Jennie Dey De Pryck, Senior Adviser to GFAR Secretariat, was commissioned by the Programme to lead development of the gender and youth strategies for the Dryland Systems Program.
Why is it at times more rewarding to involve nowadays’ youth in innovation mechanisms and processes to improve agricultural livelihoods than to work with previous generations?
A significant part of the reason stems from the rapid changes taking place in today’s globalized world that is typified by migration, urbanization, technological innovations, increasing educational levels and aspirations, and the IT and social media revolution linking youth to global information and change movements.
CGIAR Youth Strategy - Setting a precedent
This Youth Strategy is the first to be issued within the CGIAR system, setting a precedent that may stimulate serious attention to this critical stakeholder group among other CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs). It may also contribute to inspire joint efforts with other CRPs and partners to engage youth in innovative agricultural development.
The strategy was developed through a participatory, multi-stakeholder process that was initiated in the Gender and Youth Strategy Design Workshop (Malawi, 20–21 September 2013). It also draws on rich discussions at the Dryland Systems First Science and Implementation Meeting (Amman, Jordan, 30 June–4 July 2014).
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