A meeting bringing together young people from across Africa aims to tackle the undeniable impacts of climate change on food production on the continent.
The gathering, to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on October 14-16, will discuss how to respond to erratic climatic patterns that have compromised food systems through disruptions in agricultural production, storage, distribution, and market systems.
Africa’s youth, who make up a significant portion of the population, are particularly vulnerable to these changes, Simon Bukenya, the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) secretariat coordinator, said on Friday.
“The youth face the brunt of climate impacts, from job insecurity in climate-sensitive sectors to heightened food insecurity and health risks,” Bukenya said.
With the continent’s food production anticipated to decrease due to climate stresses, and food imports expected to more than triple by 2025, he said, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions that enhance food security and climate resilience.
Recognising the critical role of youth in addressing these issues, AFSA in 2018 emphasised the importance of empowering African youth to become more actively involved in combating the food and climate crises.
The AFSA Youth Platform was created to provide a dedicated space that puts African youth at the forefront of the transition to agroecology across the continent.
AFSA is a network of networks with members active in 50 African countries. In 2023, AFSA convened the first meeting of African youth (report here) to discuss the multifaceted challenges affecting them in food systems, including the climate crisis.
The gathering allowed for an exchange of experiences and discussions on numerous issues, fostering a collective voice and shared strategies among the young people.
“Amidst these challenges and opportunities, African youth play a pivotal role. Young people are increasingly involved in driving the transition towards sustainable agricultural practices,” explained Bukenya.
Young people, he said, bring innovative approaches to agroecology, leveraging technology and new farming techniques to enhance productivity and sustainability. Their active participation is crucial as they stand to inherit the consequences of current practices and are key to forging a sustainable path forward.
In his view, engaging young people in agroecology not only empowers them but also ensures that the agricultural sector remains vibrant and adaptive to the changing climate.
“Crucially, African youth have emerged as creative and dynamic participants in addressing these challenges. Their innovative solutions, which range from novel agroecological practices to technological adaptations, are essential in transforming the agricultural landscape,” he said.
“However, while they are rich in ideas and initiatives, there is a critical gap in opportunities for them to showcase and scale these solutions.”
In AFSA’ view, young innovators frequently lack the platforms necessary to bring their ideas to larger audiences and to influence policy and investment decisions.
The project aims to harness the energy, creativity, and potential of African youth in agroecology, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to lead climate action and champion policies that promote environmental and food system resilience.
“Through the summit, we seek to nurture a new generation of youth leaders who are committed to sustainable practices and are capable of shaping a climate-resilient future for Africa,” said Bukenya.
The summit’s focus on being a “summit of solutions” highlights the need for actionable outcomes.
The high-profile meeting will also seek to establish and strengthen a pan-African platform of young African leaders and practitioners, encouraging collaboration, innovation, and collective action for climate resilience.
It also aims to enhance the capacity of young African leaders in policy advocacy for agroecology, focusing on sustainable and resilient practices.
“Expected outcomes include African youth empowered to influence policymakers and national governments to incorporate climate-resilience strategies, especially agroecology, into national agriculture and environment policies,” explained Bukenya.
The gathering will employ a participatory and interactive approach, including workshops, interviews, and knowledge sharing. It will also address key topics related to food systems, agroecology, policy interventions, indigenous knowledge, youth engagement, and sustainable job creation.
Participants will also explore case studies and share best practices and their experiences, as well as success stories and lessons learned from implementing sustainable food systems and initiatives related to sustainable food systems and agroecology.
Organisations will apply to participate in side events in areas relating to the summit object. The purpose of holding the side events is to create an ecosystem of ideas and solutions generated from various actors and stakeholders.
The summit is designed to be a means of developing clear strategies on how proposed solutions and innovative ideas on transforming food systems will be turned into concrete actions.
The summit will lay the groundwork for a proactive and resourceful Pan-African Youth Agroecology network that not only fosters ongoing innovation and collaboration but also makes a tangible impact on food systems and climate resilience across Africa.
The summit will be more than just a gathering of people. It will be a springboard for establishing a larger and more vibrant Pan African Youth Agroecology network.
To transform the innovative ideas and strategies discussed during the summit, localised groups will be formed to work on these issues. Periodic capacity-building workshops and training sessions will be organised on several issues, including advocacy for agroecology, digital tools for agroecological entrepreneurship, and climate resilience