POLICY BRIEF - Empowering youth and ecosystem support organisation for Africa’s Agri-Food transformation

Why this Policy Brief matters?

Africa’s youth are at the heart of agricultural transformation, bringing energy, innovation, and resilience to food systems. Yet, they continue to face structural barriers that limit their potential and growth. This Policy Brief, developed through the IYBA-SEED collaboration with SNV, ENABEL, and other key partners, captures the voices of young entrepreneurs and ESOs working daily to transform local value chains in rice, soya, and aquaculture sectors.

The document outlines five major challenges affecting youth entrepreneurship in agri-food systems:
1.    Limited access to finance and youth-friendly investment tools.
2.    Weak education systems and limited entrepreneurial training.
3.    Gaps in governance and data for informed policymaking.
4.    Barriers to accessing markets and value chains.
5.    Restrictive or outdated policy environments.

A collective voice for action

Ecosystem actors from Benin, Kenya, and Senegal agree on one key message: 

Empowering ESOs and creating youth-friendly business environments is essential to unlock Africa’s agri-food potential. When ESOs have the resources, recognition, and partnerships they need, they become powerful drivers of transformation, connecting young entrepreneurs to finance, markets, and policy influence.

Key recommendations

The Policy Brief calls for coordinated action across five priority areas:
1.    Finance & Investment: Establish youth-focused funds and blended finance mechanisms combining capital with technical support.
2.    Education & Capacity Development: Integrate entrepreneurship and agribusiness skills into education systems and recognise ESOs as key training partners.
3.    Governance & Data: Strengthen transparency, accountability, and data systems to guide effective policy and investment.
4.    Markets & Value Chains: Facilitate access to domestic and regional markets and incentivise sourcing from youth-led enterprises.
5.    Policy & Institutional Environment: Simplify regulations, create youth participation platforms, and foster cross-sector collaboration between public, private, and ecosystem actors.

Towards a shared future

This Policy Brief reflects a growing consensus: youth are not just beneficiaries of agricultural development, they are co-creators of Africa’s sustainable food future. Through strengthened ESOs and enabling ecosystems, the continent can unlock the full potential of its next generation of agri-food innovators.