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On 5 March 2021 the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) partnered with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to launch the National Youth Policy (NYP) 2030, with the theme: “A decade of accelerating positive youth development outcomes”. The public launch of the policy marked a huge milestone in addressing youth development concerns in South Africa. It aimed to popularise the policy for implementation by the youth sector. The virtual attendees included officials from the youth units and youth from across South Africa and Africa as a whole, through live stream and social media, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The representative/s of the African Union (AU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and Commonwealth and well as youth experts provided messages of the support.

 

From left to right: Ms. Ziyanda Ngoma, UNFPA Programme Specialist; Ms. Christine Muhigana, UNICEF Representative; Minister Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Ms. Beatrice Mutali, UNFPA Representative and Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
From left to right: Ms. Ziyanda Ngoma, UNFPA Programme Specialist; Ms. Christine Muhigana, UNICEF Representative; Minister Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Ms. Beatrice Mutali, UNFPA Representative and Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.

 

The policy advocates for holistic youth development in the country along the following thematic areas:
a) Quality Education, Skills and Second Chances;
b) Economic Participation, Entrepreneurship and Job Creation;
c) Physical and Mental Health Promotion including combatting pandemics;
d) Nation-Building and Social Cohesion; and
e) Effective and Responsive Youth Development Institutions.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) cut cross all the NYP pillars.

 

Minister Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) declared the National Youth Policy as an official document to guide government and civil society in mainstreaming youth development. The Minister called for increased youth participation in the implementation of Agenda 2030.

 

Ms. Beatrice Mtuali, Representative for UNFPA, shared a message of support on behalf of UN in South Africa. Ms. Mutali called for more investments into empowering young people and prioritizing education to harness the potential steer national economic growth. UNFPA provided technical support to the development of the National Youth Policy. The policy ensures all youth in their diversities, are empowered to participate in decisions that affect them, in line with the Leave No One Behind principle. The UN is an ally for sustainable development and encourages meaningful youth participation.