I am delighted to reach this new level of collaboration with such a key regional body as the African Union Commission. We already work together in several countries through the DENVA program, which supports the development of volunteer ecosystems in 12 West African nations. This agreement allows us to deepen our efforts by fostering volunteer policies across Africa and engaging both governmental and non-governmental actors to create high-quality opportunities for youth at national, regional, continental, and international levels. Volunteerism is a powerful lever for advancing both the UN Agenda 2030 and AU Agenda 2063,” he emphasized.
Through this partnership, the two institutions will focus on, among others:
- Providing technical support to AU Member States to strengthen volunteerism policies, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
- Establishing continental and international standards for volunteerism and promoting common principles across AU Member States.
- Enhancing data collection on the impact of volunteerism in Africa’s socio-economic development and its contribution to global commitments such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Together, AU and France Volontaires are committed to unleashing the potential of young people by promoting volunteerism as a powerful instrument to drive Africa’s sustainable development.
About the African Union
The African Union (AU) is a continental organization established in 2002 and comprising 55 Member States, representing the entire African continent. Guided by its vision for “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”, the AU aims to achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries while advancing political and socio-economic integration of the continent. To ensure the realization of its objectives and the attainment of the Pan-African Vision, the AU developed Agenda 2063 as a strategic framework for Africa’s long-term socio-economic and integrative transformation. The AU’s headquarters are in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
About France Volontaires
France Volontaires is the French platform for international volunteering, exchange, and solidarity, established in 2009. As a French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs operator recognized as one of France’s public development aid stakeholders by the Law of 4 August 2021, France Volontaires is the result of a shared project that brings together the State, local authorities, and associations arounda public interest mission: the development and promotion of international exchange and solidarity volunteering.
The platform relies on representations in France (mainland and overseas territories) and a network of Volunteering Centres in Africa, Asia, Latin America/Caribbean, the Middle East, and Oceania).
www.france-volontaires.org
LinkedIn ; X ; Facebook ; Instagram
Contacts presse
For further information, please contact:
Mr. Daniel Adugna – Youth Programme Officer, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, African Union Commission. E-mail: [email protected]
Mr. Rémi Belot – Chargé de communication éditoriale et relations presse – [email protected]
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Arlette Akingeneye, Women, Gender and Youth Directorate, African Union Commission –[email protected]
Ms. Lucie Morillon, Director of Communication, Promotion and Development of Engagement Pathways, France Volontaires – [email protected]
