ICOYACA

SPEECH BY AfCFTA SECRETARIAT DURING AfCFTA YOUTH DAY NOV, 2022

Prudence Sebahizi,Chief Technical Advisor at the AfCFTA Secretariat
Emphasized at the event that : "Young people must scrutinize their opportunities and see what is in it for them in their respective areas of business.”

Our Esteemed Partners

International Trade Centre (ITC)

Financially supported our AfCFTA Youth Days

African Union, AfCFTA Secretariat

Supports all our engagements

UNDP Africa

We organised AfCFTA Bootcamp in Kigali, Rwanda 2022

MS-Training Centre for Development Cooperation

It is our mother body and through Youlead Africa, they support the councils operations.

United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

We are currently Co-organizing the AfCFTA Moot Court Competition and they have offered their technical support to most of our projects.

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

We have over the years meaningfully engaged and organised consultative m=dialogues with youth and side-events.

JUSTIFICATION OF ICOYACA TO YOUTH IN RELATION TO AfCFTA | SMES

Implementation

ICOYACA Advocates for the alignment of national-level plans to suit AfCFTA implementation, provide focus, expertise and help mobilize resources to foster youth inclusion in the implementation processes hence creating youth ownership of the AfCFTA at country level.

Engagement of young people and their enterprises

The ICOYACA Country Chapters ensure proper bottom-up mobilization and strong youth engagement at the country level which foster ownership hence youth taking the lead of the AfCFTA implementation process. Consequently youth-led accountability is strong at country and continental level.

Trade Data Availability

Our 550 members will ensure strong youth in trade data collection, m&e and accountability. The quality data collected will make the development of learning systems and trade facilitation websites easy.

Coordination and Mainstreaming

The country chapters prevent duplication and misalignment of AfCFTA youth programs and they build synergies to foster youth inclusion. This is helping accelerate the implementation processes, hence enabling at-scale participation of youth in intra-Africa trade and making youth inclusion in the implementation processes of the AfCFTA sustainable.

Partnership Leveraging

The existence of several partners in the AfCFTA youth empowerment landscape provide opportunities to leverage partner resources. So, the country chapters are the only youth bodies at each member state with a strong foundation and system to harmonise the partners’ competing overlapping framework and initiatives in order to ensure they all foster youth inclusion in the AfCFTA.

AfCFTA Youth Training on Export Readiness

Making Youth Traders Export Ready

ENHANCED MARKET SIZE AND TRADE

AfCFTA will create an economic region of 55 African countries , with 1.3 billion people and combined GDP of about $3.4 trillion.

EXPORT GROWTH

World Bank estimates that by 2035 the volume of total exports would increase by almost 29% relative to business as usual.

SHARED PROPERITY & POVERTY REDUCTION

Africa is the world's poorest and most under developed continent with a continental GDP that accounts for just 2.4% of global GDP. This accounts for only 2% of global trade .

WELFARE GAINS

UNCTAD estimates that the AfCFTA will result in total welfare gains of US$16 Billion to 24 Billion (+0.97% GDP and +1.1 7% employment )

REDUCTION IN EXTREME POVERTY

Over 30 Million People Will Potentially Be Lifted Out of Extreme Poverty.

INCOME BOOST

There will be boost in income by about 7% . ..... About $450B value.

54

Country Chapters

13

Projects

20000

Youth in Trade Members

2000

Volunteers

AfCFTA OPERATIONAL INSTRUMENTS

All
e-Tariff Book
Guided Trade Initiative
Itra-African Trade Fare
Non Tariff Barriers
Pan-African Payments and Settlements System
Rules of Origin Manual

Non Tariff Barriers

Guided Trade Initiative (GTI)

Pan-African Payments and Settlements System

Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF)

E-Tariff Book

Rules of Origin Manual

BECOME A TRADER

FREEQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is ICOYACA part of the AfCFTA Secretariat?

While we were unveiled by the AfCFTA Secretariat and support the vital work of the

Secretariat, ICOYACA is not part of the AfCFTA Secretariat or the African Union system.

