FAO Brussels Dialogue: Opportunities for Recovery: Creating jobs for young people in Africa

FAO Brussels welcomed more than 250 participants and 600 viewers via live stream to the fifth Brussels Dialogue on rural youth employment in Africa. High-level government representatives and technical experts discussed on the impact of COVID-19 on growth and jobs, and how it has exacerbated the challenges for youth employment in Africa and on the opportunities to “build back better” in an inclusive and sustainable way.

After the welcoming remarks of FAO Brussels Director Rodrigo de Lapuerta, Her Excellency, the Prime Minister of Togo, Victoire Tomegah-Dogbé, took the floor and gave an overview of the work of her government in creating jobs for youth, particularly in agriculture.

She was followed by African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Josefa Sacko, who agreed that “a new generation of farmers is needed on the African continent.” She noted that agriculture is far more knowledge intensive than conventionally believed.

FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero talked about the importance of capacity building, particularly for youth, and explained that the skills demanded by the agricultural sector are often not present among young people.

The European Commission’s Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) Director for Planet and Prosperity, Carla Montesi underlined the strong commitment of the European Union in providing youth and women in rural areas with opportunities for decent employment, basic services and better opportunities.

Her intervention was followed by International Labour Organization (ILO) Director of Employment Policy Sangheon Lee, who noted: "We need to bring young people into the center of policy development, African economies are young and rural." He also elaborated on the long-standing collaboration between FAO and ILO on advancing decent rural employment around the world.

In closing the event, Member of European Parliament and the European Parliamentary Alliance against Hunger and Malnutrition, Marlene Mortler, talked about the strong positive connotations agriculture has for young people and stressed that "rural young women and men should remain a top priority both during and after the pandemic." 

Other speakers included DG DEVCO Head of Unit for Rural Development, Food Security and Nutrition, Leonard Mizzi; Head of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Division for Food and Nutrition Security, Global Food Policy and Fisheries, Martin Hoppe; FAO Director for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equity, Benjamin Davis, and National Coordinator and CEO of the Young Farmers’ Federation of Uganda, Denis Kabiito.

The FAO Brussels Dialogue is a virtual platform launched by the FAO Brussels office to share FAO's expertise with the European Union, policymakers, academia, civil society, the private sector, and other partners and stakeholders.

The event recording can be accessed here