Young agripreneurs, policymakers and development partners met in Kigali for a youth-focused discussion on the future of Africa’s food systems, with a strong call to create more jobs and opportunities for young people.
The conversation, titled “Who Gets to Shape Africa’s Food Future?”, was organised by AGRA in partnership with Global Citizen on the sidelines of Move Afrika. It brought together young entrepreneurs, policymakers and other players in the sector at Select Boutique Hotel & Restaurant to talk openly about the challenges and opportunities in agriculture.
Across the continent, agriculture employs many people, but a large number of young people still see it as a last option. Limited access to finance, land, markets and support services continues to make it hard for youth to start or grow agribusinesses.
Rwanda’s Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Telesphore Ndabamenye, urged young people to rethink how they view the sector, saying it goes beyond farming and can create wealth and jobs.
“You cannot market what you do not have,” he said, stressing the need to focus on food production first. “In the food systems journey, we must first secure food. From food comes cash, and from cash come jobs.”
He also noted that while development partners are supporting youth initiatives, young people must take the lead.
“Partners such as AGRA and the Mastercard Foundation are already supporting youth initiatives, but young people must also step forward and play a bigger role. We want youth to help us produce healthy foods for our populations. When food systems are strong, the economy becomes stronger,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Global Citizen’s Managing Director for Africa, Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue, said the dialogue created space for young people to share their experiences and challenges.
“We need to understand what challenges they face as Global Citizen and as AGRA so that we can help them achieve their goals,” she said.
She added that the organisation is working with AGRA through a grant that focuses on food and nutrition as well as job creation.
“One big issue is food and nutrition, which is a focus area of AGRA. Within Global Citizen, one of our focus areas this year is jobs. This event was organised to create an open and honest conversation among young people who are already doing great work within the agriculture space,” she said.
Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah, AGRA’s Director for Gender, Youth and Inclusiveness, said young people must be at the centre of efforts to transform food systems.
“We want to bring more young people on board in shaping Africa’s food future,” she said. “Young people are not just beneficiaries — they are innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders in the food system.”
Through its Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) initiative, AGRA supports youth-led agribusiness by improving access to training, markets and financing. In Rwanda, the programme has already created over 12,000 work opportunities across the value chain, including for youth with disabilities.
Young participants also said such platforms help them learn and connect. Lydia Murekatete from All Greens described the session as motivating. “Don’t just talk about it, be about it,” she said.
Evariste Sibobugingo, co-founder of Igisubizo Ltd, said the discussion helped build confidence among young entrepreneurs. “This dialogue builds our confidence, opens our minds and allows us to share experiences with other young people,” he said.
The meeting comes at a time when there is growing focus on transforming Africa’s food systems. This year marks 20 years of AGRA’s work across the continent, alongside renewed efforts under the African Union’s CAADP strategy. The year 2026 has also been declared the UN International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognising the role of women in agriculture.
