Developing transformative pathways for youth inclusion and empowerment in agri-food systems: A change theory

Youth face interconnected constraints: unemployment, inequality, limited access to resources and information, and a lack of training. These systemic challenges hinder their effective participation in agri-food systems. This study builds on previous studies, two scoping reviews, and stakeholder consultations, whose outputs were used to develop a Change Theory (CT) for youth inclusion and empowerment in agri-food systems in sub-Saharan Africa. A transformation in four interlinked change domains, namely (a) knowledge, awareness, attitude, and skills, (b) political will, (c) policies and (d) partnerships, is proposed. These change domains are mutually reinforcing and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 2, 8, 10, 13 and 17. Our proposed CT highlights that youth participation in agri-food systems necessitates a systematic, integrated, and context-specific strategy, fostered by collaboration and coordination among stakeholders across all aspects that affect youth well-being, development, and empowerment. It provides an initial starting point for developing a theory of change or contextualisation to guide the design of interventions, highlighting pathways for addressing challenges within institutional arrangements that affect the implementation, efficiency, and effectiveness of policies on the ground, enabling transformation.Author summary: The youth dividend in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) offers a unique opportunity for economic development and growth in agribusiness and agri-food systems. However, young people continue to face significant challenges that impede their meaningful participation in these spaces. These challenges call for investments which combine technical skills, soft skills, and political inclusion. Moreover, it necessitates partnerships and broad policies among various stakeholders and sectors (e.g., education, health, social security, economic development, and agriculture) whose mandates support the foundation of youth well-being and development. By investing in youth’s growth, development, and empowerment, we can nurture their potential and create an enabling environment that unlocks their meaningful participation in the economy and society. This paper proposes a change theory grounded in four interlinked domains as a starting point for guiding the design of interventions and programs to address systematic barriers and foster youth leadership in agri-food systems across SSA.