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DISCUSSION No. 11   •   Digest No. 10   •   see the online discussion<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/youth-in-agriculture>





Sustaining the Impact of Capacity Development Initiatives for African Youth in Agriculture



discussion open until 17 November 2017











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Dear members and colleagues,

Our discussion on Sustaining the Impact of Capacity Development Initiatives for African Youth in Agriculture<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/activities/discussions/youth-in-agriculture> has come to an end and we share below the latest inputs received.

The facilitator will wrap up next week and a summary will follow soon. Final comments sent over the next couple of days will still be welcome!

We hope you enjoyed this exchange and we take the opportunity to invite you to our upcoming debate on Trade and Food Security in Africa, starting next week.

Thank you all for your interest and active participation!

Your FSN Forum team

***

Chers membres et collègues,

Notre discussion sur le thème: Favoriser un impact soutenu des initiatives de renforcement des capacités pour la jeunesse africaine dans l'agriculture <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/fr/africa/discussions/youth-in-agriculture> est arrivée à son terme et nous vous faisons part ci-dessous des derniers commentaires reçus.

Le facilitateur va envoyer une note finale la semaine prochaine et un résumé sera prêt bientôt. Les commentaires additionnels envoyés au cours des prochains jours seront les bienvenus!

Nous espérons que vous avez bien aimé cet échange et nous profitons de l'occasion pour vous inviter à notre prochain débat sur le Commerce et la Sécurité Alimentaire en Afrique.

Nous vous remercions tous de votre attention et de votre participation active!

Votre équipe du Forum FSN







Eyawassou Baya, Songhaï Centre<http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8490>

Expert supporting the discussion





Please note that he English translation will be available online soon <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8490>

Il faut que nous sachions désormais que la prospérité économique, l’approvisionnement en énergie, la capacité industrielle, la santé personnelle et publique, la sécurité, la qualité de l’environnement etc. dépendent tous désormais de la Connaissance. Bien que la connaissance et la technique soient les principaux capitaux et ressources sociales dans le monde aujourd’hui, elles restent des formes de capitaux toujours mal réparti dans notre monde.L’éducation de qualité chez nous en Afrique est difficilement accessible. Or ce sont les gens qui ont plus de connaissances ou plus accès à la connaissance et à la technique qui ont plus d’avantages et qui enregistrent plus de succès, de croissance, que ceux qui n’en ont pas, car « le succès et la croissance sont fonction de la connaissance reçue ».

L’amélioration significative de la qualité des efforts des gens et leur productivité qui sont recherchés dépendront donc de l’investissement et de la qualité de cet investissement dans le capital humain.

Pour Songhaï, ce concept du capital humain est la mesure de la valeur du savoir, savoir-faire, créativité et humanité qui peut être acquise à travers un investissement de qualité dans la formation. C’est cela qui constituerait un gisement de citoyens constructifs et engagés, d’entrepreneurs, d’inventeurs et de la main-d’œuvre qualifiée recherchée à l’emploi. Dans le monde contemporain, la connaissance est donc devenue le capital principal et la ressource sociale fondamentale. Elle est civilisatrice.

En vue de garantir  le montage du capital humain qui doit s’équiper pour faire face efficacement aux défis du développement, des interventions visant à renforcer les capacités et à impliquer les jeunes dans l’agriculture s’organisent çà et là par différents organismes de développement dont la FAO. Nous allons mettre l’accent sur les points ci-dessous :

·         Quels sont les principaux défis rencontrés par les jeunes africains à l’issue des initiatives de développement de capacités axées sur les jeunes dans le secteur agricole?

Comme les uns et les autres l’ont mentionné dans leurs interventions, les jeunes sont confrontés aux défis de non suivi après les sessions de renforcement de capacités. Dans la plus part des cas les interventions s’arrêtent juste à un renforcement de capacités. C’est bien de les équiper de connaissances techniques morales, organisationnelles et managériales qui les amèneront à rendre leurs activités productives mais il ne faudrait pas en faire  simplement un modèle habituel de formation, de transfert de technologie ou de production. Cela devrait être plutôt des opportunités incroyables pour la masse critique de jeunes, un cadre organisationnel et des services favorables  pour les jeunes afin de créer, gérer et mettre en réseau leurs entreprises. Beaucoup de contraintes restent à reculer quand ils redescendent dans l’arène de l’entreprise.

