Advocating For A Holistic Youth And Gender Agriculture Policy Framework In Southern Africa National Youth Policy Dialogue, 12 April 2013 University of Mauritius Sithembile Mwamakamba, Project Manager sndema@fanrpan.org Presentation Outline 1. Background on FANRPAN The Network The Programmes Policy Cycle 2. Overview of youth engagement in agriculture in Southern Africa 3. Background on FANRPAN s work on engaging youth in agriculture policies 4. Why we are here today 1
FANRPAN Origins Call by Ministers in 1994 Created in 1997, and registered in 2002 Stakeholder categories: - Farmers, Government, Researchers, Private sector, Media, Development Partners, Youth Members/National nodes in 16 African countries: - Angola, Botswana, DRC, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe. FANRPAN Vision A food secure southern Africa free from hunger and poverty Mission To promote effective Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) policies by facilitating linkages and partnerships between government and civil society, building the capacity for policy analysis and policy dialogue in southern Africa, and supporting demand-driven policy research and analysis 2
FANRPAN Structure: Network of Networks Commercial Farmers DRC Farmers Uganda CSOs Malawi Commodity Associations Government Small-scale farmers associations Private Sector Namibia Zimbabwe Zambia Botswana Researchers Kenya FANRPAN Regional Secretariat Angola Mozambique Tanzania Lesotho Madagascar Mauritius Swaziland South Africa FANRPAN Strategic Framework Conducive Agricultural Policy Environment POLICY ANALYSIS & ADVOCACY 3 Capacity Building 1 Burning Policy Issues Policy Research 2 3
FANRPAN s Thematic Thrusts Food Systems Agricultural Productivity Markets Natural Resources and Environment Social Protection & Livelihoods Unpacking the FANRPAN Policy Engagement Cycle 3 Capacity development 2 Strategic partnerships 1 Knowledge generation Key components What we do in this areas Generate knowledge through policy analysis and research Acquire knowledge through engagements at local, national, regional and global levels Mobilize Strategic partnerships to generate policy evidence and to mentor Forge partnerships for advocacy Coordinate the implementation of the collaborative engagement. Analytical capacities and knowledge base of policy implementers enhanced. Mentoring and career development (e.g. Nodes, Youth through Internships, Msc and PhD thesis) Equip actors with relevant tools and terminology they need to effectively engage with one another (e.g. TPA) Journalists training for responsive, relevant reporting and reaching wider audients 4
FANRPAN Policy Engagement Cycle (cont d) Safe space and legitimate convening power of multistakeholder policy dialogues Policy advocates capacitated (e.g. Elders, Champions and Advocates) Advocacy engagement at local, national, regional and global levels (e.g. UNFCCC-Cop, AU, COMESA, Montpellier panel etc.) Promote change in Knowledge, Attitude and Skills (KAS) Documentation of processes and lessons learned Harvesting and consolidation of dispersed existing knowledge assets Monitoring, evaluation and learning (e.g. reviews, common vision retreats, exchange visits, reflection meetings etc.) and communication 4 5 Knowledge management Policy Advocacy Dissemination policy briefs, publications, social media and other means Multi Stakeholder Dialogues NATIONAL LEVEL Ongoing Research Studies Emerging Issues and FANR Policies Tracking National Policy Dialogues (Periodic) REGIONAL LEVEL Policy Advisory Notes Coordination of multi-country studies Synthesis of issues from Nodes Into Agenda for Annual Regional Dialogue Issues for Regional Dialogue Network Administration and Development (Networking, Fund Raising, Membership drive) Across 16 Countries (All Members from Stakeholder Groups) Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe Southern Africa Region (Representatives from all FANR Stakeholder Groups) Farmers Organisations Governments Private Sector Researchers Development Partners 5
Youth and Agriculture in Southern Africa Africa is the world s youngest continent, In 2010, 70 % of the region s population was under the age of 30, In 2010, 20 % of the population were young people between the ages of 15 to 24. The large majority of the youth lives in rural areas and mostly employed in agriculture, accounting for 65% of total employment. Regional Efforts in Creating Youth Policies NEPAD Youth Desk Launched in 2005 by New Partnership for Africa s Development (NEPAD) to give youth a platform for dialogue and enable them to contribute to policy debates. The African Youth Charter Adopted July 2006 at the 7th Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of States and Government Lays the pedestal for national programmes and strategic plans for Youth empowerment Youth Decade Plan of Action (2009-2018) Declared by the African Union Assembly in January, 2009, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Framework for multi-sectoral and multidimensional engagement of all stakeholders towards the achievement of the goals and objectives of the African Youth Charter. 6
