Each year, rural areas lose a promising share of their workforce, as youth leave their homes and migrate to cities or move abroad in search of a better future. The distress induced by poverty, food insecurity and a lack of employment opportunities push many youth around the world to search for jobs elsewhere.

 By addressing the links between distress migration and rural development, FAO is making a difference in Tunisia and Ethiopia. With funding from the Italian Development Cooperation, the Rural Youth Mobility Project (RYM) was launched in 2015 to provide unemployed youth in migration-prone areas the two countries with the necessary training and equipment to start their rural enterprises. The aim is to promote innovative pathways for youth employment and entrepreneurship in rural areas.

 This publication describes the impact of the Project on rural communities in Tunisia and Ethiopia, through the testimonies of the young beneficiaries.