The two-day sub-regional forum courtesy of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the Community Action Platform on Environment and Development (CAPED), was held on the theme - "Feeding the Future: Youth-Led Solutions for Resilient and Inclusive Food Systems".
Supported by the Mastercard Foundation under the Youth Empowerment for Food and Farming in Africa (YEFFA) program, it brought together over 60 youth leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators from The Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Senegal, and Cameroon.
This forum was part of a broader initiative aimed at amplifying youth voices, while strengthening regional collaboration and promoting youth-led strategies for agricultural transformation in West Africa.
At the event, Papia Badjie Sanyang, Director of Urban Agriculture at the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security, reaffirmed Gambia government’s commitment to empowering young people in agriculture.
She emphasised the importance of investment and technical support, especially for women and youth.
Momodou Inkeh Bah, Executive Director of CAPED, highlighted the critical role of youth representation in shaping the future of agriculture.
He also cited persistent challenges such as limited access to land, finance, and modern farming technologies.
Fatoumata Marong, Assistant Executive Director of CAPED, while describing the event as a defining moment for youth leadership and engagement, maintained that such platforms are crucial for elevating young voices and solutions.
The outcome of the forum will see the development of a Youth Position Paper, which will outline the priorities, aspirations, and policy recommendations of participating youth.
This document, she added, is expected to influence agricultural policy discussions at national, regional, and global levels.
Alhagie S. Cham, Senior Programme Officer at the Association of NGOs (TANGO), called for greater collaboration to support youth development initiatives, saying ‘when we support each other, we strengthen our collective ability to bring about meaningful change.
He expressed optimism that the outcomes of the Banjul forum will shape future dialogues on food security, youth empowerment, and sustainable development across Africa.
"With their voices unified and a clear strategy in hand, West African youth are poised to lead the continent’s transition toward a more resilient, inclusive, and climate-smart agricultural future."
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