AMB. AMINA MOHAMED SHARES HER AGENDA WITH THE YOUTH

AMB. (DR.) AMINA C. MOHAMED

Addis Ababa, Thursday January 26, 2017– Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Amina Mohamed who is a candidate for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), accompanied by Mrs. Sicily Kariuki, Kenya's Minister for Youth and Gender Affairs met with youth from various African countries during the 9th African Union Gender Pre-Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the theme: "Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth: Empowering Young People, Especially Young Women, For Leadership and Civic Participation."  This event marked the beginning of the 28^th AU Summit .

Amb. Amina's Vision for the AUC has centered the role of the youth in Africa's development. In her new year's letter to Africans, she wrote: "In sum, our youth are our currency. This century is theirs and Africa’s! To harness their potential, we must collaborate both politically and economically. We must work in partnership and integrate in a manner that catalyses Africa’s synergy and diversity." 

Amb. Amina highlighted the need to listen to the needs, challenges and solutions proposed by the youth.  She expressed concern that youth engagement has often taken an "address approach" as opposed to a "dialogic approach." She stated that it was critical to recognise that Africa's youth, in this age, are the most educated, most exposed, most informed, most innovative and proactive. As a result, the promise of their potential can only be realised through consistent and sustainable partnership and joint decision-making with the youth. 

Amb. Amina is known as a strong advocate for youth inclusion not only in support roles but mainstream decision-making. Her Ministry is a testament of her 'youth engagement' approach-evident in the composition of officers and the structure of the internship programs within the Ministry. Amb. Amina has also engaged the youth in various countries across the continent during the course of her campaign.

About Amina Mohamed

AMBASSADOR AMINA MOHAMED PROFILE 

AMB. (DR.) AMINA C. MOHAMED, EGH, CAV CABINET SECRETARY FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA

Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohamed has had a distinguished career in the Public Service spanning over 29 years covering a broad spectrum of domestic and international assignments.

She rose through the ranks in Kenya’s diplomatic service from that of a Legal Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the highest level of Ambassador/Permanent Representative at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the UN in Geneva.

She later served as the Permanent Secretary for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs. She was then appointed the United Nations Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi.

As Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, she supervised the drafting, negotiation and promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya (2010). At UNEP, Amb. Mohamed spearheaded the implementation of UNEP’s Medium Term Strategy and Programmes as well as on-going reforms. She was actively engaged with intergovernmental processes in implementing the RIO+20 outcomes and support efforts to enhance the funding base of the organization.

Following her appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 2013, Amb. Mohamed has demonstrated solid leadership and strong negotiation skills, which have seen Kenya re-position herself in the international arena. Amb. Mohamed has been instrumental in the restructuring, reforming and rationalisation of Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Missions abroad, and chaired the team that drafted Kenya’s foreign trade policy. She has also been influential in promoting Africa’s agenda in multi-lateral fora including in the World Trade Organisation where she chaired the 10th Ministerial Conference, successfully hosted in Nairobi. She continues to champion for Africa’s voice to be heard within the United Nations System through the proposed United Nations Security Council reforms, with Kenya as a member of the AU Committee of Ten on the Security Council reforms.

Amb. Mohamed was recently honoured by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as one of the four UNDP Champions for the year 2016.

Amb. Mohamed holds a Masters Degree in Law from the University of Kiev and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from KCA University and Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree from Moi University. She is fluent in English, Russian and Swahili and has a working knowledge of French.