Africa Youth in Agribusiness Forum (AYAF): First participatory forum empowers young voices in shaping agricultural policy in Africa
The consortium of IAK Agrar Consulting GmbH (lead partner), Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA) and Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN), which is jointly implementing the Agricultural Policy Dialogue between the African Union and Germany to strengthen the resilience of food systems in Africa (APD AU) funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), organized a participatory forum for the first time in this form as part of the APD to enable African youth in agribusiness to have a say in the design and implementation of the agricultural policy resulting from the post-Malabo process.
The Africa Youth in Agribusiness Forum (AYAF) took place in Addis Ababa in early November 2024. It was organized closely with AUC ARBE, the AU Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment. A special focus was placed on the AU African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS). The aim is to enable the participatory involvement of young agripreneurs in the area of tension between agribusiness and the agricultural policy framework, especially regarding the forthcoming Kampala Declaration.
Highlights included the high-level participation of Josefa Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), and Cem Özdemir, German Federal Minister of Agriculture. As an outstanding result, a “Call to Action” was presented and officially handed over to the AU Commission, which the young agricultural entrepreneurs had developed together in online seminars and during the AYAF. This is aimed at the leaders of the African continent and recommends concrete measures to support young agripreneurs in particular in overcoming the countless structural challenges associated with the successful and sustainable establishment and management of modern agricultural enterprises.
The event was attended by a German delegation of over 80 participants from youth, politics, business, science and civil society from the agricultural sector. A fruitful exchange between the agripreneurs and a sustainable strengthening of the network at continental and international level was achieved. The participants were then able to make an active contribution to the UNIDO conference “A world without hunger”.
Commissioner Sacko and Minister Özdemir emphasized the important role of the APD, which has established itself as a central building block in the cooperation between the AU and Germany. They emphasized the relevance of the project for the implementation of the BMEL's new Africa initiatives. A special milestone was the ceremonial opening of the APD project office in the AU building.