📆15 July 2025
⏲️08:00 EDT (3.00 PM EAT)
📍Virtual
This event has been cross posted from the CGIAR Policy Innovations page
About the event
Hosted by IFPRI, the CGIAR Policy Innovations Program, the CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion Accelerator, and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Africa’s population is the youngest of any region, affording the continent an adequate workforce to drive economic and social transformation. However, African economies are finding it difficult to create employment opportunities for this “youth bulge”—opportunities that are needed to advance on SDG target 8.6 to substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training (NEET). As of 2020, more than 20 percent of young men and women in Africa fell into this category. African youth wield growing political and social power as they vent their frustrations about the lack of opportunities. Although youth-led protests and their underlying causes are not new in Africa, the recent movements represent an important moment for the region’s youth.
The agrifood system in Africa remains the backbone of national economies and provides more than half of jobs in most African countries. Thus, it still holds substantial potential to absorb or catalyze youth engagement in productive activities in Africa. But this change will not happen by itself. It will require sustained efforts in policy research and development. While much of the literature and debate on the employment crisis have focused on the role of agriculture in absorbing Africa’s youth, the scope of debate and research should be expanded to include the role of youth across the entire food system.
This event will feature the voices of African youth leaders, provide a landscape analysis of youth engagement in agrifood systems, examine success stories and lessons learned, and identify potential solutions for greater momentum.
Introduction and Opening Remarks
Sandra Cristina Kothe Milach, Chief Scientist, CGIAR
Alice Ruhweza, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Steven Were Omamo, Director for Africa, and Director for Development Strategies and Governance, IFPRI
Jobs in Agrifood System in Africa
Luc Christiaensen, Lead Agricultural Economist, Eastern and Southern Africa, World Bank
Landscape of youth engagement in agrifood system in selected African countries
Kibrom Abay, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Youth aspirations and constraints in Nigeria/Rwanda
Jessica Heckert, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
Initiatives to support young women: learnings from AGRA
Catherine Rusagara, Head, Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Q&A Session moderated by Christine Mwangi, Research Officer, IFPRI
Panel Discussion: How can Africa create more jobs for the youth: Cases and success stories from youth-led initiatives and experiences?
Moderated by Nana Amoah, Director – Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
* Innocent Ogirinye Adoga, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture (YISA), Nigeria
* Mashoko Chakanyuka, Head of Youth Employment in Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
* Kisanet Haile Molla, Spatial Engineer, Civil Engineer, Youth Representative for Infrastructure, World Bank
* Elizabeth Mwende, Research And Development Specialist, Kenya
* Esther Kimani, CEO and founder of Farmer Lifeline Technologies
Closing Remarks
Clemens Breisinger, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI; Interim Director, Policy Innovations, CGIAR
Nicoline de Haan, Interim Director, CGIAR Gender Equality & Inclusion (GEI) Accelerator
Boaz Blackie Keizire, Director for Policy and State Capability, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
Moderator
Christine Mwangi, Research Officer, IFPRI
Speakers
- Sandra Milach - Chief Scientist, CGIAR
- Alice Ruhweza - President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
- Steven Were Omamo - Director for Africa, IFPRI
- Luc Christiaensen - Lead Agricultural Economist, World Bank
- Kibrom Abay - Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Jessica Heckert - Senior Research fellow, IFPRI
- Catherine Rusagara - Head, Youth Entrepreneurship, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
- Christine Mwangi- Research Officer, IFPRI
- Nana Amoah - Director – Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
- Innocent Ogirinye Adoga - Agribusiness Entrepreneur, Youth Initiative for Sustainable Agriculture
- Mashoko Chakanyuka - Head of Youth Employment in Agriculture, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
- Kisanet Haile Molla - Youth Representative for Infrastructure, World Bank
- Elizabeth Mwende, Research and Development Specialist, Kenya
- Esther Kimani - CEO and Founder, Farmer Lifeline Technologies
- Clemens Breisinger - Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
- Nicoline de Haan - Interim Director, CGIAR Gender Equality & Inclusion (GEI) Accelerator
- Boaz Blackie Keizire -Director for Policy and State Capability, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)