UNIDO,FAO to launch initiative to accelerate African youth employment in agribusiness

19 / 08 / 2019

By Marwa Nassar - -

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will launch on August 29 a flagship initiative to accelerate youth employment in agriculture and agribusiness in Africa in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Africa has the youngest population in the world. The share of youth in the labor force is also the highest in Africa ranging from approximately 35 percent in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) to 40 percent in North Africa.

A large and so far untapped reservoir of employment opportunities can be found in some segments of value-adding agriculture (e.g. horticulture and floriculture) and agri-processing. Food demand in Africa is increasing due to growing population, urbanization and rising household income. This is creating new market opportunities for producers and processors, while also providing opportunities for job creation on farms as well as in peri-rural areas where food processing and logistics can reach minimum scale for efficiency.

Addressing the youth employment challenge is in line with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This reflects respective commitments towards advancing the global agenda, including through global networks such as the Inter-Agency Network for Youth Development, or the Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth. Also, Agenda 2063 for Africa, for example, aspires to achieve equal prosperity of the continent based on inclusive and sustainable growth, driven by the potential of its peoples, women and youth in particular.

At the event, senior officials from FAO, UNIDO are launching a flagship initiative to accelerate youth employment in agriculture and agribusiness in Africa. Furthermore, key factors for the success of the initiative will be revealed and it will provide a platform to forge partnerships and mobilize resources for implementation.