In 2012, sub-Saharan African countries spent $37.7 billion on food imports. Rising levels of unemployment, coupled with sustained poverty, continued food and nutrition insecurity, and an unsustainable use of natural resources remain immense challenges. Yet they also offer equally immense opportunities.
For young people in Africa, working in the agriculture sector is often seen as outdated, unprofitable and hard. Yet with the right support, a multitude of opportunities for entrepreneurship can be fostered along the entire agribusiness value chain, from innovation on the farm to retail management and marketing. Growing demand for more nutritious, varied and processed food from Africa’s urban population provides a ready, yet untapped market. Young entrepreneurs are currently stifled by limited access to finance, low levels of skills and education, few market opportunities and a lack of broader institutional support.
Agriculture for Impact and The Montpellier Panel believe that investment in rural and food sector entrepreneurship, in particular amongst Africa’s youth population, can do more than achieve sustainable food and nutrition security for the continent – it can create jobs, wealth and robust livelihoods.
In light of this, we are proud to have launched the latest Montpellier Panel Report ‘Small & Growing: Entrepreneurship in African Agriculture’ which provides innovative and pro-active policy recommendations to support and encourage entrepreneurship as an inclusive tool for improved food security, illustrated by examples of successful entrepreneurs in agriculture, including women and youth. The report was successfully launched both in London and subsequently at DC AGRI and DG DEVCO, and I want to take this opportunity to thank again our fantastic panelists and guest speakers;
- Roy Steiner, Former Deputy Director, Agriculture, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Jane Karuku, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Montpellier Panel member
- Brenda Kwatampora, Programme Officer Uganda Development Trust
- Daniel Gad, Owner of Omega Farms
- Oumar Niangado, Delegate for West Africa, Syngenta Foundation and Montpellier Panel member
- Lord Cameron of Dillington, APPG on Food and Agriculture for Development
- Ms Pariat, Deputy Director-General, DG Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), European Commission
- Roberto Ridolfi, Director, DEVCO C Sustainable Growth & Development, European Commission
- Bernard Ray, Deputy Head of Unit/Food security, DG DEVCO, European Commission
- Jane Karuku, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Montpellier Panel member
- Brenda Kwatampora, Programme Officer Uganda Development Trust
- Daniel Gad, Owner of Omega Farms
- Oumar Niangado, Delegate for West Africa, Syngenta Foundation and Montpellier Panel member
- Lord Cameron of Dillington, APPG on Food and Agriculture for Development
- Ms Pariat, Deputy Director-General, DG Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI), European Commission
- Roberto Ridolfi, Director, DEVCO C Sustainable Growth & Development, European Commission
- Bernard Ray, Deputy Head of Unit/Food security, DG DEVCO, European Commission
For more information on the London launch, please read our A4I blog about the event and for the Brussels launches, please read the blog from the Platform for African-European partnership on Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD). You can also listen to the full recordings of the London and Brussels DEVCO launches on our soundcloud page.
Our team have also been busy blogging this month. Emily’s blog for the Chicago Council investigates ‘How To Make An Entrepreneur’, Katrin has blogged for Business Fights Poverty and I have written a blog for the Huffington Post, where I ask whether youth unemployment is a ‘Challenge or Opportunity’. For more blogs and to download the new report, please click on the boxes below.
I hope you enjoy our new look branding and eNews and we will be in touch again next month for more updates! I leave you with this video of myself and the Montpellier Panel discussing the latest report;
Yours ever,
