Youth leaders, policymakers, and development partners from across Africa convened in Naivasha, Kenya, on 15–16 October 2025 to call for expanded partnerships and increased investments in the Agribusiness Hubs (ABH) programme. The forum, titled “From Learning to Policy Action – Scaling Youth Employment through Systems Change,” brought together financing partners including the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and the VISA Foundation, alongside implementing partners and the Government of Kenya, to discuss scaling up the programme’s impact across the continent.
Launched in 2020, ABH uses an ecosystem-based model that connects young people to skills development, entrepreneurship support, financing, markets, and networking opportunities. Over its five-year implementation, the programme has created more than 60,000 decent jobs—nearly three times its original target—demonstrating its effectiveness in promoting youth employment in agribusiness.
IFAD Director for Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion, Juan Carlos Mendoza Casadiegos, emphasized that sustainable change requires a systemic approach that engages governments, the private sector, development partners, civil society, and youth together. He noted that no single institution can transform rural employment alone, and highlighted the importance of building ecosystems that support inclusive growth and opportunity.
The ABH programme has focused on fostering systemic change by strengthening collaborations among governments, private sector actors, and training institutions, embedding transformation within local economies. Salim Mvurya, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, stated that inclusive agribusiness models promoted by the programme are restoring dignity and hope for young people eager to contribute to Africa’s rural economies.
Agriculture continues to be the backbone of employment and livelihoods in rural Africa, where over 25 million young people enter the labour market annually, many in informal or low-paying jobs. Expanding programmes like ABH is seen as a critical pathway to generating sustainable, decent employment and supporting youth-led economic development across the continent.
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