From 21–23 July 2026, @The_SARWatch participated in the 8th Southern Africa Youth Forum (@SAYoF_Official) Summit at the Birchwood Hotel, OR Tambo, under the theme "Nourishing Futures: Enhancing Food Security and Water Resilience through Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Action for Youth Empowerment." The Forum was convened by SAYoF with partners including the @_AfricanUnion , United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (#UNECA), #AGRA, @Int_IDEA , @equalitynow , Y-ACT (@YACT_Africa), the @PanAfricanYouth and @Afroarabyouth. At the invitation of the @EJN_of_foccisa , SARW represented civil society on the @sadcpf TIFI Committee panel on "Youth Leadership for Food Security, Water Resilience and Sustainable Development in the SADC Region." SARW placed the intersection of mining, water and food security at the centre of the discussion. Mining, farming and water draw on the same land, rivers and public budgets — how a region governs its minerals shapes what its communities eat and drink. Good mineral governance is food security. Responding to the panel's guiding question on how SADC can use trade policy and regional integration to strengthen food supply chains, SARW offered three contributions: Harmonised regional standards — a coordinated regional position strengthens SADC's collective negotiating capacity, and the principle applies to food systems as much as minerals. Value chains that carry food, not only minerals — the SADC Protocol on Trade and the @AfCFTA offer instruments to move seeds, fertiliser and food across borders, and the corridors being built for mineral exports can serve food distribution too. Safeguarding the productive base — farmland and water underpin food security, and meaningful consultation with mining-affected communities helps development decisions reflect local realities. SARW shared the work of the @PamojaCMA, a continental alliance of youth, women, communities, unions and faith groups advocating for greater beneficiation of Africa's minerals on the continent and for host communities to share in the value generated. SARW also demonstrated the African Mining Accountability Platform (AMAP), now live, enabling community members to document and geolocate environmental and social concerns for verification and escalation to relevant authorities. Use AMAP through the link attached: app.sarwatch.co.za/ #SAYoF2026 #SADCPF #Pamoja #CriticalMinerals #FoodSecurity #AMAP