Gainful youth participation in extension and advisory services

Youth present an opportunity toward addressing the extension and advisory services capacity gap. On the one hand, youth should be targeted as clientele of extension; on the other, as providers. Compared to other continents, Africa has the highest youthful population globally, a situation that is not likely to change in the next decades. In Africa the majority of this young population remains unemployed. With agriculture as the largest employer spurring African economies, positioning youth to take up critical roles in the agriculture sector (as producers or providers of advisory services) is critical. This session will feature a study by DLEC on youth engagement in private sector extension and advisory services which will lay the foundation for the discussions. In addition, other innovative youth in extension models will be presented. The session will conclude with a policy discourse to facilitate youth transition into agriculture.