Policymaking from the Margins. Reflections on the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of AU Agenda 2063

Mandipa Bongiwe Ndlovu has published a chapter (5) in the book Minority Women, Rights and Intersectionality. Agency, Power, and Participation.

The chapter, titled Policymaking from the Margins. Reflections on the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan of AU Agenda 2063, interrogates the framing, access, agency, and power of African women and youth within the parameters of the African Union's Agenda 2063 in relation to the demographics’ social developmental outcomes. This is done by reflecting on the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan (2014–2023) of Agenda 2063 and its intersecting ideals of gender equality in light of accelerating progress in the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 (2024–2033).

Posited as an apt analytical tool in African policymaking, intersectionality is applied as a lens to impress the need for nuance in the process of continental policymaking. Endorsing both standpoint theory and intersectionality as African policymaking tools further encourages the unpacking of historical inequities and empowers African women and youth to contribute to, and benefit from, the continent's development. Multilateral policymaking is vital in setting the agenda for socio-economic development. The overall aim of this chapter is to recentre the positional understandings of African women and youth as active participants at the continental policy table to achieve this, particularly by probing a shift beyond contextual imprecision when looking at African women and youth in policy planning and implementation. This is the only way to ensure that implementation is targeted towards impactful transformation and moves beyond gender and age neutrality to ensure favourable outcomes for The Africa We Want.

Read the full chapter here.