National Youth Development Agency Act 2008: Youth Development Presentation

1. Presentation on the National Youth Development Agency Act 2008.

2. Youth Development. • The National Youth Policy 2008-2013 defines youth development as: • an intentional comprehensive approach that provides space, opportunities and support for young people to maximize their individual and collective creative energies for personal development as well as development of the broader society of which they are an integral part.

3. Definition Continues. • The historical basis of this definition takes into account all the legal, political and policy instruments that have characterized youth development in the recent past. • These instruments includes:

4. Definition Continues. • National Youth Commission Act 1996. • The National Youth Policy 2000. • The National Youth Development Policy Framework 2002-2007. • The National Youth Policy 2008-2013 • The National Youth Development Agency Act, 2008

5. Who is a Young Person. • Ages between 14-35 NYC Act (NYDA Act) • African Youth Charter 15-35 • United Nations (14-28) • The applicable legal instrument for SA is the NYDA Act, 14-35.

6. Youth Development Environment. • Political Environment • Legislative Environment • Policy Environment • International Environment

7. Political Environment. • The viability of youth development in the current political atmosphere is conducive, this is emphatically expressed by the commitment of the mandating government. • The existence of variety of youth leagues in different political parties • The rallies and political gatherings of youth.

8. Legislative Environment • The fact that there has always been laws and legislations governing the affairs of youth, is indicative of the insistence on the part of government to develop young people. • The NYC Act No. 19 of 1996 • The Provincial Youth Comm. Acts. • Demutualization Levy Act 1998 (UYF)

9. Policy Environment • The National Youth Policy 2000. • The National Youth Development Policy Framework 2002-2007. • The National Youth Policy 2008-2013 • Integrated Youth Development Strategy for SA • National Enterprise Strategy2006 • National Youth Service 2004 Policy Framework (As Approved By Cabinet) • The National Youth Economic Empowerment Strategy 2002

10. International Environment • SADC Protocol on Youth Development. (SADC Heads of State and Government Summit 2004) • The African Youth Charter ( As Adopted by the Seventh ordinary Session of the AU Heads of States and government Assembly held in Banjul, The Gambia, 02 July 2006) • SA Has formally adopted and ratified the charter (Minister in the Presidency)

11. Kwazulu/Natal (Provincial Context) • KZN Youth Commission. (Entity) • Local Youth Units. (Local and District Municipalities, Statistics) • Youth Desk on Provincial Departments (IDYF) • Policy instruments i.e. National Youth Service (DPW), Youth Economic Empowerment Strategy (DED), EPWP (DPW), Community Safety Youth Forums (DCSL), Transport Forums (DT), CDW’s, ETC.

12. State of Youth Dev in the Province. • Admin, legislative and Political challenges in the KZN Commission, what lessons are to be derived of this experience. • Research Capacity of in the Youth Development Terrain. • The delayed implementation of political decisions (Entity) • The capacity of Municipalities to undertake research and programs. • The Legislative compliance

13. The National Youth Development Agency. The Mandating political party in government, after careful consideration, decided to integrate the leading youth development institutions in the country namely the UYF and the NYC.

14. NYDA Continues. The process entailed the repealing of one of the legislative instruments that created the above institutions i.e. The NYC Act No. 19 of 1996, (Amendment to Demutualization Levy Act 1998 (UYF)

15. NYDA Structural Outlook. The Board: consists of 7 people of high integrity. Seven members, two (2) of whom are executive directors; and the Chief Executive Officer, who is an ex-officio member of the Board without voting rights.

16. NYDA Structural Outlook of the Board. (a) Executive Management Committee; (b) Credit Risk Committee; (c) Human Resource and Remuneration Committee; (d) Audit Committee. in accordance with Treasury guidelines regarding the formation of Audit Committees as provided for in section 77 of the PFMA; (e) Development Committee

17. What are the Functions of the Agency. (i) National Youth Service and Social Cohesion; (ii) Economic Participation; (iii) Policy, Research and Development; (iv) Governance, Training and Development; (v) Youth Advisory and Information Services; and The National Youth Fund;

18. Transitional Arrangement. As the Act takes effect the President will, in consultation with the Minister of Finance, (a) transfer the assets, rights, obligations and liabilities of UYF and the NYC to the Agency; and (b) Subject to section 197 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (Act No. 66 of 1995), transfer staff of UYF and the NYC to the Agency.

19. Transitional Arrangement in respect of Provinces. Soon after the National Agency gets operational, a process of engaging provinces to repeal the provincial Acts will be kick started. Provincial Agencies are expected to legally mirror the NYDA. The Transitional arrangements including transfer of staff, assets and liabilities to mirror the national process.

20. Transitional Arrangement in respect of Municipalities. A bulk of the Municipalities had not yet complied with the Kopanong Summit resolutions of creating youth units. (DPLG, NYC, Association of local government, etc had not reached a consensus on the standard outlook of local youth units. The NYDA shall appoint local youth champions, divorced from the municipal web but working with the municipality.

21. Transitional Arrangement in respect of Municipalities. Youth Units in the municipalities should be considered to continue and serve in their tasks. NYDA Local Youth champions should work with the units providing capacity and the link between the NYDA, the Provincial processes and the municipality to achieve conformity.

22. Local Youth Units Kopanong Conference funded by the Flemish Government resolved that all municipalities should have Local Youth Units. Local Youth Units must have been constructed in a manner that will locate them strategically to advance youth development in the municipality.

23. Local Youth Units Youth Manager Youth Researcher Programs Coordinator Development & Info Officer Administrator Support Staff

24. Local Government (LYU) NYDA shall appoint its own Local Youth Champion in all municipalities in the country. This task may be mandated to provincial management boards. The Local Youth Champion shall safeguard the interests of the NYDA whilst serving the local mandate.

25. Institutionalization of Youth Development at Local Govt. Primary task is to ensure coordination and alignment of municipality programs on youth in all spheres. Avoid at all cost the unnecessary competition among various municipality units Increased capacity through enjoined youth programs. Central Capacity, Advocacy and lobbing.

26. Institutionalization of Youth Development at Local Govt. Health (Community Health Workers) Social (Community Development Workers) Economic (Youth Mentors) Political (Community Mobiliser) Social ( Early Childhood Development)

27. Institutionalization of Youth Development at Local Govt. The material benefits of institutionalization of youth development is that there should be a central point of coordination and accountability there-by avoiding scattered work on youth development. Monitoring and evaluation becomes easy because of set goals and objectives.

28. Conclusion. The winds of change are sweeping our shores, ours is to flow with the tide to avoid to be swept away. Change is good and provides us with an opportunity to look back and reassess ourselves. The creation of the ministry for vulnerable groups including youth must be seen and welcomed in good light.

29. Thank You