FOCAC’S 2022-24 Dakar Action Plan: Where Do the Women and Youths Lie?
It is every country’s aspiration to secure a stable, developmental, and sustainable spot on the international political and socio-economic equilibrium. Often times, the pursuit of these aspirations are hindered by usually foreseeable circumstances most of which have an imperialistic identity. In the same pursuit, a few countries manage to evade the swarm of conflict, not spontaneously but they eventually overcome. The incidental factors that spark this sort of triumph can secure a moment for discussion at a later convenient period. This moment’s topical focus is as to what happens when these countries get to the top. Rise and immerse others? Or rise and lift others? China is a focal point of choice. To immerse, or to lift!
A unifying bloc (for China and Africa relations) was formed in Beijing, and is known the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Following the China-Africa Consultative Forum, when it was first formed in 2000, criticism rang from all corners. The formation of this cooperation had joined the few international diplomacy blocs. It was a potential threat (as thought at the time) to the Western domination. It issued alternative policy direction to a traditional modus operandi. Like a few other attempts that had sunk miserably, this new born was to stand the proverbial test of time. As of now, it’s now 21 years and counting. The initial number of flag-off members has within that time expanded and it’s promising to add, that there are prospective members along the way.
The tradition has been holding a ministerial conference after a period of 3 years. The recent such ministerial conference was held in November, 2021, in Senegal’s capital of Dakar. Much was discussed, more was agreed upon, but there’s something worthy to note out of that ministerial conference. The needs, aspirations, and the goals have since kept alternating compared to very first ministerial conference. These needs and objectives have been inspired by the changing times. Whereas the founding principles of this diplomacy remain intact, the mode of achieving these goals and cropping of new regional and international challenges haven’t been constant. Two of the most interesting highlights of the recent FOCAC ministerial conference were the concerns on “Youth and Women,” and the “Digital Economy.”
In numerous countries, perhaps world over, women were greatly discriminated at peak levels in the recent centuries. For most African countries, sadly, this still happens on great scales, at a time where someone would think that such vices and regrettable events are only but a tale. The youth, on the other hand, are hardly supported by their respective governments in their pursuit to make the world a better place. These two interest groups are often times victims of uneven distribution of resources. The impacts are realized in the deplorable standards of living, and uneven spreading of wealth. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation for the past 6 years has been committed to realizing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, specifically agenda 5 on realizing ‘gender equality’ and agenda 10 on ‘reducing inequalities’.
The Dakar Action Plan adopted under the ‘Culture and People-to-people’ exchanges chapter in which China and Africa FOCAC members pledged to keep strengthening the already present cooperation and future exchanges in advancing equality in gender. On the top list was empowerment of women. The two sides resolved on tenable solutions to this being through women’s dialogues by supported by all responsible bodies in these member states, exchanges especially among the women startup and seasonal entrepreneurs. Seminars both locally and internationally have been supported by China such as the ‘Happy Campus Projects’ and the Child Health and Maternal Healthcare programs to which over 25,000 women participants from the FOCAC developing countries benefitted from trainings on modern healthcare methods.
China is a serving member to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women whose agenda is well laid out as of the sustainable development goals (SDG’s). This identity is a statement that its ideals are buried in equitable development. That China is worthy of guiding, advisory, and responsive partner state. The country’s resolve in promotion of women’s rights and elevation of their social and economic status has been on for years and it’s not surprising that in 1995, it hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women. There’s more to learn from other FOCAC member states from this resilience and the greatest expectation is policy formulation and implementation by these states.
The youth (in all forms) are equally pivotal to future success in these states. The national and international statistical analysis has showed. Authoritatively for the Republic of Uganda, China’s diplomatic relations and exchange programs have slightly been effective at addressing the unemployment problem. The Belt and Road Initiative being the greatest driver. The scholarship programs by the Chinese government to Ugandan scholars have been thus fulfilling at equipping the beneficiaries with the modern skills and knowledge of new technologies. The Chinese founded industries in Uganda’s scattered industrial parks, revolutionary agricultural methods at Kapeeka, Oil mining activities by CNOOC in the Albertine region, infrastructural construction projects, to state the least. Just last week, CNOOC announced completion of 56 modern houses which will be given to Ugandans in Albertine region as part of their compensation for land where CNOOC carrying out oil exploration. Also, the company is offering employment opportunities to Ugandan youth.
The downside is that the question of the disabled women and youth (widely) is yet to be answered. In practice, the intervention projects basically addressing this special group are more through short-term aid, than they should be permanent at securing long-term effects such as financial stability. Perhaps, the policy formulators who are able to read this should heed to the call. The bright light is that the Dakar Action Plan recognized this inequity and that’s a positive outlook. Now, than ever in the FOCAC relations, the youth and women have gained more attention. This is good progress, but more efforts by member states are still required in addressing the challenges that still linger beneath. Hopefully, the exchanges among these countries will keep yielding more and more.
Alan Collins Mpewo is a Research Fellow, Development Watch Center
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