Youth at the Centre of Food Systems Transformation in West Africa

Group Photo © AGRA

West Africa Youth Chart Pathways for Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems at a Regional Convening in The Gambia

Banjul, The Gambia – Over 60 young leaders, agripreneurs, policymakers, and development partners from across West Africa gathered from 23rd to 24th July 2025 in Banjul, The Gambia, for the West Africa Regional Youth Convening. Under the theme “Feeding the Future: Youth-Led Solutions for Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems,” the convening marked a significant step in positioning youth at the center of the region’s food systems transformation agenda.

Organized by AGRA and the Community Action Platform on Environment and Development (CAPED), and supported by the Mastercard Foundation under the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) programme,  the event provided a platform for young people to consolidate their voices ahead of key continental and global platforms, including the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), UNFSS+4, and COP30.

Over the two days, participants from Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Nigeria, and Senegal, engaged in dialogues, innovation showcases, and strategic sessions aimed at amplifying youth leadership in shaping resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems in West Africa. Discussions emphasized the critical role of young people in advancing solutions for food security, climate resilience, and inclusive economic growth across the region.

A key outcome of the convening was the adoption of the West Africa Youth Position Paper, a set of actionable recommendations that will inform advocacy at AFSF 2025 and COP30. The Position Paper reflects the aspirations, priorities, and commitments of West African youth toward building resilient food systems that can respond to the challenges of climate change, economic inclusion, and sustainable agriculture.

Throughout the convening, participants also spotlighted innovations from young agripreneurs working across the region to transform food systems through entrepreneurship, technology, and climate-smart solutions. These exchanges strengthened connections among youth networks, policymakers, and private sector actors, laying the groundwork for future collaborations.

Speaking at the close of the event, Dr. Jeremiah Rogito, Specialist Food Systems, Land Use, Soil Health and Climate at AGRA noted, “The convening demonstrated the power of youth when given the space and opportunity to shape solutions for the continent’s food systems challenges.”

Fatoumata Marong of CAPED added, “This is not the end, but a step forward. The voices of West Africa’s youth are now louder and clearer, and they will shape the continent’s future food and climate policies.”

The outcomes of the Gambia convening will contribute directly to Africa’s biggest food and agriculture platforms. The Position Paper will be presented during the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) 2025 and later at COP30, reinforcing the central role of youth in shaping the future of Africa’s food systems and climate action.

For further information or interview requests, please contact:

·         Fatoumata Marong (CAPED) | +220 390 8990 | fatoumatamarong8@gmail.com

·         Jessie Lafourcade-Morena (AGRA West Africa) | +233 5 93 80 80 77 | jlafourcade@agra.org

ENDS