Online discussion

This webinar is a culmination of a month long online discussion organized by the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), CGIAR Research Program on Livestock, the Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN), AgriProFocus, and ICCO Cooperation. The discussion, which commenced on World Youth Skills Day (July 15, 2017) and ended on the International Youth Day (August 12, 2017) explored the challenges and opportunities for engaging youth in agribusiness in a changing climate.

As a wrap-up to the online discussion, this webinar will discuss novel opportunities for youth, practitioners, policy makers, scientists, technical experts and other stakeholders emerging in the discussion and provide an impetus towards developing a framework for concrete youth engagement in agribusiness within the context of a changing climate. The youth do not have the right skills and opportunities to develop their talents for a prosperous and sustainable climate resilient future.

The webinar will be focused on the following questions:

• What examples of innovative youth-led agribusinesses exist in Africa and what challenges do they face in a changing climate?
• How can agribusiness drive innovation in CSA to combat climate change and attract the youth?
• What policies and programmes should governments put in place to facilitate the involvement of youth in agribusiness in a changing climate?
• What approaches and opportunities exist for scaling up the adoption of innovative youth climate-smart agri-businesses opportunities across Africa?

Context

This year’s World Youth Skills Day (July 15) focused on raising awareness about the importance of youth developing skills in all economic sectors. However, current strategies are not addressing the needs of the youth. According to the United Nations, education and training programs that are geared towards youth success in a labor market are critical in the current climate. The 2017 theme for the International Youth Day “Youth Building Peace” aimed to celebrate contributions of youth to conflict prevention and transformation as well as inclusion, social justice, and sustainable peace. Climate change is contributing to conflicts for scarce resources (former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the war in Darfur as the world’s first climate change conflict). In Africa, where families are dependent on agriculture, the changing climate will cause economic uncertainties and the most affected will be women and the youth.

Target audience

Youth in Africa and beyond who are interested in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) network members, CSAYN members, Experts working with youth and on youth issues, Private sector, Development organizations including NGOs and CBOs, Scientists (from national and international research organizations), Policymakers, other Agribusiness stakeholders.

Partners

• AgriProFocus
• The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)
• The CGIAR Research Program on Livestock
• The Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN)
• ICCO Cooperation

Online registration

Click here to register.