Rwanda conference focuses on Africa youth agricultural jobs

Paul Kagame, Rwanda President

The Youth Employment in Agriculture Conference is set to hold in Kigali, Rwanda on August 20, 2018 and it will bring together more than 500 delegates, mostly young people, from across Africa to discuss ways to boost employment opportunities in agriculture on the continent through use of information and communication technologies (ICT) as well as entrepreneurship.

Over 60 percent of Africa’s estimated 1.2 billion people are under the age of 25. Yet with little job creation currently in the rural areas where the majority of the population reside, there is a growing uncertainty over the continent’s preparedness to tap this resource.

The agenda will focus on sustainable solutions for decent youth employment in agriculture in Africa such as minimizing drudgery while harnessing opportunities in agribusiness entrepreneurships and innovations to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

During the conference, the Food and Agriculture Organisation will introduce four digital applications aimed to help farmers improve their household nutrition, food production, income and livelihoods.

Delegates include policy makers, development partners, the private sector, youth and women organizations, civil society, researchers and academia.

Keynote speakers who will address the opening of the conference are:

● Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda (TBC)

● Geraldine Mukeshimana, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Rwanda

● José Graziano da Silva, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

● Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, African Union Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture

● Li Yong, Director-General, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

The event has been co-organised by FAO, the African Union and the Government of Rwanda.