Parliamentarian Action | Engaging young rural women and men
Date: Thursday, November 12, 2020
Time: 11.00 am to 1.30 pm CET / 10.00 to 12.30 GMT
FAO’s Inclusive Rural Transformation and Gender Equity Division (ESP), together with the Partnerships and UN Collaboration Division (PSU) are glad to present a virtual dialogue of the Parliamentarians Actions for Gender Equality and Resilient Food Systems in Response to COVID-19 series: Engaging young women and men in rural and agriculture development and resilience building in the face of COVID-19 and beyond
Africa has the highest youth population in the world, with 218 million people aged between 15 and 24. This burgeoning youth population presents a great opportunity for harnessing a potential demographic dividend, but also economic and social challenges that can lead to political instability or conflict. With the COVID-19 crisis exacerbating the existing vulnerabilities of rural young women and men, better and more age- and gender-responsive policy and legislation become crucial.
This virtual meeting is the fourth in a series of dialogues organized by FAO, IISD, and Oxfam as part of their policy support to the ECOWAS Network of Parliamentarians on Gender Equality and Investments in Agriculture and Food Security. It will provide a space for parliamentarians, youth, and other stakeholders to discuss how to engage young women and men in our efforts to eradicate rural poverty, food insecurity, and malnutrition, as well as measures to foster youth empowerment, gender equality, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Objectives:
- Raising awareness on the challenges faced by rural young women and men and the interlinkages with rural poverty and food insecurity, and potential opportunities to strengthen youth rights.
- Sharing policies and strategies in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region on youth employment in the agribusiness sector and enhance parliamentarians’ commitment toward the achievement of the SDGs, as well as the objectives of the ECOWAS regional support strategy to youth employability in the agro-sylvo-pastoral and fisheries sectors.
- Promoting an exchange of experiences and good practices among parliamentarians, regional economic communities, youth organizations, and other stakeholders on approaches to empower rural young women and men and promote gender equality during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Panelists
- Mr Robert Guei, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa
- Mr Alain Sy Traore, Director for Agriculture & Rural Development, ECOWAS Commission
- Ms Francesca Dalla Valle, Youth Employment and Institutional Partnerships Specialist, FAO
- Ms Elizabeth Nsimadala, President of East Africa Farmer Federation (EAFF) & Pan-African Farmer Organization (PAFO)
- Ms Bogolo Kenewendo, former MP and former Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Botswana
- Hon. Christopher de Venecia, Member of the House of Representatives, Philippines
- Ms Melissa Alamo, Youth focal point of PAKISAMA, member organization of the Asian Farmer Association (AFA)
- Hon. Jacquiline Amogin, Member of the Parliament of Uganda and the Pan African parliament, Vice Chair of the African Parliamentarians Network against Hunger and Malnutrition
- Mr Khamutima Tumwebaze, Chairman of the Young Farmer Champion Network (YOFCHAN), Uganda
- Mr Khadim Diop, President of the National Youth Council, Senegal
Moderators: Mr Joshua Sena Alouka, National coordinator, Youth Volunteers for the Environment and Ms Francine Picard, Policy Advisor, IISD
Interpretation available in English and French
Event hashtag: #ParliamentAction2020