Bref, disons que les jeunes sont confrontés au défis de manque de fonds (pas facile d’obtenir des crédits auprès des banques ou des institutions de micro finances) pour renforcer leurs activités avec un suivi rigoureux qui pourrait permettre de non seulement faire accroitre leur production mais aussi de créer un effet boule de neige dans leur communauté. Les jeunes sont également confrontés au problème de débouchés pour les quelques-uns qui peuvent voler de leurs ailes pour produire. Egalement, il n’y a pas une politique gouvernementale qui encourage, soutient et appuie les bénéficiaires de ces différents programmes, du coup le problème est juste déplacé et non résolu car cela ne permet pas d’avoir et de maintenir les jeunes dans l’agriculture qui reste un secteur terriblement porteur.

·         De quel type de soutien les jeunes ont-ils besoin dans la phase postérieure au renforcement des capacités ? Que peuvent faire les jeunes pour s’entraider et renforcer ainsi leurs compétences et leurs capacités ?

Parlant de cette question, les jeunes ont besoin de suivi et accompagnement. C’est très capital. Ceci permettra de suivre la mise en place de leurs initiatives en milieu réel. Ils ont également besoin d’accompagnements technique, financier et managériale (mise en marché des produits), dans la mise en réseau. Des politiques gouvernementales promouvant l’entrepreneuriat par des mesures de facilitation pour les jeunes serait un aimant pour les jeunes afin de se jeter et y rester dans ce domaine.

Pour s’entraider et renforcer leurs compétences et capacités les jeunes doivent se mettre ensemble mais malheureusement, force est de constaté que les jeunes brillent par le désir de réussir seuls. Ils souffrent d’un déficit de co-création, d’action collective. Les jeunes doivent savoir que se réunir est un début, rester ensemble est un progrès, travailler ensemble est la réussite. Alors ils doivent se mettre en réseau, avoir régulièrement des échanges sur leurs pratiques, leurs défis, réussite à travers les « farmers to farmers visit » etc.

·         Quel environnement incitatif faut-il assurer pour garantir la permanence des jeunes dans les initiatives de renforcement des capacités dans le secteur agricole ?

Pour avoir les jeunes et les maintenir dans l’agriculture, il faut qu’ils aient des mentors dans les domaines, des mises à niveau sur les nouvelles techniques de productions, des débouchés pour leur production, des structures de financement des entreprises à vocation agricole qui comprennent et tiennent compte des réalités des entreprises agricoles (un monde à part). Une politique d’identification et de récompense d’une manière ou d’une autre des meilleures réussites dans le domaine.

Les jeunes ont besoin d’être accompagnés avec des services tels que le marketing, l'approvisionnement en intrants, les services d'accueil, de réseautage, des prêts financiers  et des services consultatifs afin de leur permettre de rester autonomes, de créer une synergie et une coopération entre eux. Un aspect important à soulever aussi reste vraiment la sélection des personnes qu’il faut pour ces initiatives. Cela leur sera facile d’y rester dans le domaine et d’y amener d’autres à leur emboiter le pas à travers leur réussite. Sur ce il faudra sélectionner ceux qui sont capables d’intérioriser l’agriculture comme un métier digne, de valoriser les ressources disponibles pour créer la richesse, de devenir des leaders susceptibles de créer une dynamique entrepreneuriale, de développer des attitudes et aptitudes qui les mettent dans une logique de culture de succès, de produire des biens et services utiles pour le mieux-être socio-économique de leur communauté, de transformer les avantages comparatifs de leur milieu en avantages compétitifs dans un monde de plus en plus globalisant.

·         Les technologies modernes, notamment les technologies de l’information et des communications, ont-elles un rôle à jouer pour assurer la durabilité des initiatives de renforcement des capacités ?

Elles n’ont pas juste un rôle mais un rôle capital dans le sens où elles peuvent être utilisées pour garder le contact avec les différents bénéficiaires et les organisateurs des programmes. Elles permettent de donner des informations sur les météorologies, la pluviométrie, les solutions aux pathologies, etc. de communiquer sur les prix  du marché par rapport à l’activité choisit. Elles vont constituer une plateforme d’apprentissage et de formation pour les jeunes en réseau sur le forum. Elles font créer et maintenir un réseau d’entrepreneurs de par le monde. Elles renseignent sur les différentes opportunités à saisir par les jeunes si disponible.











CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED



Paul Emuria, FAO, Uganda <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8495>



Dear Moderator,

4. What enabling environment is needed to ensure sustainability of youth in agriculture capacity development initiatives?

