Youth Strategy for Phase II (2017-2022): CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS)

CCAFS. 2016. Youth Strategy for Phase II (2017-2022): CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS).

The global population is expected to increase to 9 billion by 2050, with youth (aged 15–24) accounting for about 14 percent (FAO 2014). In Africa alone, the Youth Division of the Africa Union Commission recently stated that about 65% of the total population of Africa is under the age of 35 years, with 10 million youth entering the labor market annually (AGRA 2015). Decisions today on agriculture and climate change will have a strong intergenerational impact on the global south, disproportionately affecting those under 25 (Farming First 2015). Long-term adaptation and mitigation strategies must therefore engage the youth today and the generations to come. “Authentic engagement of women and youth” is needed to accelerate the benefits of CSA (Chesterman and Neely 2015).