Kennedy Liti Mbeva, a Masters student at UNEP-Tongji IESD, won a prize for finishing in second place in the African Union sponsored essay competition on the African Charter on Democracy, Election and Governance. He was awarded the prize during the 2nd Annual High Level Dialogue on Governance and Democracy in Africa, which took place in Dakar, Senegal, from 25-26 November 2013. Mr. Abdou Latif Coulibaly, Minister of Good Governance, in Charge of the Relations with Institutions, Spoke-person of Senegal, presented the prize to him.

The essay competition was designed to source ideas from African youth on how to enhance governance in Africa in the next fifty years; a project led by the African Union (AU) and dubbed AU Agenda 2063. Kennedy’s essay explored how investing in Africa’s youthful population (more than 65% of Africa’s population is under 35 years) in achieving sustainable development in the continent, with a focus on environmental governance.

Kennedy was also invited to present his essay at the Youth Consultation on the 2nd Annual High Level Dialogue on Governance and Democracy in Africa: Trends, Challenges and Prospects, which took place from 23-24 November, 2013, and featured outstanding youth leaders from Africa. Kennedy was also invited to participate in the subsequent 2nd Annual High Level Dialogue on Governance and Democracy in Africa.