Unlocking opportunities for youth through food systems transformation

Youth are vital to the future of international agricultural, rural and urban development. As both the next generation of food producers and changemakers, they hold the potential to drive innovation and sustainability across food systems and society at large. Yet, young people—particularly in rural areas—face persistent challenges, including limited access to land, finance and viable opportunities along agricultural value chains. These barriers often compel them to migrate to urban areas in search of economic opportunities.

Spotlight on the central role of youth in shaping resilient and inclusive food systems

The 8th Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) Annual Regional Conference, held 21–23 May 2025 at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, convened a diverse array of stakeholders—policy makers, youth, private sector players, development partners, and researchers—to deliberate on sustainable job creation for youth within the broader context of economic transformation. Youth under 35 years comprise 75 percent of Kenya’s population. But according to statistics shared by KIPPRA, they account for 67 percent of the unemployed population in Kenya, with only 1 in 5 youth aged between 25–29 engaged in regular paying jobs.

Led by the CGIAR Policy Innovations Science Program and CGIAR Gender Equality and Inclusion (GENDER) Accelerator, CGIAR researchers contributed insights across several thematic areas. From human capital development to gender inclusion, emerging agricultural sectors and data-driven job creation, CGIAR’s contributions underscored its commitment to shaping inclusive and sustainable employment opportunities, especially for youth.

In the lead-up to the conference, KIPPRA, in collaboration with the International Potato Center (CIP) and other partners, hosted a targeted capacity-building event at the Huawei ICT Centre. The training brought together 35 young participants and featured a key session titled Youth participation in agricultural value chains to drive future jobs, led by CIP’s Leonard Kirui and Joyce Maru. The session offered practical insights to inspire meaningful youth engagement in the potato and sweet potato sectors, highlighting scalable and profitable entry points aligned with national development priorities and emerging agribusiness trends.

New CGIAR research aligns education and training with labor market demands

On the first day of the conference, under the theme of Human Capital Development, the CGIAR Policy Innovation Science Program presented new research focused on aligning education and training with labor market demands. Dr Kibrom Abay shared findings from a randomized intervention in Kenya that explored the impact of soft-skills training and locus of control on youth employment outcomes. The evidence showed that equipping young people with behavioral and psychological tools can significantly enhance their employability. The session highlighted the need to strengthen collaboration between training institutions and industry players to identify and integrate in-demand soft skills into curricula. It also emphasized the importance of developing inclusive education frameworks that recognize prior learning and support diverse learner pathways. “We need targeted interventions to support youths’ labor market participation in Africa, including interventions that consider complementary skills available to young men and women,” said Abay.

Addressing structural inequalities in the future of work

The second day of the conference shifted the conversation to gender, equity, and inclusion. Here, researchers from the CGIAR GENDER Accelerator shared new thinking as Dr Nicoline de Haan stressed the importance of job creation strategies that are intentionally inclusive, particularly for women and marginalized communities. The session, chaired by UN Women, brought to the fore the need for evidence-based, targeted interventions tailored to the diverse needs of these groups. It also recommended the establishing inclusive workplace certification schemes to encourage and reward organizations that adopt strong diversity, equity and inclusion practices. De Haan said, “It is important to address the gaps holding back women, especially in food systems. Investing in women’s employment, decent work and access to resources isn’t just fair, it’s economically smart and good for everyone.”

Exploring emerging sectors in agriculture and agribusiness

On the third day of the conference, CGIAR’s Policy Innovation Science Program presence was prominent across sessions. In a well-attended session chaired by Dr Mukani Moyo of CIP, Abay and Josphat Korir presented CGIAR research on youth engagement in Kenya’s agrifood value chains. Their findings pointed to exciting opportunities for young people in high-potential agricultural enterprises and underscored the importance of youth participation in shaping agricultural policy. The discussion led to recommendations to create structured platforms for youth voices in policymaking and to promote youth-led agritech innovation hubs capable of developing and scaling locally relevant, climate-smart solutions.

Opportunities for youth in emerging sectors

Parallel sessions further expanded on these themes. One session, chaired by Dr Joseph Karugia from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), examined the role of climate-smart practices and agri-tourism in sustainable youth employment. Another, led by Sara Bonilla Anariba from WorldFish, explored employment opportunities in Kenya’s blue and green economies. These discussions called for targeted youth entrepreneurship programs that support startups through access to incubators, mentorship and market linkages. In a separate session on mechanization and resource efficiency, chaired by Leonard Kirui from CIP, Isabelle Baltenweck from ILRI presented on youth engagement in livestock production and marketing in East Africa. This session emphasized that livestock asset accumulation and support to commercialization can enhance youth’s market participation in livestock value chains, but other factors mediate these opportunities, especially education.

Finally, under the sub-theme of Data management for job creation, Josphat Korir from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) participated in a panel that explored how stronger data ecosystems can drive inclusive employment. The panelists stressed the need for real-time, sector-specific labor market data to inform workforce planning and better align supply with emerging job opportunities. Key recommendations included leveraging big data and AI-driven analytics to map employment trends and developing centralized, interoperable labor market information systems to track youth unemployment and emerging skills demands.

CGIAR is committed to evidence-based policymaking and inclusive development

Across all sessions, the engagement of the CGIAR Policy Innovation Science Program and CGIAR GENDER Accelerator demonstrated a commitment to evidence-based policymaking and inclusive development. By promoting stronger industry-academia linkages, advancing gender equity, empowering youth innovation, and strengthening data systems, CGIAR continues to lead in crafting a future of work that is sustainable, equitable, and responsive to the realities of today’s labor markets.