Rabat – The pan-African dream is built on the promise of “upward social mobility for all,” but this is not a reality for most African countries, Charlene Ruto, First Daughter of the Republic of Kenya, said today.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the MeDays Forum on behalf of the pan-African congress in Tangiers, Morocco, Ruto highlighted the suboptimal state of pan-African cooperation, arguing that the pan-African dream “has stalled.”
In her speech, Ruto called on African nations to invest in Pan African Strategies “for the next generation through a bottom-up approach to creating better outcomes for children and youth will kick start the pan-African dream of realizing shared prosperity for all.”
Stressing the need to address social mobility on the continent, Ruto explained that “Restoring higher levels of pan-African social mobility will be among the most important political, social and economic challenges.”
Stagnating social mobility on the continent is already causing widespread frustration among citizens, Ruto warned. She added that the rising level of dissatisfaction is already resulting in the destabilizing of institutions and social divides.
“The longer we wait to address the issue, the more tumultuous our politics will become,” she insisted.
While shedding light on the many challenges facing pan-African cooperation, Ruto emphasized that only Africa has the potential to solve African problems. “The time to act is now. The question is, who will lead the effort to expand and actualize these pan-African strategies? The simple answer to this is, IT IS US, the pan-African youth present today.”
For Ruto, building efficient pan-African cooperation strategies is a task that cannot be relegated to governments, but rather to regional and continental organizations that can work towards “positive outcomes for children and youth.”
Ruto recalled the African free trade agreement, saying that the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a prime example of efficient pan-African cooperation strategies.
Pan-African cooperation can go a long way in fixing some of the central challenges facing the continent, Ruto argued. “Pan African Strategies will work to realize the existing potential of investments in young people, dominated by the safety net already found in the public education systems.”
Through pan-African cooperation, the continent can overcome a number of challenges related to social mobility including the rising need for skilled labor in today’s highly competitive labor market.
“Many of the fastest growing demographic groups in our countries face the steepest educational and developmental challenges that need immediate intervention through Pan African Strategies.”
Highlighting the importance of addressing the issue of social mobility, Ruto maintained that maintaining social mobility is “more than a social responsibility,” but an “economic imperative” to deliver the continent’s vision of inclusive and sustainable development.
Activating social mobility in Africa
A vehement believer in bottom-up approaches, Ruto propositioned in her speech that only through “shared social economic idealism” can Africa pave the way for its youth to reach their common dream of reaching the middle class by middle age.
To reach this shared goal, African nations should engage in “sincere conversations” and share common standards of accountability to bring the desired impact on African children and youth.
In addition, change should start on the community level. “Leaders in local governments should join forces with nonprofits, philanthropies, and businesses to increase the magnitude, quality, and coordination of the Pan African Strategies towards cradle-to-career investments for our children and youth.”
Concluding her speech, Ruto called on African countries to transform challenges into opportunities for “better governance, peace, security, inclusive and sustainable development for all.”
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