We are an independent body affiliated to Youlead Africa.

How can I start a Country, Campus or community chapter if there is not one?

You must become an ICOYACA Champion before you can begin the process of starting a

new chapter. Please email icoyaca@youlead.africa for more information.

What do I need to sign up to be part of YouLead Africa?

ICOYACA is affiliated to YouLead Africa so for as long as you are a Champion, you

automatically become a YouLead Africa Ambassador. You will receive emails informing you

about all their programs you can engage in. For more information about Youlead Africa

programs, visit https://www.youlead.africa.

What sort of programming does ICOYACA do similar to Model AU?

ICOYACA is dedicated to empowering young Africans with the tools and experiences that

prepare them to meaningfully engage in the AfCFTA implementation processes and to take

full advantage of the opportunities the AfCFTA presents. ICOYACA is planning to start

Model AfCFTA Negotiations to empower our youth with negotiation skills in order to

meaningfully engage in the upcoming negotiations on the Protocol of Women and Youth in

Trade when invited by the AfCFTA Secretariat. Contact the ICOYACA Secretariat to better

understand how they are planning to execute this.

Can ICOYACA help me get access to AfCFTA Secretariat meetings and conferences?

ICOYACA is dedicated to connecting Africans to the engagements the AfCFTA Secretariat

announces for public attendance, including virtual meetings, hybrid events, High-Level

business Forum, conferences and more. Become a champion to receive AfCFTA Secretariat

events information and more information about these unique opportunities.

Can I join ICOYACA if I live abroad?

ICOYACA membership is open to all young business leaders and policy makers regardless of

your status or location for as long as you are committed to advancing Youth inclusion in the

AfCFTA and participate in intra-African trade

The TEAM

The ICOYACA Continental Team

Emolot Allan David

Chairperson

Thembela MSIBI

Vice Chairperson

Anele Simon

Secretary General

Diana Majala

Admin Secretary

Michael Arthur Kiwia

Head of Legal Directorate

Daniel Kasongi

Internal Affairs

Martha Chimilila

Internal Affairs

Deborah Akoto

Finance

Eniola

ICOYACA

William Awomoyi

Diasporean Affairs

Thobani Mfekayi

Partnerships

Dr Eileen C. Okenwa

Board Member

Shadrack Kiprotich

Communications Directorate

Gcina Mkhaliphi

Secretary Assistant Administration

LATEST NEWS

All our latest news are listed below

Secretary-General Wamkele Mene's Reappointment Marks Key Milestone as AU Adopts the Protocol on Digital Trade

Feb 20, 2024

Secretary-General Wamkele Mene's Reappointment Marks Key Milestone as AU Adopts the Protocol on Digital Trade

Commercial

South Africa Joins the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative: A Boost for Intra-African Trade

Jan 31, 2024

A positive stride towards economic integration and prosperity: South Africa officially joins AfCFTA's Guided Trade Initiative, boosting intra-African trade. The move opens new opportunities for young entrepreneurs, comprising 25% of MSMEs in the country. Key steps include awareness campaigns, streamlined trade procedures and capacity building. ICOYACA remains committed to educating African youth on the AfCFTA for fostering economic empowerment and awareness.

Commercial

AfCFTA BUSINESS FORUM 2023

Apr 16, 2023

The AfCFTA Youth Advisory Council Team led by the Chairperson Mr. Emolot Allan David participated in the AfCFTA Business Forum 2023. Before the forum started, Our AfCFTA Champions from all regions of the continent are attending the Pre-AfCFTA Business Forum 2023 Event organized by AfCFTA Secretariat, International Trade Centre and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) among others partners under the theme: Activating Trade & Investments.

AfCFTA CONTINENTAL ENGAGEMENTS

Mother And Sub Mother Entities

Insititutional Framework

ICOYACA Overview

AfCFTA SECRETARIAT AND ICOYACA ENGAGEMENT

What is the AfCFTA?

Event

News & Press Releases