Investing in Rural Youth: IFAD Pushes for Transformative Food Systems in Africa

The call for urgent investment in Africa’s rural youth took centre stage at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Dakar, where leaders and development partners gathered this week to chart a path for the continent’s agricultural transformation.

Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), emphasised that long-term food security and stability in Africa will only be achieved by empowering rural communities, particularly young people and women. “Rather than handouts, rural youth need targeted investment that helps them build their own future. The way forward for transforming food systems is to focus on the areas where we can have the greatest impact, investing in rural communities, especially women and young people, to promote equitable growth, food security, and stability,” he said at the forum.

Agriculture remains the backbone of Africa’s economy. Between 55 and 62 per cent of the sub-Saharan Africa workforce is employed in the sector, and smallholder farmers are central to its productivity. With an estimated 33 to 50 million smallholder farms producing between 70 and 80 per cent of the continent’s food supply, their contribution to Africa’s economy and food systems is undeniable. Yet, despite these realities, food systems continue to perpetuate inequalities, leaving millions in poverty.

Lario called for greater collaboration between governments, private investors and communities. He argued that only through locally driven and innovative solutions can Africa fully harness the dynamism of its rural youth population. “If we want to unleash the full potential of food systems transformation, we must channel resources toward innovative, inclusive and locally driven solutions that empower young rural people and small-scale farmers, who are the backbone of agriculture in Africa,” he added.

Africa is a central focus for IFAD, which currently allocates 60 per cent of its investment portfolio to the continent. The institution sees rural youth as a critical force for transformation and resilience. Through its loans and grants, IFAD aims to reach more than 11 million young people across 90 countries, with a significant share in Africa. Its investments include programmes that create employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, improve access to finance, and provide essential skills and production assets.

One example of this is Senegal’s Agri-Jeunes Project, supported by IFAD. The initiative has enabled 10,000 young people across the country to return to rural areas, where they are earning between two and seven times the national minimum wage. With such initiatives, migration to urban centres is no longer the only viable path for young people seeking a livelihood.

The Africa Food Systems Forum provides a vital platform for these discussions. As the continent’s premier annual gathering on agriculture, the forum brings together leaders, farmer organisations, private sector actors and academics to shape practical actions for inclusive agricultural growth. It aims to align initiatives with the Malabo Declaration and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Results Framework, ensuring progress towards food security, poverty reduction and sustainable agriculture.

For IFAD, the Dakar forum is also an opportunity to strengthen its partnerships and accelerate progress towards global goals, including Zero Hunger (SDG 2) and Climate Action (SDG 13). With Africa’s youth population growing rapidly, the stakes could not be higher. The challenge now lies in ensuring that young people are equipped with the tools and opportunities they need to transform food systems and drive rural prosperity for generations to come.

Read Also: The Voice of Africa is Now Inside the United Nations