Date
28 May 2025
AFRODAD and AYPN Sign MOU in Commitment to Youth Empowerment through AFRODAD’s Collaborative Internship Programme
28 May 2025, Arusha, Tanzania
The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and the Africa Young Parliamentarians Network (AYPN) concluded a memorandum of agreement for the secondment of an AFRODAD intern to AYPN under a six-month Capacity Building Programme. The agreement is a testament to both institutions’ commitment to empowering young Africans and strengthening youth participation in development spaces. It is fitting that this agreement was concluded at the close of the third edition of the Debt and Development Academy (DaDA III), AFRODAD’s third flagship project poised to offer modular training to CSO activists on various overlapping issues around debt and development finance. These CSO activists often are part of the youth demographic, further cementing the commitment to Africa’s future generations.
“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to fostering inclusive economic governance across the continent. By investing in the capacity of young professionals and legislators, AYPN and AFRODAD are setting a foundation for meaningful youth participation in shaping Africa’s development narrative. We view this collaboration not only as a strategic step, but as a moral imperative to build governance systems that are representative, forward-looking, and accountable.”- Hon. Vuyo Zungula, Secretary-General, AYPN
“Through this partnership, the secondment of interns from AFRODAD to AYPN is a practical and timely approach to strengthening our Secretariat's capacity. This aligns directly with our mission to empower young legislators and expand technical support for evidence-based policymaking. The internship programme will enhance our ability to deliver impactful youth-led initiatives while nurturing a generation of African professionals committed to public debt accountability, transparency, and policy reform.”- Mr. Antony Buluma, Executive Director, AYPN
AFRODAD Executive Director, Jason Rosario Braganza said “AFRODAD’s partnership with AYPN aligns with our motto of making Africa a Rule Maker not a Rule Taker. Our internship programme is geared towards enhancing the professional experience of young activisits as well as supporting youth led organisations especially legislators such as AYPN in forging Africa’s Transformation in a constantly evolving world.”
The programme will support knowledge exchange, skills enhancement and diversification, hands-on learning, and leadership development for young pan-African professionals. The memorandum reflects a shared vision of building Africa’s future by investing in its youth and equipping them with the tools to lead transformational change.
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