The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in collaboration with the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) in December last year launched an essay competition. In this competition, youth articulated their experiences in youth engagement initiatives across the Africa region, including the context of agri-preneurship.
This was with the aim of informing FARA and its partners better on how to effectively engage with and feature youth and women in agriculture in the context of implementing CAADP Malabos science agenda.
From the twenty-six (26) countries in Africa, one hundred and fifty (150) essays recounting the experiences of youth as beneficiaries of various initiatives of diverse agricultural institutions were amassed. Forty (40) of these were written in French and a hundred and ten (110) in English. Also notable among the entries were illustrations of youths experiences being directly involved in the implementation of youth-targeted initiatives in which the participants themselves had the opportunity to engage other youth. The themes of engagement described included the following:
- entrepreneurship,
- food security,
- sustainable agriculture and natural resources,
- advocacy towards agricultural policy formulation,
- ecological agriculture,
- agricultural extension,
- women empowerment,
- climate change,
- sustainable development, among others.
The essays were graded according to the guidelines outlined for participants in the call for entries:
- The required length of write-up: between 500 and 1000 words.
- Explanation of the change of outlook to the youth
- Discussion of the ways in which the experience enhanced the participants situation
- Clear description of the initiative so as to identify and credit the programme/institution
- Description of the support offered by this intervention
- Description of features of the initiative that inspired/ empowered the youth
- Description of challenges that this initiative helped you overcome
- Description of challenges remaining and what could be done further
- Portrayed relevance of sharing of this experience for other youth
After the first step of grading, those authors who met the outlined criteria in their essays, as reviewed by a panel of evaluators, were selected for an interview with a consultant to gather further information to constitute potential cases for experience capitalization as well as support in validation of youth agri-preneurship engagement framework and agribusiness curriculum.
The information compiled through this process, with the authors responding to a set of questions related to the specific experience, will now serve as a guiding document in a consultative workshop with youth and experts in youth engagement. The top thirty-five (35) among the participants of the FARA-YPARD Africa Essay Competition #AgriYouthEngagement have been selected to participate in the Youth Workshop: Strategic Engagement and Capacity Development of Youth in Agri-preneurship for Technology Adoption.
The participants in no particular order are:
Annet Dianah Nannono, Uganda
Lukman Abubakari, Ghana
Tabby Karanja-Lumumba, Kenya
Ntui Ebob Ojong Michelline, Cameroon
Etany Solomon, Uganda
Adams Sapeho, Uganda
Winston Ndebele, Zimbabwe
Pius Lutakome, Uganda
Shitote Philip Cliff, Kenya
George Mimano, Kenya
Simbeko Sadi, DRC
John Agboola, Nigeria
Gcina Petros Dlamini, Eswatini
Dinneya Jonadab Chinonso, Nigeria
Ochieng Obunga, Kenya
Diphoso Gadaffi Maitiyo, Bostwana
Clive Takudzwa Gahadza, Zimbabwe
Lavhelesani Rodney Managa, South Africa
Winnie Williams, Kenya
Abdullahi Tsani, Nigeria
Tene Tayo Paul Martial, Cameroon
Aliou Fousseni, Benin
Mvuenga Eden, DRC
Nunda Erick, DRC
Diyani Sinandja Issifou, Togo
Henri Totin, Benin
Aimé Kazika, DRC
Efoua Abaa Borice Evard, Gabon
Sègla Bienvenue Toviwazon, Benin
Malala Onisoa Rakotojaofeno, Madagascar
Houadakpode Dossa Stanislas, Benin
Raphae?la Paula Gnancadja, Benin
Bakirwena Tiyagouna Gilbert, Togo
Yacine Yade, Senegal
Issoufa Bachir Bounou, Niger
Congratulations, Guys!
In this three-day workshop which takes place from 2nd to 4th May 2019, participants will get the opportunity to build their writing & communication skills to share knowledge and experiences apply the concepts of Innovation Platforms for agri-preneurship development and validate the framework for agri-preneurship capacity development interventions among youth. A few YPARD Africa representatives from the sub-regions (West and Central, Eastern and Southern Africa) will also partake in the workshop to share their experiences on expanding their country chapters. Also, among the collaborators are the TAAT ENABLE Youth compact, African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) and several Agricultural Incubators Networks.
Ultimately, the participants will constitute an expanded network of practitioners of experience capitalization who will assist in capturing experiences on the implementation of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) within the in-country TAAT commodity compacts. Thus, FARA is sponsoring the attendance of the youth professionals and practitioners at the workshop.
We profoundly express our appreciation to all the youth across the continent who conscientiously responded to our call for entries to the FARA-YPARD Africa Essay Competition #AgriYouthEngagement. We look forward to our continued engagement together as we advance the involvement of youth in Africas Agrifood systems.
Photo credit: YPARD (Flickr)