The 2024 African University on Youth and Development will focus on the importance of education for human rights and the Rule of Law among young people. This initiative aims to raise awareness among representatives of youth organisations about leveraging international conventions to promote a global culture of human rights and the Rule of Law, especially among young people.

The annual theme this year is: #Fortheculture of Human Rights and the Rule of Law

The schedule of the week enables organisations to run their own activities (training, workshop, seminars, etc.) while ensuring enough time for everyone to get together around the “Joint Programme”, focusing on the annual theme. 

The activities taking place within the AUYD allow for the sharing of knowledge and good practices, the planning of future actions to empower young people and the designing of common messages advocating for youth perspective transversal to common priorities.

The AUYD is organised with the collaboration with the NSC’s Network on Youth and Global Citizenship in the framework of iLEGEND III: Intercultural Learning Exchange through Global Education, Networking and Dialogue, a Joint programme of the European Union and the Council of Europe: co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. The overall objective of the project is to increase the active engagement of EU member States, candidates, and potential candidate countries’ citizens (in particular young people) in safeguarding sustainable development and confronting global challenges and inequalities at local and global level.

The activities benefits from the project “Peace YP - promoting Euro-Africa cooperation to enhance youth participation for peace” funded by the Government of Malta, Portugal and Spain.

The 2024 edition is organised with the support of the hosting authorities of Cabo Verde: the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Regional Integration, and Cabo Verde’s Institute of Sports and Youth (IDJ).

  News 01/07/2024

 News 28/06/2024

 News 18/06/2024

 Concept Note 

The 2022 edition of the AUYD intended to contribute to set up a new transparent, stable, and inclusive Euro-Africa youth platform by providing youth entities with the opportunity to connect through a cross-sectorial approach to youth policies.

The event responded to the needs, expressed by many youth stakeholders, for more dynamic and flexible spaces that could allow for the identification of common priorities, the sharing of new practices, the convergence around joint policy orientations and, ultimately, the fostering of a greater coordination among all players in the youth field in Europe and Africa.

The organisations selected to run their activity within the AUYD202 collaborated with other organisations for the success of the event and for the growth of the youth sector at an interregional level.

The “Joint Programme” connected all partners’ activities and engage all participants around the annual theme. The annual theme of the NSC Summer Universities for the year 2022 was: “Building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions”.

  Final report 

 Call for partners 

The AUYD 2022 was organised in the framework of the project “Peace YP - promoting Euro-Africa cooperation to enhance youth participation for peace” funded by the Government of Portugal and Spain and implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe. The event also relied on a partnership with the Government of Cabo Verde and its Institute of Youth (IDJ).

The seventh African University on Youth and Development was organised in Nairobi (Kenya), in November 2015, by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, in partnership with the European Youth Forum, the Pan-African Youth Union and ADYNE, hosted by the Network of International Youth Organisations in Africa.

This year, the Network of Universities on Youth and Global Citizenship agreed on the joint theme “Youth.org: actors for change!”.

The programme of activities included:

11th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organisations, organised by the North-South Centre in partnership with the European Youth Forum and the Pan African Youth Union.

6th Training Course for Youth Leaders of the African Diaspora Youth living in Europe: Training for Trainers, organised by the North-South Centre and ADYNE.

4th Meeting of the Africa-Europe Youth Platform, facilitated by the North-South Centre.

Training for Trainers of the Network of International Youth Organisations in Africa, organised by the Network of International Youth Organisations in Africa.

Network of International Youth Organisations in Africa Annual General Meeting (AGM 2015), organised by member organisations of Network of International Youth Organisations in Africa.

The sixth African University on Youth and Development was organised in Nairobi (Kenya), in January 2015, by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, in partnership with the European Youth Forum, the Pan-African youth Union and ADYNE, hosted by the Network of International Youth Organisations in Africa.

The Network of Universities on Youth and Global Citizenship agreed on the joint theme “Youth Opportunities” for 2014, with the 6th African University on Youth and Development closing this cycle.

The programme of activities included:

10th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organisations, organised by the North South Centre in partnership with the European Youth Forum and the Pan African Youth Union.

3rd Meeting of the Africa-Europe Youth Platform, facilitated by the North South Centre of the Council of Europe.

Annual general meeting of the Network of International Youth Organisations in Africa (AGM 2014), developed by member organisations of NIYOA.

The fifth African University on Youth and Development was organised in Mindelo (Cabo Verde), in May 2013, by the North-South Centre, together with the Cabo Verde Youth Federation, the Portuguese National Youth Council (CNJ-Portugal), the Youth Forum of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), the African Diaspora Youth Network in Europe (ADYNE), in partnership with the African Union Commission, the Pan-African Youth Union (PYU), the European Youth Forum (YFJ), the Network of International Youth Organizations in Africa (NIYOA) and the United Nations in Cabo Verde.

That year, the Network of Universities on Youth and Global Citizenship agreed on the joint theme “Democratic Citizenship”.

The programme of activities included:

9th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organisations, implemented by the North-South Centre in partnership with the European Youth Forum and the Pan African Youth Union.

Intercultural Forum on Democratic Citizenship and Culture of Peace, organised by the FCJ with the United Network of Young Peace Makers and ADYNE, with the support of the UN and the Cabo Verde Youth Directorate.

Post 2015 Agenda on Population and Youth Employment Conference, organised by the Cabo Verde Youth Federation and the Organisation of African Youth, in partnership with the main youth networks in Africa.