Thank you for providing the platform for us to share experiences on CD for youth.

I think one of the key aspects that need to be harmonized is the varying definitions on who a youth is as well as the legal age of employment which have far reaching legal implications on the ability of the youth to benefit from youth specific CD. For instance in Uganda, youth is someone who is 18 years and above meaning that those below the age of 18 years do not benefit from youth specific CD initiatives. On the other hand the legal age of employment is anywhere between 12 and 14 years depending on the lenses on is using. This has an effect on the CD opportunities available to the youth

Secondly, CD initiatives should be based on comprehensive CD assessments and structured according to the unique needs of the youth categories in terms of age, gender and geographical location among others. For instance, youth aged 14-17 face peculiar challenges because they are transitioning to adulthood yet there are no specific CD programmes to prepare them to be adults when they turn 18.

Provision of a safe working environment for the youth is also key to their capacity development especially given that most of the youth in Africa work without contracts and therefore at risk of doing hazardous work. Strong policies on Occupational Safety & Health are therefore very key.

Thanks







Taibat Moji Yusuf, Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8492>



Introduction.

I wish to thank the organizers of this programme for allowing us participate in this valuable discussion. I wish to share Nigeria experience on similar issue under discussion -  The National Directorate of Employment (NDE)

In 1960s and 1970s, the Nigerian economy provided jobs for the teeming population and also absorbed considerable number of imported labour in the scientific sector. However, following the oil boom of the 1970s, there was a massive migration of youths to urban areas in search of wage employment. The downturn in the economy in the 1980s exacerbated problem of unemployment. Since then successive government s have made several spirited efforts through policies to create jobs and reduce unemployment in the country. One of such efforts is the creation of the National Directorate of Employment NDE in 1986 to empower the unemployed graduate and unskilled youths to acquire marketable skills that would help them set up their own farm business. The program has recorded both successes and failures.

What are the biggest challenge youth in Africa face after going through development initiatives in agriculture?

The biggest challenge faced by the benefactors of the NDE program is lack of infrastructure.

The decadent state of infrastructure in Nigeria limits the youth effectiveness and remains a barrier to success

Infrastructure such as good roads, good drinking water, electricity, health faculties, and markets are necessities in any agricultural business. Machinery, equipment and farm inputs have to be moved into the farms along roads while the products from the farms have to be transported to areas where they are required in other to make profits and therefore remain in business. The processing, preservation and storage of the products of the farm before marketing require electricity at times. The youth who are the benefactors of this program, like their counterparts also have great attraction for social amenities like good drinking water, schools and good health

Another challenge is that of the pest and diseases which cause the following damage.

a) Large quantities of farm produce are lost both in the field and in the storage

b) They spend extra money in supplying to the farm and in the purchase of chemicals to control the pest and diseases

c) There is reduction in quantity and quality of the farms’ product

What are the examples of existing post capacity development sustainability initiatives for youth in agriculture in Africa? What works and what do not? Are there good stories and good practices that can be shared?

Presently in Nigeria government is developing business centers like Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agencies of Nigerian ( SMEDIAN ) in some states of the country to  provide basic training on needed tools to do business, on how to raise finance and how to manage their personal resources.

The program is effective in the states where it is established

What post – capacity development support do the youth need? What can the youth do to support each other in developing their skills and capacities?

·         They need finance to continue in the farm business. More SMEDIAN centers should be established in all states of the federation

·         They need regular education which will improve efficiency on the farm

·         The youth can support themselves through networking, attending Agricultural days,  workshops, seminars and conferences

What enabling environment is needed to ensure sustainability of youth I agriculture capacity development initiative?

Agriculture is capital intensive, agencies that are saddled with the job of empowering the youth in terms of training and financial support should be provided with enough fund to perform their duty

Good roads and other infrastructural supports should be provided

Unfriendly tax regime is affecting the performance of the youth in agriculture. to encourage more investment  agricultural activities should be tax free for some years until agriculture  occupies its rightful position of proving food for man and animals, raw materials for industries and revenue for government

Government could review the curriculum of the nation’s higher institutions and universities to inculcate functional entrepreneurship/ agri-neurship skills in the graduates so that they can become employers rather than employees

Is there a role for modern technologies, including information and communication technologies in sustaining capacity development initiatives?

Yes. The honorable former  minister of Agriculture Dr Adesina introduced the use of mobile phones to contact farmers directly-  He used this medium to provide farmers with fertilizers, improved seeds and finance and technical training on their farm production.







