With the initiation of the AGYI, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has placed a clear focus on young people as global citizens and reaffirmed its determination to further develop African-German cooperation. Particularly significant is the strong emphasis on partnership and reciprocity within the AGYI. As the political executing agency on the German side, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development creates the necessary financial framework for the success of the initiative.
On the African side, the cooperation agreement for the AGYI was signed at the end of 2015 with the African Union Commission (AUC), which represents 55 nation states. The AUC considers the AGYI to be an important contribution to the implementation of the goals of the African Youth Charter and the Agenda 2063 that it adopted in 2013. At the same time, the AUC acts as a bridge to national governments and sets the political course for a qualitative and quantitative expansion of youth exchanges and voluntary services both between African and European countries and within Africa.
As a link between state and civil society actors, Engagement Global coordinates the activities of the AGYI in Germany, Benin, South Africa and Tanzania. In addition, the coordination office for the AGYI set up by Engagement Global acts as a contact point and initiator in Germany for questions and issues relating to African-German youth exchange.
An exchange based on partnership requires competent and reliable partners. In its partner countries, the AGYI consists of committed organisations with extensive experience in youth work and in shaping international contacts. Until now, organisations from African countries have often received only indirect support through their German partners in the implementation of youth exchanges and voluntary work. The AGYI aims to build viable and sustainable structures for this in African countries themselves. The focus is initially on the three pilot countries of the AGYI, with a perspective of extension to other African countries after the end of the pilot phase in 2020.
In Benin, the African partner structure has been expanded since 2018 via the AGYI Benin, Réseau AGYI Bénin network, which consists of 25 civil society organisations active in the field of youth exchange and voluntary service. Previously, the Young Beninese Leaders Association (YBLA) was a partner organisation of the AGYI. In South Africa, WESSA: People caring for the Earth is the implementation partner of the AGYI. The Tanzania Youth Coalition (TYC) carries the mandate for the implementation of the AGYI in Tanzania.
The implementation organisations are supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) according to their needs for capacity expansion locally.