Meeting of Youth Organisations Platforms, organised by CaboVerde Youth Federation and the Youth Leagues.

Training on youth association, leadership and entrepreneurship, promoted by the Youth League of São Vicente, in partnership with the FCJ and the Local Youth Council of São Vicente.

The fifth School of Youth Leaders of the CPLP, developed by the Portuguese National Youth Council in partnership with the Youth Forum of the CPLP.

International Youth Work Camp on World Heritage “Cidade Velha, the origins of the Creole society” organised by the UNESCO and the Cabo Verde Youth Federation, in partnership with Ribeira Grande Youth League, UNESCO National Commission for Cabo Verde, the Cultural Heritage and Research Institute and other local partners.

The participants of the Post 2015 Agenda on Population and Youth Employment Conference drafted a final declaration (Declaration of Mindelo) manifesting the concerns of the African Youth regarding sustainable development.

The fourth African University on Youth and Development was organised in Mindelo (Cabo Verde), in July 2012, by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe in partnership with the Cabo Verde Federation of Youth, the Portuguese National Youth Council, the Pan-African Youth Union, the European Youth Forum and the Youth Forum of Portuguese Speaking Countries.

The programme of activities included:

8th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organisations, organised by the North-South Centre in partnership with the European Youth Forum and Pan African Youth Union.

Training Course on Youth Work, developed by a partnership between the Youth League of St. Vicente, the Cabo Verdean Youth Federation and the Youth Council of Angola.

Training Course on Cooperative Living Together, developed by the Cabo Verdean Youth Federation.

4th School of youth Leaders of the CPLP, developed by the Portuguese National Youth Council in partnership with the Youth Forum of the CPLP.

The third African University on Youth and Development was organised in Cabo Verde, in May 2011, by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe, the Cabo-Verdean Youth Federation and the Portuguese National Youth Council, with the support of the European Youth Forum, the Pan-African Youth Union, and the governments of CaboVerde and Angola.

The programme of activities included:

Global Youth Work Training Course, organized by North-South Centre of the Council of Europe in co-operation with ICMYO and the Portuguese National Youth Council.

Training for Trainers on Global Education, organised by the Portuguese Youth Council in partnership with the Youth Forum of the Portuguese Speaking Countries and the Southern Youth Councils of Europe.

Monitoring Group Meeting on Euro-African Youth Cooperation, facilitated by the North South Centre of the Council of Europe.

These activities took place in the International Year of Youth "Dialogue and mutual understanding", proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations. Youth leaders learned to co-develop training activities on awareness-raising of development issues and political participation of youth in the context of Euro-African co-operation.

The second African University on Youth and Development was organised in Santiago Island (Cabo Verde), in July 2010, by the North-South Centre in partnership with the Cape Verde Federation of Youth, the Portuguese National Youth Council, the Pan African Youth Union, the European Youth Forum and the Youth Forum of Portuguese Speaking Countries, with the political and financial support of the European Commission and the states of Luxemburg and Portugal.

The programme of activities included:

2nd Training Course for Youth Leaders of the African Diaspora Living in Europe, implemented by the North-South Centre.

2nd Residential Seminar “Long-Term Training Course for trainers on Africa Europe Youth Co-operation”, organised by the North-South Centre.

“Strengthening co-operation amongst youth organisations in Africa”, implemented by the World Scout Bureau, African Regional Office and other partner international youth organisations.

School of Youth Leaders of the CPLP, developed by the Portuguese Youth Council in partnership with the Youth Forum of the Portuguese Speaking Countries and the Southern Youth Councils of Europe.

Europe Africa Young Scouts Forum of the Portuguese speaking Countries, organised by the Scout associations of the Portuguese speaking countries in Africa and Portugal.

International Meeting of CaboVerdean Youth and National youth Forum on the African Youth Charter, implemented by Cabo Verdean Federation of Youth in collaboration with local youth leagues.

The participants drafted a final declaration consisting of recommendations to invest in youth participation in development; which included the recognition of the rights of young people and young migrants as agents of change, the promotion on intercultural dialogue, and a stronger cooperation between youth organisations in Africa towards the 3rd EU-Africa Heads of State Summit.

The first AUYD took place in Tarrafal, June 2009, supported by the European Commission, the Government of Cabo Verde and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP).

The programme of activities included:

6th Africa-Europe Training Course for Youth Organisations, implemented by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.

Training for Trainers on Non-Formal Education “Strengthening partnerships for youth participation through the development of training strategies for Europe-Africa”, coordinated by the National Youth Council of Portugal.

West Africa Sub-Regional Seminar on Youth Policies and the African Youth Charter, organised by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe.

National youth Forum on Youth Participation, implemented by the Cabo Verde Federation of Youth with the Youth Leagues.

Training School of Youth Leaders and Coordination Meeting of the Youth Forum of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries “Towards United Nations General Assembly”, organised by the Community of Portuguese-speaking countries (CPLP).

First Phase of the Political and Cultural Exchange Brazil-Africa, implemented by UMOJA (Cultural Exchange Program and Policy Brazil and Africa).

A final declaration was drafted by participants including recommendations to stakeholders of the Africa Europe Youth Summit to start preparations for a second AEYS in connection with the 3rd EU-Africa Summit of Heads of State to be held in 2010. Moreover, the Cabo Verdean authorities announced the ratification of the African Youth Charter, and the partners and the Government of Cabo Verde agreed to hold the second AUYD also in Tarrafal.