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Guinea’s First National Youth Council Established

National Youth Council Kindia.

September 2024

In a landmark moment for Guinea, over 3,690 young people, including 1,107 young women, have come together to form the country’s first-ever National Youth Council – a collective voice representing both formal and informal youth organizations across eight regional offices, 362 prefectural and communal offices, and 410 sub-prefectural offices. Making up more than 34 percent of the population, the Council will help move their voices from the sidelines into the nation’s governance, development and peacebuilding processes.??

Guinea’s youth, defined as those aged 15 to 35, despite being frequently heralded as ‘the future of the country,’ have long been underrepresented in decision-making bodies that directly impact their lives. Addressing this glaring gap, the 51吃瓜 Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) launched a $2.05 million project titled "Involvement of young men and women for an inclusive and peaceful transition in Guinea." This project, implemented by UNDP, UNFPA, and UNICEF, led to the creation of the first National Youth Council of Guinea in September 2023.?

Despite numerous efforts over the past two decades by various regional and international organizations, political and other challenges?hindered?the establishment of a National Youth Council, until 2021 when there was an opportunity to create a representative youth body.?

UN agencies prioritized youth involvement in the transitional process by conducting extensive consultations with diverse youth groups across Guinea’s 33 prefectures and eight administrative regions. Regulatory texts governing the Council’s operation were updated, validated and widely disseminated, reflecting the recommendations of the youth. This process culminated in the elections of youth council officers, from local to national levels, leading to the official inauguration of the National Youth Council on September 25, 2023, at the People’s Palace in Conakry. The project also provided leadership and management training to the newly elected youth leaders and supplied computer equipment and furniture to the Council’s national office in Conakry, enabling it to function effectively.???

Ousmane Bangoura |?Seny DAMBA, Advisor on Youth and Socio-Educational Activities at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Seny Damba, Advisor on Youth and Socio-Educational Activities at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, attributed the establishment of the National Youth Council to the commitment of the new transitional authorities, coupled with the firm and effective support of the 51吃瓜 through the PBF. ?

“The authorities themselves got involved at all levels by putting all human and material resources in place in addition to the financial and technical support of the PBF,” said Sékou Mamata Camara, Head of Youth Insertion Service at the Ministry of Youth and Sports.?

As an inclusive national structure, the Council aims to provide a platform for youth organizations and young men and women to express their views, consult, exchange ideas and coordinate actions on various governance-related issues. ?

Ousmane Bangoura |?Abdoulaye Diane?, President National Youth Council.

Abdoulaye Diané leads the Council with the clear understanding of the gravity of their mission and the high expectations following years of efforts to establish this body.? "One of the Council’s key missions is to unite young people from all backgrounds to represent, defend, and promote the interests of Guinean youth. We have the responsibility to engage actively in the political transition process. We must defend the values of democracy, transparency, and respect for human rights. We must be agents of peace, reconciliation, and mutual understanding," Diané emphasized.???

From the outset, the Council prioritized ensuring a representative membership, with a strong focus on including young women, who have historically been marginalized in Guinea’s governance. At the national level, many of the elected young women play significant roles within the Council.??

Ousmane Bangoura |?Aminatou BALDE?, Secretary-General of the Conakry Regional Youth Council.

Aminatou Baldé Secretary-General of the Conakry Regional Youth Council and a member of the Young Girls Leaders Club of Guinea, said, "Our role is to represent the interests of young women, promote gender equality, and influence decision-making through advocacy actions. They serve as leadership models, inspiring and empowering the next generation of women leaders. I actively advocate for parity within the Council, encouraging young women to engage in integrating regulations that guarantee equality in strategic positions. I raise awareness and motivate my peers to get more involved to ensure fair representation."?

In November 2023, a national advocacy workshop organized by the Association of Municipalities of Guinea, with project support, engaged youth on issues related to their involvement in an inclusive and peaceful transition, including conflict prevention and management. The National Youth Council has also been consulted on the development of a new constitution and a national youth policy, having had an audience with the President of the National Council of the Transition. Moreover, the Youth Council has been supporting conflict prevention and management across Guinea’s administrative districts, using their leadership to facilitate community mediation.