Africa Youth Holds a Critical Role in Shaping Sustainable Food Systems, Policy and Climate Action

Kigali, Rwanda September 4 th , 2024 – AGRA and partners has today launched the African Yout
Common Position on Food Systems, Policy and Climate Change and call to action 2024 affirming that
African youth hold the greatest potential to grow the continent’s food systems through innovation and
vibrant labor.
“The 2024 youth common position paper highlights the current challenges and opportunities faced by
youth in agriculture from several African countries. It also provides strategic recommendations to
support their engagement and development,” remarked Dr. Jeremiah Rogito, Specialist Food Systems
and Land Use at AGRA
The report is based on a survey and a series of country and regional level convenings and engagements
conducted in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo,
Mali, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Zambia, on African Youth with a focus on understanding
how to strengthen youth entrepreneurship ecosystems within the agricultural sector in a changing
climate era.
Dr Kindie Fantaye Head, Climate Adaptation and Resilience at AGRA, said, “This is the first step,
next, we need to take action. AGRA will take this common voice to policy makers at COP29 in November
and the World Food Forum. We need the youth to participate actively in the coming years as collective
action is important.”
Dr Nicoline de Haan, Director, CGIAR Gender Impact Platform in her remarks noted that “We need more
research on power structures in food systems and how we can get youth engaged within those power
structures so that the power isn’t as inequitable as it is at the moment. We need to ensure there are real
opportunities, not just a few people in an incubator somewhere, but that there are real opportunities
across the system.”
Youth struggle with limited access to essential resources, including financial resources, agricultural
inputs, training and modern technology necessary for starting and scaling agricultural ventures. This
constraint hampers their ability to adopt modern farming practices and improve productivity.
Access to finance is particularly challenging due to the heightened perception of risk for this category by
financial institutions.Infrastructure deficiencies, as evidenced by the inadequate road structure, storage
facilities, and market access, hampers the efficiency of agricultural activities. It also leads to significant
post-harvest losses as most young farmers lack insurance to cover these losses.
Dr Nana Yaa Amoah, Director – Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, AGRA, remarked, “We must be
deliberate in ensuring that we set up youth advisory boards to not only get their voices heard but give
them access to some of the high-level sessions where the important policy discussions are being had.”
The report provides several resolutions and recommendations among them being enhancing access to
resources and funding for young farmers including the establishment of youth-focused microcredit

schemes, investment funds, and simplified land acquisition and access processes. The report also
recommends the creation and implementation of policies that ensure equal opportunities for all youth,
including marginalized groups such as young women and youth with disabilities.
Ends…