Status of the African Youth Charter Youth Charter and Agriculture Article 14: Poverty Eradication and Socio-economic Integration of Youth Train young people to take up agricultural, mineral, commercial and industrial production using contemporary systems and promote the benefits of modern information and communication technology to gain access to existing and new markets; Facilitate access to credit to promote youth participation in agricultural and other sustainable livelihood projects 7
Article 12: National Youth Policy State Parties shall obliged to develop a comprehensive and coherent national youth policy as follows: The policy shall be cross-sectoral in nature considering the interrelatedness of the challenges facing young people; The development of a national youth policy shall be informed by extensive consultation with young people and cater for their active participation in decision-making at all levels of governance in issues concerning youth and society as a whole; The policy shall advocate equal opportunities for young men and for young women; FANRPAN s Youth In Agriculture Work September 2011 FANRPAN convenes a Regional High Level Multi-stakeholder Food Security Policy Dialogue on Advocating for the Active Engagement of the Youth in the Agricultural Value Chain 8
Background November 2011 FANRPAN commissioned case studies in Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe to assess current and emerging youth policies and initiatives with a special focus on links to agriculture. Evodius Rutta Executive Director TAYEN Tanzania Calvin Kamchacha Executive Director FAFOTRAJ Malawi Nawsheen Hosenally Agriculture Graduate Mauritius Obert Mathivha Executive Director CAYC South Africa Mduduzi Dlamini President Swazi Youth in AgriBusiness Swaziland Tavaka Nyoni Consultant ORAP Zimbabwe Study Objectives Establish baseline data on youth policies and initiatives currently in place in the case study countries. Identify gaps and opportunities for developing national youth and agriculture policies within agricultural sector and make appropriate policy decisions. Investigate the current participation level and coverage of rural and urban youth in agriculture and their perceptions towards the sector Investigate and assess how the and mechanisms and policy youth agenda Profile investment opportunities for youth engagement in the agricultural value chains key institutions as well as current tools, instruments available have mainstreamed 9
Methodology COUNTRY DESK REVIEW KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS FOCUS GROUP ON LINE DISCUSSIONS FORUM DISCUSSIONS SURVEYS MAURITIUS SOUTH AFRICA SWAZILAND ZIMBABWE MALAWI TANZANIA 2012 FANRPAN High Level Food Security Policy Dialogue, Tanzania The theme was From Policy to Practice: Advocating for the Active Engagement of Youth in Agriculture Value Chains. 253 delegates 23 countries Presentation of six country case study findings to a regional audience Launch of the Youth in Agriculture Award H.E. Dr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the Republic of Tanzania 10
Disseminating the Findings September 2012: USAID support in disseminating case study findings at national level Two national dialogues (South Africa and Swaziland) have been conducted to date Expansion of project to: Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zambia Engaging Youth in Policy Development What Needs to Happen Capacity Building of youth There is need for training and skillbuilding opportunities for young people that can prepare them for active participation in decision-making processes. Engage youth actively -Youth must be recognised as major stakeholders and need a platform where their voices can be heard on issues that directly concern them. Link youth to planning and policy efforts. This can be accomplished by involving youth in the examination of existing policies as well as determining and evaluating potential policy alternatives 11
Engaging Youth in Policy Development What Needs to Happen Allow youth to identify their own interests. Within the greater framework of agriculture policy making, youth may have expertise or interests in specific topics. Facilitation - Youth Communication, Advocacy and Networking. There is need to guide youth in terms of how to communicate their challenges, ideas, and experiences. Institutionalising Youth Policy Engagement from Primary Secondary - University Levels There is need to learn from other programmes that have been successful in engaging young people in different sectors (e.g SIFE, 4-H). Nothing for the Youth Without the Youth 12
Thank You 13