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C2.2 Learning and the Empowerment of Youth and Women: Briefing Paper

Vicki Wilde (AWARD), Judith Francis (CTS), Yvonne Pinto (ALINe)

Context – the problems being addressed

The delivery of transformational agriculture – that is relevant, sustainable, innovative, integrative,

collaborative, inclusive and gender-responsive – will require ARD actors who are empowered.

Cultivating a new generation of agricultural entrepreneurs, technicians, researchers/scientists,

educators and leaders is strategically important. AR4D will be all the more effective when youth and

women are well represented, and well equipped for the challenge.

This Session is titled ‘Learning and the Empowerment of Youth and Women’ and the terms ‘learning’

and ‘empowerment’ are used intentionally. Innovation and enterprise in AR4D at all levels and scales

is urgently necessary to feed and resource a growing number of consumers. Growing and supporting

human capacity development especially of youth and women must be strategically pursued at

individual, organizational and institutional levels with clear and ambitious targets. Otherwise AR4D

policies, strategies and programs and projects, risk weak implementation, and a lack of ultimate

impact.

The GCARD Roadmap recognized that “agriculture is an aging and undervalued profession in many

countries and special attention must be given to encouraging young people into careers in all aspects

of AR4D….” Though forecasts suggest that the number of stable jobs in agriculture is likely to

increase, the current generation of ARD leaders, primarily older men, is retiring from the system.

Several reasons contribute to a thin and fragile talent pool. Achieving coherence in policies, strategies,

programs and plans for attracting and retaining youth and women in agriculture is a challenge at

national, regional and global levels. Systematic and systemic underinvestment in research, training and

capacity development is one root cause but, inadequate use of foresight for tapping their full potential,

exacerbates the problem.

There is a declining interest among youth in entering agricultural-related fields due to the persistent

perception of agriculture as an outdated activity with minimal financial returns. However, there are

new and alternative ways to engaging with agriculture that respond to the expectations of youth.

Discussions will help answer: What are steps towards greater engagement with youth to strengthen

agricultural innovations systems? What could be the incentives and reward systems for young people

(male and female) to choose careers in agriculture? What are the skills and competencies required for

the next generation of ARD professionals; famers, researchers, academicians, agri-business,

economists, policymakers?

AR4D also is challenged to retain high potential women. Though a growing number of women enter

the schools of agricultural science, many drop out before obtaining higher degrees, and fewer yet

move up the career ladder to become leaders of ARD. At the end of the day, few women have

influence in setting the priorities for AR4D. Women remain underserved throughout the agricultural

value chain. Discussions will help answer: What does it take to empower women in AR4D while

being cognizant of the need for men to be partners in the process? What tools do we have that can

track the engagement and contribution of women given the important role they play in agriculture?

How might these tools contribute to policy and curriculum design and development for agricultural

training and higher education?

In 2012, GFAR and partners launched a new mechanism “Gender in Agriculture Partnership (GAP)”

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while continuing to provide support to the Young Professionals Platform for Agricultural Research

and Development (YPARD). In Africa for example, there are several programs e.g. the ANAFE-

SASACID, FARA UniBRain, TEAM Africa, AWARD, and USAID’s Borlaug Fellowships, which

aim to build up a cadre of professionals who are sufficiently well-prepared, committed and motivated.

However, questions remain; what’s working, and can more be achieved through greater collaboration

and partnership? Through a series of presentations this session will tease out lessons and innovations

for moving the GCARD youth and women agenda forward and, therefore, strengthening the

foundations for transformative agriculture.

Current activities presented and discussed in the Session

Chair: Following introductions, the Chair will pose key questions to guide the development of

priority actions to be addressed during the GCARD 2012-2014 period. A keynote presentation by

Yvonne Pinto (ALine), will provide an overview of the context for capacity development in AR4D, as

well as tested empowerment models.

Facilitator: The facilitator will guide a series of short presentations by AR4D stakeholders –

including farmers, youth, women, universities and international agencies – each sharing their views on

what is needed, and what works. A special panel of respondents, together with plenary participants,

will have the opportunity to comment on the points raised by the stakeholders, and to make additional

recommendations for action.

Current activities to be presented and discussed are drawn from:

Produce Growers, Ltd, Barbados

Young Professionals’ Platform for Agricultural Research and Development (YPARD)

African women in agricultural research and development (AWARD)

SupAgro/UniBrain, France

Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture, India

Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for the agricultural and life sciences

(GCHERA)

University of the West Indies

World Bank

Federation of Associations of Uganda Exporters

Key Messages to GCARD II: Presentations and discussions will be guided to answer the following

questions:

1. What are the success factors for empowering youth in ARD? For empowering women in

ARD? Where are these same and different? What tools can be used for tracking progress?

2. What programs, projects and networks could be linked to help ensure the greatest degree of

learning, and impact?

3. What two to three collective actions should we propose for 2012-2014? What changes and

results do we want to share when we return to GCARD in two years’ time?

Intended outcomes

Greater understanding of existing mechanisms and key success factors for attracting youth and

retaining women in AR4D;

Greater commitment for strengthening partnerships for enhancing capabilities of youth and

women;

Key actions for the GCARD community to undertake between 2012 -2014.