By Emma-Marie Umurerwa
With the growing threat of climate change looming over Africa’s food systems, the continent’s youth are stepping up not as future farmers, but as today’s innovators. From July 17–18, 2025, 45 young leaders from across East Africa gathered in Kigali for a transformative regional forum focused on climate-smart agriculture. Organized under the YEFFA program, the forum marked a turning point in how young Africans shape the future of food, farming, and the fight against the climate crisis.
Held under the banner “Youth as Drivers of Agricultural Transformation,” the forum provided a platform for networking, innovation, and policymaking among Africa’s emerging agricultural champions. The two-day event featured interactive panels, exhibitions of climate-smart solutions, and the co-creation of the East African Youth Statement on Sustainable Food Systems a document that will inform the upcoming Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), the Africa Climate Summit (ACS), and COP30.
“This is not just a dialogue but a platform for action and partnership,” said Dr. Elexandre Rutikanga, Chief technical advisor at Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture. “The future of food lies in the hands of the youth they are not just tomorrow’s farmers, but today’s innovators.”
The stakes: Climate change and youth employment
Youth engagement in agriculture comes at a time when Africa faces mounting pressure from climate extremes, particularly in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), where droughts and floods are threatening food security. Meanwhile, agriculture remains a vital yet underutilized engine for employment.
In Rwanda, for instance, agriculture contributes 25% to GDP and engages over 64% of the workforce. However, only 31.8% of those involved are considered gainfully employed according to the 2022 Labour Force Survey.
The Ministry of Youth’s program on youth employment mainstreaming in agriculture has sought to reverse this trend. With support from district authorities and key partners like NAEB and WFP, over 8,200 jobs have been created between 2022 and 2024. Young farmers have been empowered through access to land, greenhouses, irrigation equipment, and market linkages particularly in high-potential areas such as Bugesera, Musanze, and Rwamagana.
“We require a rapid shift in the mindset of our young people towards agriculture as a career choice,” said President Paul Kagame during the 2018 Green Revolution Forum. “With the knowledge and technology available, there has never been a better time for young Africans to get involved in agriculture and agribusiness.”
From beneficiaries to co-creators
At the heart of YEFFA is a vision to transform youth from passive beneficiaries into active solution-creators.
This was echoed by Jean Paul Ndagijimana, AGRA’s Country Director for Rwanda, who applauded the energy and vision of the youth participants:
“YEFFA is about putting youth at the heart of agricultural transformation. Their role is critical in designing inclusive, climate-smart food systems that work for everyone.”
Participants engaged in sessions on entrepreneurship, digital agriculture, sustainable value chains, and cross-border collaboration. Young innovators showcased prototypes ranging from mobile irrigation tech to soil-friendly fertilizers and community-based reforestation models.
Building a food-secure future
The Kigali forum serves not just as a springboard for ideas, but a catalyst for scalable impact. By aligning with national and continental priorities, such as Rwanda’s efforts to formalize youth cooperatives and construct climate-resilient infrastructure, the event is a testament to what is possible when youth agency is nurtured.
“This generation of African youth has the potential to not only feed the continent but to lead it toward climate resilience and food sovereignty,” noted Marie-Claire Uwase, a youth agripreneur from Nyagatare who participated in the forum.
The road ahead calls for sustained investment in youth-led agriculture from policy to practice. As Africa eyes the future, it is clear that climate-smart agriculture will only succeed if it is rooted in the passion, talent, and leadership of its young people.
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