Background
It is estimated that about 133 million young people (more than 50 per cent of the youth population) in Africa are illiterate. Many young people have little or no skills and are therefore largely excluded from productive economic and social life. Across the continent, governments are grappling with the problem of high youth unemployment despite impressive economic growth in a number of countries. Despite their growing numbers, many are not attracted to the sector.
Among the identified challenges to reversing this tendency are insufficient access to knowledge, information and education, limited access to land and financial services and markets as they are often marginalized in policy debates over the future of agriculture in Africa. This Dakar conference will give a voice to the youth to express their concerns and for policy makers to also take note as future reforms are planned. With an ageing population of farmers in most African countries and especially in a number of key export crops such as cocoa and coffee, the future of the sector cannot be taken for granted.
Ministerial Dialogue
Building on the paper prepared on the subject matter and towards providing guidance to the work stream on the subject, Ministers are invited to share experiences in the design, implementation and assessment of such youth employment schemes; identify promising examples that can be replicated easily; propose policy reforms that must accompany these developments.
Click here to check this resource: Engaging youth in agribusiness