Moving Forward

At 1.2 billion today, Africa’s population is projected to more than double by 2050. Youth form the majority of Africa’s population and the majority of the unemployed. Empowering them through government and private sector programmes to create enterprises along the agricultural value chain while feeding Africa will go a long way towards optimising the sector and could lead to the realisation of a demographic dividend. Such programmes could focus on practical business skills, including proposal development and communication, as well as on life skills and interpersonal skills. Through the introduction of incubation centres, programmes could help young people acquire the technical skills, technologies and market knowledge they need to transform entrepreneurial ideas into viable enterprises.