Call for Expression of Interest to join the ILO African Youth Network for Social Justice
Closing Date: 27 September 2024.
Call for Expression of Interest to Join the ILO African Youth Network for Social Justice
Are you a young person from an African country? Are you part of a youth-led organisation or initiative? Are you a passionate advocate for social justice? Then the African Youth Network for Social Justice is looking for you!
The ILO African Youth Network for Social Justice promotes youth voices in dialogues and actions to further social justice, including the Global Coalition for Social Justice. It is a unique platform to strengthen youth-led organizations in their pursuit of social justice and promote social justice on the national, regional, and continental level.
Context
The Global Coalition for Social Justice is an initiative of the International Labour Organization (ILO). It aims to address the many challenges to social justice caused by overlapping crises and long-term economic changes, such as inequality, discrimination, rising poverty, child labour, youth unemployment, and informal work.
It brings together a wide range of partners, including governments, international and regional organizations, workers’ and employers’ organizations, enterprises, NGOs, and academia. With half the population of Africa aged 19 or under, and a quarter of the world’s people expected to be living on the continent by 2050, social justice cannot be achieved globally if it is not first realized for the youth in Africa.
On 23 February 2024, on the occasion of the World Day of Social Justice, ILO brought together members of the international development community to hear from the youth on what they say they need to realize their dreams and discover their solutions to Africa’s social injustices. Youth representatives from across the continent suggested establishing an African Youth Network for Social Justice in support of the Global Coalition.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, your youth-led organisation or initiative must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
- Be based in a country in Africa.
- Be led by young people (15 to 29 years of age).
- Have a proven track-record in implementing activities related to social justice.
- Represent and mobilise young people at the community, national or continental level.
Applicant organizations should be actively engaged in promoting social justice and have a proven track-record in implementing activities.
Selection criteria
In selecting its members, attention will be paid to ensure a broad representation of social justice issues, geographic representation across the Africa region as well as equal representation of women and men regarding the focal points of the selected organizations.
The members of the ILO African Youth Network for Social Justice will be selected based on their experience and capacity to become youth multipliers for social justice, engaging other young people in their communities. Youth organisations with little or no prior engagement with the ILO and other UN agencies will are strongly encouraged to apply.
Objectives
As defined by youth participants from across the African continent, the overarching objective of the African Youth Network for Social Justice is to promote youth voices in dialogues and actions to further social justice both in Africa and globally.Meaningful youth engagement is a key guiding principle for the work of the ILO. The African Youth Network for Social Justice is meant to promote youth voices in dialogues and actions to further social justice.
The network will gather inputs on youth’ perspectives on social justice, ensure that activities under the Global Coalition are well aligned and articulate  issues relevant to young people, and facilitate the active engagement of young people in the activities of the Global Coalition. Selected members of the African Youth Network for Social Justice may become members of the Global Coalition.
Specifically, the Network will work towards the following objectives:
The network will serve as a platform for youth-led organizations across Africa, allowing them to connect, share experiences, knowledge, and ideas, and build a common identity as changemakers. It will help these organizations showcase their innovative work and find new partners.The African Youth Network for Social Justice will also offer training and support, such as understanding the concept of social justice, advocating in policy discussions, communicating social justice issues, and raising funds.
Expected Outcomes
- Enhance the visibility and impact of youth voices in dialogues and actions to further social justice in Africa
- Strengthen the capacities and peer network of its members, thereby contributing to more impactful youth-led initiatives and increased awareness on social justice issues among young people in Africa.
- Enhance social justice on the ground, including through the integration of youth perspectives in initiatives of the Global Coalition for Social Justice and beyond.
The Global Coalition for Social Justice
The Global Coalition for Social Justice unite partners from governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations, international institutions, enterprises, NGO’s, and academic institutions in a transformative initiative to advance social justice for everyone, everywhere.
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