Rooted in change: Empowering the African youth through agroecology
Tuesday, October 08, 2024
coordinator
Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa
As someone who spent six years as a high school teacher, I’ve always seen immense potential in youth. I was fortunate to stand in front of eager, fun-loving, and aspiring students. This opportunity drove me with a passion I could barely explain—dedicating myself fully to teaching and engaging in extracurricular activities that kept me close to my students.
Perhaps it was my background in biology or the connection I built with nature during my visits to parks and natural areas, but my heart led me toward environmentalism. Even though I grew up in the urban hustle of Merkato, I found myself starting environmental clubs, engaging thousands of students in planting seedlings on the hills of Entoto, and celebrating Ethiopia’s biodiversity, foods, and cultures as a director and founder of MELCA-Ethiopia. This work later extended across Africa through the African Biodiversity Network, further intertwining my journey with youth and the environment.
With this foundation, it’s no surprise that my work today still revolves around youth and the environment, particularly through intergenerational knowledge transfer. I initiated the SEGNI program with MELCA Ethiopia, which has since involved hundreds of thousands of young people.
Youth issues are, of course, never straightforward. What do youth really want? That question depends on where they live, how they were raised, and most critically, the opportunities available to them. The absence of opportunity is glaringly evident in today’s migration patterns. Many theorise that migration is driven by poverty, yet we see youth paying vast sums to smugglers, risking their lives for a chance at what they perceive as opportunity. I recall a Nigerian woman’s words, “I would rather die than go back to the life I was living,” when asked why she would risk crossing the Mediterranean. These words, haunting yet telling, underscore the depth of despair youth face when they feel their futures are devoid of promise.
Lingering doubts
This brings me to an essential question: Can agroecology create meaningful opportunities for African youth? It’s tempting to say “yes” and list the ways, but truthfully, I struggle with lingering doubts. While it may not always be easier than emigrating, I do believe agroecology holds the potential for youth to live dignified, healthy lives. African youth, aware of growing xenophobia and right-wing movements in Europe and the US, witness the rising tides of bigotry and hatred.
Despite contributing to these economies by working in industries locals shy away from, they are scapegoated for societal ills. These youths also see how the West contributed to Africa’s current crisis—through slavery, colonialism, corruption, and exploitation—leaving them with little hope for their future at home.
The scars of slavery and colonialism are deep, having shaped the socio-economic realities of African youth for generations. Millions of Africans were forcibly removed, disrupting communities, erasing cultures, and severing links to indigenous knowledge. Colonial powers then imposed foreign systems that marginalized African identities and stunted opportunities.
The legacy of colonialism left young Africans with limited access to land, education, and resources. Even today, the impacts persist—youth grapple with internalised self-doubt, societal dependence, and the narratives of inferiority implanted by colonial rulers. Yet, in reclaiming their identity through decolonization and Pan-Africanism, today’s youth are striving to overcome these deep-seated challenges.
One of my lifelong efforts has been promoting intergenerational learning, particularly around biodiversity and culture. Our elders are the custodians of wisdom and tradition, and their knowledge of sustainable practices, seed preservation, and ecological balance is critical to empowering youth.
Agroecological entrepreneurship
This wisdom is the foundation for understanding the importance of biodiversity, which is essential for food security and climate resilience. Intergenerational learning nurtures a deep respect for the environment and fosters leadership among youth, positioning them as the stewards of Africa’s natural heritage.
Agroecological entrepreneurship could offer a pathway to address some of these issues. Along the value chain, from production to consumption, there are countless opportunities for youth—whether in packaging, marketing, selling, or innovating eco-friendly products. This form of entrepreneurship equips young Africans to lead in sustainable farming, develop climate-resilient practices, and create value-added products, such as organic food and biofertilizers. By embracing agroecology, youth can tap into growing markets for sustainable goods, reduce reliance on external inputs, and strengthen local economies. Agroecological entrepreneurship offers more than just jobs—it builds community resilience and gives African youth the chance to shape a sustainable future.
However, conflict across Africa continues to hinder youth access to education and employment. In areas plagued by violence, young people are often displaced, traumatized, and left without the means to grow personally or economically. Some are drawn into armed groups, while others face the loss of schools and the breakdown of economic structures, trapping them in cycles of poverty. The lack of opportunities and support fuels further disillusionment and instability.
To truly address the impact of conflict on youth, we need peacebuilding strategies coupled with education and economic opportunities. Engaging youth in peace processes and investing in post-conflict recovery—through agroecology, renewable energy, or entrepreneurship—can offer them constructive alternatives. Initiatives that focus on dialogue, reconciliation, and economic stability can help break these cycles of violence, ensuring that Africa’s youth play a leading role in building a peaceful and sustainable future.
Dr Belay is the Coordinator, Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA).