The African Union (AU) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting decent rural youth employment and entrepreneurship in agriculture and agribusiness by drawing inspiration from successful past initiatives.
Between 2015 and 2020, countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Malawi, and Niger made notable strides in strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in rural areas.
These efforts empowered youth in agribusiness, creating new avenues for income generation and employment opportunities across various agricultural value chains.
A key component of these efforts was the development of National Action Plans (NAPs) to coordinate employment initiatives.
These plans facilitated peer learning and knowledge exchange among young entrepreneurs, enhancing their capacity to innovate and scale agribusiness ventures.
Despite these advancements, youth unemployment remains a major challenge across Africa.
With limited job opportunities, many young people are left with few viable economic prospects.
This has led to an increase in irregular migration, with thousands of African youths risking their lives crossing the Mediterranean Sea in search of better opportunities in Europe.
Tragically, many do not survive the perilous journey, while others face harsh conditions upon arrival.
Addressing unemployment through sustainable initiatives like agribusiness is crucial to curbing this crisis and providing young people with viable alternatives at home.
Building on these successes, the AU noted that more stakeholders have been encouraged to provide funding to expand opportunities for rural youth employment across the continent.
The AU continues to advocate for comprehensive policies and investment strategies to support sustainable agribusiness development as a means of reducing migration pressures and fostering economic stability.