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Expanding Business Opportunities for African Youth in Agricultural Value Chains in Southern Africa (CultiAF)

This project will develop and test novel, creative, and bold business models that increase the participation of youth in fish and maize post-harvest value chains in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. African youth and agriculture The agricultural sector provides income-generating opportunities for both rural and urban youth in Africa. The sector also benefits from young people's resourcefulness, technological savvy, and organizational capacity. There are few programs that seek to encourage young people, especially young women, to realize the agri-business opportunities in the fish and maize post-harvest value chains and serve as vehicles for commercializing research outputs. Opportunities and entrepreneurship The project will develop and implement methodologies to map specific agricultural product markets and to identify viable agri-business opportunities for youth. The project team will identify entrepreneurial youth and equip them with the skills to generate and implement effective business models and plans. They will disseminate successful business models and scale up entrepreneurial start-up experiences that could take agricultural innovations to potential markets. They will also connect innovations from research with private sector actors who can help commercialize them and achieve large-scale impacts. The project team will access its extensive network of experienced associates and partners. They will also connect with private and public institutions to scout for entrepreneurial youth and to serve as mentors, coaches, trainers, and role models. The lessons and evidence from this project will have broad relevance and general application to other agriculture and food security projects that aim to engage youth in agricultural value chains. Project leadership This project is a partnership between Zambia's Department of Fisheries, the University of Zambia, and Chancellor College, University of Malawi. It is funded through the Cultivate Africa's Future Fund (CultiAF), a joint program of the Australian International Food Security Research Centre of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and IDRC. CultiAF supports research to achieve long-term food security in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Project ID
108019
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
18 months
IDRC Officer
Jemimah Njuki
Total Funding
CA$ 454,996.00
Location
Malawi
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Programs
Agriculture and Food Security
Cultivate Africa's Future
Institution Country
zambia
Project Leader
Dr. Jonathan Mukombo Tambatamba
Institution
ATDF Entrepreneurship Hub Limited

Outputs

Expanding business opportunities for African youth in agricultural value chains in Southern Africa : policy brief

Expanding business opportunities for African youth in agricultural value chains in Southern Africa : policy brief

Brief

The project aimed to generate and test novel business models that increase the participation of youth in the fish and maize post-harvest agribusiness sectors in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Training materials were developed and used to scale up successful entrepreneurial start-ups. Youth from rural areas were generally more interested in progressing their businesses than urban youth who were previously employed. The policy brief describes the project, participants, methodology and results.

Author(s): Wrenmedia

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Language: English

Expanding business opportunities for African youth in agricultural value chains in Southern Africa : project profile

Expanding business opportunities for African youth in agricultural value chains in Southern Africa : project profile

Brief

This one-page profile describes the Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF) project which aims to test new business models that will engage youth participation in the fish and maize postharvest agribusiness sectors in Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Researchers will assess the agribusiness environment, identify viable employment opportunities with prospective youth entrepreneurs, and target markets for selected fish and maize products. A third of Africa’s population is currently aged between 10 and 24, and by 2045 this is expected to double; 59% of the continent’s workforce will have a secondary or tertiary education by 2030.

Author(s): Wrenmedia

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Language: English

Expanding business opportunities for African youth in agricultural value chains in southern Africa (CultiAF) - final technical report

Expanding business opportunities for African youth in agricultural value chains in southern Africa (CultiAF) - final technical report

Report

The project tested new business models for increasing the participation of youth in the fish industry in Malawi and Zambia, and maize postharvest agribusiness sector in Zimbabwe. It assessed the agri-business environment; identified viable opportunities, prospective youth entrepreneurs, and target markets to help establish business and market development skills; and developed a portfolio of youth managed businesses and scaleable entrepreneurial start-up experiences. Agriculture, innovation and youth are underlined as key drivers of the economic and social transformation of Africa.

Author(s): Konde, Victor, Tang, Yee Kwan, Tambatamba, Jonathan

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Language: English