AGRA (Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa) convened a session today with 100 youth participants involved in agri-food systems to discuss the pressing issue of climate change and explore potential solutions. This gathering marks the fourth in a series of national-level conversations initiated by AGRA to address climate-related challenges.
The session aimed to foster dialogue between young people and key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, enhancing youth empowerment by better understanding their needs and priorities. The event also sought to identify opportunities within the sector to address climate change and ensure the transformation of food systems in Africa.
AGRA’s Head of Climate Adaptation, Sustainable Agriculture, and Resilience, Kindie Fantaye, emphasized the role of youth in combating climate change. “Together, we can build a sustainable future where our youth are not only survivors of climate change but leaders in creating a resilient and prosperous Kenya,” Fantaye said.
Elizabeth Ngeny, Advisor Gender and Affirmative Action at the President’s Economic Transformation Office, highlighted the crucial role of civic organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions in advancing climate change interventions. “Organizations such as the Kenya Met Department and the University of Nairobi’s Institute for Climate Change Research have been instrumental in conducting essential research. We are grateful to civic organizations, NGOs, and development partners like the Mastercard Foundation and AGRA for their contributions to climate change initiatives,” Ngeny noted in her keynote address.
Dr. Jeremiah Rogito, Specialist in Food Systems and Land Use at AGRA, added, “All these voices will be brought together for the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 2nd to 6th. We aim to amplify the voice of the youth regarding climate action on the continent and use these insights in global engagements like COP29 to influence policies favoring youth in agriculture.”
A 2022 climate report on Africa highlighted that the continent is warming faster than the global average, exacerbating the already fragile agricultural systems. This situation calls for urgent and coordinated action to address the challenges posed by increased droughts, heatwaves, storms, rising sea levels, floods, and wildfires.
The youth are particularly vulnerable to climate shocks, which disrupt their livelihoods, education, and future opportunities. Therefore, supporting the youth and their institutions in developing a comprehensive understanding of the current systems and jointly formulating innovations for climate adaptation is crucial.
With African youth grappling with the impacts of climate change despite their minimal contributions to global emissions, addressing climate-related issues in Africa, particularly for the youth, is more critical than ever. The Youth in Climate convening is part of AGRA’s broader efforts to involve young people in a series of dialogues and networks for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and coordinated action at the country level.
AGRA’s partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, through the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Agriculture (YEFFA) program, aims to increase the participation of African youth and young women in transforming African food systems over the next five years.
AGRA is documenting the views, challenges, and innovative approaches to climate adaptation shared by the youth in these sessions. This compilation will be presented at the Africa Food Systems Forum in September and COP29 in November, representing a unified voice for African youth.
Established in 2006, AGRA is an African-led, Africa-based institution dedicated to placing smallholder farmers at the core of the continent’s burgeoning economy. AGRA’s mission is to transform agriculture from a mere struggle for survival into a thriving business. In collaboration with its partners, AGRA catalyzes and sustains an inclusive agricultural transformation aimed at increasing incomes and enhancing food security in 11 countries.
