Dear Moderator,
4. What enabling environment is needed to ensure sustainability of youth in agriculture capacity development initiatives?
Thankyou for providing the platform for us to share experiences on CD for youth.
I think one of the key aspects that need to be harmonized is the varying ldefinitions on who a youth is as well as the legal age of employment which have far reaching legal implications on the ability of the youth to benefit from youth specific CD. For instance in Uganda, youth is someone who is 18 years and above meaning that those below the age of 18 years do not benefit from youth specific CD initiatives. On the other hand the legal age of employment is anywhere between 12 and 14 years depending on the lenses on is using. This has an effect on the CD opportunities available to the youth
Secondly, CD initiatives should be based on comprehensive CD assessments and structured according to the unique needs of the youth categories in terms of age, gender and geographical location among others. For instance, youth aged 14-17 face peculiar challenges because they are transitioning to adulthood yet there are no specific CD programmes to prepare them to be adults when they turn 18.
Provision of a safe working environment for the youth is also key to their capacity development especially given that most of the youth in Africa work without contracts and therefore at risk of doing hazardous work. Strong policies on Occupational Safety & Health are therefore very key.
Thanks
Mr. Paul Emuria