Overall theme of the 2016/2017 Vijverbergsessions is “The African future is for young, well educated, market oriented and organized farmer-entrepreneurs”. On March 1, 2017, the session is organized in cooperation with in cooperation with SNV, CTA, Oxfam Novib and Edukans and focuses on “Youth employability”.  

Topic & target

This Vijverbergsession will focus on Dutch private sector investments in African food value chains and how to assess and strengthen their positive effects on the local enabling environment, specifically employment, entrepreneurship and capacity development of young people in the agrifood sector.

Three different Dutch companies will give a short pitch on one of their investments in Africa in the agri-food sector. In the second part of the discussion, the experience and role of other partners of the Dutch Diamond and African stakeholders will be explored.

The objective of this meeting is to discuss the practical challenges and opportunities of investing in agribusiness in Africa, the role of the enabling environment in strengthening the positive effects of private sector on sustainable short and long term agricultural transformation with people from business, policy makers, researchers, NGOs and other stakeholders.

Programme

Moderator of this Vijverbergsession is Rik Overmars from SNV.

17h00 Opening and welcome by foodFIRST

17h05 Introduction by Rik Overmars (SNV)

17h10 SNV Netherlands Development Organisation – Eelco Baan

17h25 Oxfam Novib – Mirjam Horstmeier

17h35 CTA – Women Entrepreneurship and Leadership.

17h45 Edukans – Hilde van der Vegt

17h55 Q&A for clarification

18h05 Discussion

18.55 Closing remarks

19h00 Drinks & snacks

Vijverbergsessions

Vijverbergsessions are closed sessions where academics, politicians and experts from the government, civil society and business discuss global food issues; goal is to formulate conclusions relevant for policy makers. The Vijverbergsession are organized by foodFIRST together with various organizations. In 2016/2017 the overall theme is “The African future is for young, well educated, market oriented and organized farmer-entrepreneurs”.