Africa has the youngest population in the world, with more than 60 per cent of people under 25. One in four young Africans are not in employment, education or training, and as the population grows, millions enter the job market every year.  

These young people are one of the continent's greatest untapped opportunities. The agrifood sector can absorb these young jobseekers, creating a positive ripple effect for food security and rural economic development. Smart investment makes this exponential impact possible.  

That’s where IFAD’s Agribusiness Hub Programme comes in. Launched in 2019, the programme takes a multi-stakeholder approach to increasing rural youth employment. It focuses on creating decent, dignified and durable rural jobs and businesses which, in turn, boost economic growth.