Edward Tanyima, FAO, Uganda <http://www.fao.org/fsnforum/comment/8491>



1. What are the biggest challenges youth in Africa face after going through youth-specific capacity development initiatives in agriculture?

The biggest challenge youth face in Africa even after going through youth-specific capacity development initiatives is failure to participate productively in agriculture either as investors or just workers/employees.

In terms of investments, youth are limited by access to affordable finance. Generally in Africa, the bank lending rates are too high which young people cannot afford. In Uganda for instance, the average lending rates for commercial banks is 23% p.a , the highest can even reach 30% p.a. This is really very high for any one intending to invest in agriculture especially with the high risks involved.

I agree with many colleagues who mentioned limited access to land as a key challenge. Yes to some extent but emphasis should focus on enhancing youth access to affordable finance. Once youth have access to funds and given good guidance and appropriate skills, they can invest appropriately in agriculture. Besides, investment in agriculture does not only require land. In circumstances where land is inaccessible, youth such as the urban dwellers and those living in the refugee areas can invest at the upper end of the value chain such as processing/value addition and marketing among others.

In line with finances and the law, some categories of youth are still limited by exiting laws that hinder them from accessing finances. For instance, youth less than 18 years of age in Uganda even if they are above the legal working age of 14 years are assumed to be in schools. They are not legally authorized to contract or be contracted and cannot open up bank accounts unless authorized through a next of kin. On the other hand, youth in the age category 18-30 years who legally qualify to transact and open bank accounts are limited by the need for collateral such as land which most youth lack.

Further, there is lack of mentorship and continuous supervision. In Africa, many initiatives aim at training masses of youth without making follow-up on youth  for proper mentorship. To ensure sustainability and cause impact, youth need to be mentored and continuously supervised even after going through youth-specific capacity development initiatives

Lastly, many capacity development initiatives aim at building capacity of youth to acquire skills to enable them get jobs with less attention on working conditions of youth in agriculture. Therefore youth employees in agriculture continue to work under poor and hazardous conditions. There is need to blend skills development with awareness campaigns on the rights of youth employees for their health and safety.

2. What are the examples of existing post-capacity development sustainability initiatives for youth in agriculture in Africa? What works and what does not? Are there any success stories and good practices that can be shared?

What works? Continuous mentorship, support and guidance of youth guarantees sustainability. Blending successful individual youth with others youth facilitates knowledge sharing and learning. Let me focus my contribution to the FAO youth rewarding mechanism in Uganda known as the youth champions in Agriculture. This initiative entails identification of young entrepreneurs who have developed cutting-edge innovations in agricultural value chain and using them to act as roles models to inspire and build the capacity of their fellow youth. The approach entails using nuclear youth champions as hubs where youth can form groups around the champions for continuous learning/knowledge sharing, collective bargaining and negotiations for better policies among others. Sustainability is ensured because the nuclear champions already have passion for working in groups and supporting communities. The champions also act as mentors to other youth.

3. What post-capacity development support do the youth need? What can the youth do to support each other in developing their skills and capacities?

Youth need continuous mentorship and linking them to financial service providers and better markets. Through youth platforms especially with the current ICT facilities and innovations, youth can support others through information gathering and sharing, advocacy and mentorship.

4. What enabling environment is needed to ensure sustainability of youth in agriculture capacity development initiatives?

Policy support should facilitate mainstreaming of agriculture and skills development for agriculture in primary and secondary schools curricula. There is also a need to target youth agricultural entrepreneurs to access agribusiness incubation services. This may involve training youth in farming as a business and identifying linkages to agribusiness incubators and financing.

There is however a need to develop and equip research and training institutions in a PPP approach between government and private sector and then linking youth to these institutions for youth incubation and mentorship. In Uganda, government through the National Strategy for youth employment in Agriculture recommends supporting establishment, nurturing of mentoring approaches for all youth categories including provision of start-up support to the 14-17 young persons to complete informal trainings combined with sustained mentoring and coaching.

5. Is there a role for modern technologies, including Information and Communication Technologies, in sustaining capacity development initiatives?

Modern technologies play an important role in facilitating learning and information sharing. Youth can easily adapt and use technologies and ICT facilities to enhance and complement the existing extension services required at different levels of the value chain.  In Uganda, the FAO youth champions started a whatsup platform where they share information related to their innovations including production and marketing information.











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