Background
Across Africa and many parts of the Global South, the youth demographic represents a transformative force for social, economic, and political change. With young people comprising the majority of the population, their meaningful inclusion in decision-making processes is no longer optional—it is imperative. Yet, despite this demographic advantage, youth remain largely excluded from the structures and processes that determine public policy, particularly in critical sectors such as agriculture and food systems, where they bear the brunt of unemployment, land inaccessibility, and food insecurity.
In recent years, the agri-food system has emerged as a sector of strategic importance for youth development. Agriculture holds immense potential to absorb large numbers of young people into productive work while ensuring food and nutrition security for growing populations. However, the realities on the ground tell a different story. Structural, institutional, and socio-cultural barriers continue to limit youth participation in shaping policies that affect their engagement in the sector. These constraints are even more pronounced for young women, who face layered vulnerabilities rooted in gender norms, limited access to productive resources, lack of representation in farmer organizations, and discriminatory policies that sideline their needs and aspirations.
Several interconnected barriers inhibit youth—particularly young women—from influencing agri-food systems policies:
Limited access to land and finance: Many young people, especially women, do not own land or have the collateral needed to access agricultural credit or investment opportunities.
Weak representation in decision-making bodies: Youth and women are underrepresented in farmers’ associations, cooperatives, and policy platforms where decisions on agriculture, food security, and climate adaptation are made.
Inadequate technical knowledge of policy processes: Most youth organizations lack familiarity with how agricultural policies are developed, implemented, and evaluated.
Low capacity for evidence-based advocacy: Limited skills in data analysis, policy research, and strategic communication hinder their ability to develop compelling policy positions and influence stakeholders.
Social and cultural norms: Deep-rooted gender stereotypes often relegate young women to unpaid or low-value roles in agriculture, diminishing their visibility and bargaining power.
Digital and knowledge divides: Unequal access to information, training opportunities, and digital advocacy tools further marginalize youth voices—especially from rural, low-income, or minority communities.
While various governments and development partners are making efforts to integrate youth perspectives into agricultural strategies, these efforts remain fragmented and tokenistic in many cases. Without deliberate capacity-building and structural support, youth organizations will continue to struggle to assert their voice in the governance of agri-food systems.
Policy advocacy offers a powerful pathway to address these inequities. When equipped with the right tools, youth-led and youth-serving organizations can play a pivotal role in transforming food systems to be more inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of young people and women. Advocacy enables youth to spotlight issues that often go unnoticed—such as access to inputs, the gender gap in extension services, or the exclusion of youth from value chain financing. Through strategic engagement with government institutions, development actors, and private sector stakeholders, youth can drive reforms that create enabling environments for inclusive agri-food entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods.
This intervention is designed to strengthen the policy advocacy capacity of youth organizations—particularly those working within or influencing the agri-food system. It will provide targeted training on the use of advocacy tools such as policy mapping, power analysis, coalition building, and digital campaigning. Importantly, it will promote gender-sensitive advocacy approaches that empower young women to challenge discriminatory norms and shape policies that reflect their lived experiences and aspirations.
By building a new cadre of youth advocates equipped with practical advocacy skills and a strong understanding of agri-food governance, this initiative will contribute to dismantling the systemic barriers that have historically excluded youth and women from influencing policy. In doing so, it will support the creation of more equitable, youth-responsive food systems—and strengthen democratic accountability in agriculture and rural development.
This training is not just a technical exercise; it is a strategic investment in a generation that must be at the forefront of driving agricultural transformation. Only by placing young people—especially young women—at the heart of food systems advocacy can we ensure that agricultural policies truly serve the next generation and promote a just, inclusive, and food-secure future.
Objectives
General Objective
To strengthen the capacity of youth organizations—particularly those engaged in the agri-food system—to effectively use policy advocacy tools and engage with national, regional, and international policy advocacy platforms to drive inclusive, gender-responsive, and youth-centered policy reforms.
Specific Objectives
1. To assess the existing advocacy capacity, organizational needs, and policy engagement gaps of youth organizations working within the agri-food system, with particular attention to the structural barriers faced by young women.
2. To design and deliver a tailored training program that builds the technical and strategic advocacy skills of youth organizations, including modules on policy research, stakeholder mapping, power analysis, policy influencing cycles, and coalition-building.
3. To build participants’ understanding of key national, regional, and international policy processes related to agriculture, food systems, climate action, and youth development—including frameworks such as CAADP, the Malabo Declaration, UNFSS, COP processes, and SDG-related platforms.
4. To equip youth organizations with tools for digital and traditional advocacy, including strategic communications, storytelling for influence, media engagement, and the use of social media for campaigning and accountability tracking.
5. To promote gender-sensitive advocacy approaches that address intersectional barriers and elevate the voices and leadership of young women in the agri-food system.
6. To support participating youth organizations in developing context-specific policy advocacy strategies and action plans, focused on their priority issues within the agri-food system.
7. To map and facilitate connections between youth organizations and relevant national, regional, and international advocacy platforms, including networks such as the African Youth Commission, YPARD, UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UNMGCY), Generation Unlimited, and the African Union Youth Envoy platform.
To provide technical support and mentorship to select youth organizations post-training, helping them navigate policy engagement spaces and implement their advocacy plans.
Duration
The contract will be for a period of 180 days. The contract will be deliverable-based, and payments will be made upon completion of the agreed deliverables.
Qualifications and Experience
The consultant should have:
