African Union Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS) Dialogue for Island States

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April 14, 2025 to April 16, 2025

What: African Union Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS) Dialogue for Island States

When: 14-16 April, 2025

Where: Port Louis, Mauritius (Venue...TBC)

Who: The event is organized by the African Union Commission, through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Republic of Mauritius.

Objective:

To identify priority areas in each island state for youth engagement in agrifood systems.
To increase awareness of the African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS) continental and regional frameworks among island states.
To review and align national youth-in-agriculture initiatives with the AAYS.
To identify challenges and opportunities specific to island states in the domestication and implementation of the AAYS.
To foster collaboration among regional stakeholders, including governments, development partners, and private sector actors.

Expected Outcomes:

A clear roadmap for island states to develop or revise their National Agribusiness Youth Strategies.
A proposal for a structured program to support meaningful youth engagement in agrifood systems at the national level, tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of island states.
Strengthened collaboration among governments, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to enhance youth-focused agribusiness policies, financing mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives in island states.

Participants:

The event will bring together a various participants from a diverse group from the region, including: Government representatives from the AU Member States, Youth representatives from youth-focused organizations and networks across Island States, representatives from the African Union Commission, representatives from AGRA, leaders from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as academics and researchers with expertise in agribusiness and youth employment.

Background:

The recently adopted Kampala CAADP Declaration on Building Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa (2026-2035) underscores the importance of inclusivity and equitable livelihoods, with a commitment to empowering at least 30% of youth in agrifood value chains by 2035. Achieving this ambitious goal requires a robust strategy that fosters an enabling environment for young people in agrifood systems, particularly in Africa’s Island States, where unique geographical and economic challenges demand tailored approaches.

To fully harness opportunities in the agrifood sector, Africa’s Island States can benefit from developing and implementing targeted agribusiness youth strategies. A well-structured strategy provides a clear roadmap for unlocking youth potential, addressing structural barriers, and ensuring coordinated interventions. These strategies should focus on equipping young people with modern agribusiness and digital skills, facilitating access to finance, land, and other productive resources, strengthening entrepreneurial capacity, enhancing market linkages, and creating policy incentives that support youth-led enterprises.

Governments, in collaboration with regional and international partners, can enhance youth engagement by integrating agribusiness into national development plans, establishing incubators, and promoting digital innovations. Public-private partnerships can also play a crucial role in increasing investment in youth-led enterprises, ensuring long-term sustainability and impact. By adopting structured agribusiness youth strategies, Africa’s Island States can empower young people to drive agricultural transformation, reduce food import dependency, and contribute to resilient and inclusive economic growth.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Janet Edeme – Head of Rural Development Division and Acting Head of Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission Email: EdemeJ@africa-union.org;

Mr. Haile Abebe – Programme Officer Rural Development Division, Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, African Union Commission Email: HaileA@africa-union.org

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Information and Communications Directorate; AU Commission Tel: 0911-630631; Email: molalett@africa-union.org