Memorandum of Understanding reinforces Secretariat's relationship with Zambia

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma, and Zambia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kabinga Pande, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Commonwealth Youth Programme's (CYP) Africa Centre, which is based in Zambia.

It focuses on the responsibilities of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Zambia with regard to the Youth Centre.

"The co-operation and ongoing support of the Zambian Government has been essential and welcome in establishing the Commonwealth Youth Centre in Lusaka," said the Secretary-General. "We look forward to its growth for the benefit of Zambia and all of Africa."

Mr Sharma, who is currently in New York, visited Zambia from 15 to 17 September where he met Youth Minister Kenneth Chipungu, and praised Zambia for hosting the African regional centre of the CYP, which it has done since 1974.

The Africa Centre, based in Lusaka, is one of four regional centres in the Commonwealth. The Asia centre is based in Chandigarh, India, the Caribbean centre in Georgetown, Guyana, and the Pacific centre in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

These four regional centres are responsible for developing and running programmes for CYP, an international development agency - part of the Commonwealth Secretariat - which works primarily with member governments' ministries and departments of youth.

The CYP's work includes offering small loans, training, business support and mentoring to young entrepreneurs, as well as encouraging member governments to promote meaningful engagement of young people in both planning and governance processes.

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