The MasterCard Foundation's Young Africa Works Summit Puts Youth at Centre of Green Revolution

Summit presents youth as drivers of Africa's agricultural transformation and employment

KIGALI, Rwanda, Jan. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 300 global and African thought leaders and youth agripreneurs will come together for The MasterCard Foundation's second Young Africa Works Summit on February 16-17 in Kigali, Rwanda. The event will spark new thinking on how Africa's growing youth population can transform the agricultural sector. Fifty young people will also attend to share their perspectives on employment and self-employment in this sector.  

"Africa is home to the world's youngest population with enormous potential to improve agricultural productivity and make the sector a viable source of employment for youth across the continent," says Ann Miles, Director of Financial Inclusion and Youth Livelihoods, The MasterCard Foundation. "The 2017 Summit will highlight the contributions being made by young people to transform the agricultural sector from subsistence farming to a modern, competitive, sustainable, and equitable business."

With 11 million young Africans entering the job market annually and the rapid expansion of the continent's agricultural sector, young people are driving the modernization of agriculture through the use of innovative technologies and production systems. The need for agricultural transformation on the continent, however, has never been more pressing. The increasing severity of climate change is already amplifying existing stress on water availability and food security in many African countries. And a growing youth population means this group will be particularly vulnerable. Despite economic growth over the last 10 years, the continent has yet to experience the levels of agricultural productivity that historically paved the way to modernization and industrialization of middle and high-income countries. The agricultural sector, already the largest sector for employment in Africa, is expected to create eight million stable jobs by 2020 and offers tremendous promise for catalyzing prosperity and creating sustainable livelihoods for young people.

"Agricultural transformation is a clarion call for us, the youth of Africa," says Pilirani Khoza, Founder of Bunda Female Students Organisation at Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources. "For decades, agriculture has continued to operate using the same static methods and technologies adopted by our forefathers. We must adopt the new technologies that are available to us. Youth are technological doers and thinkers, they are energetic and hungry for knowledge and they should be actively involved in transforming Africa."

Highlights of the Summit include:

• Keynote address by Her Excellency, Rhoda Peace Tumisiime, Commissioner of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union.
• Appearances by Agnes Kalibata, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA); Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, CEO and Head of Mission at the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN); Eric Kaduru, Founder and CEO of KadAfrica; Frank Altman, President and CEO of the Community Reinvestment Fund; and Dr. Simon Winter, Senior Vice President of Development at TechnoServe and Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
• Youth keynote addresses featuring Brian Bosire, founder of Ujuzikilimo; Pilirani Khosa, founder of Bunda Female Students Organisation; Laetitia Mukungu, founder of the Africa Rabbit Centre; Rita Kimani, Co-founder and CEO, FarmDrive; and Jean Bosco Nzeyimana, founder of Habona Ltd.
• A televised panel on "Setting the Stage for Agricultural Transformation" moderated by CNBC Africa anchor Nozipho Mbanjwa.
• The release of The MasterCard Foundation's Invisible Lives: Understanding Youth Livelihoods in Africa report, detailing the results of a 12-month study of youth employment in Ghana and Uganda.

The full Young Africa Works Summit agenda and list of speakers can be found here.

About The MasterCard Foundation
The MasterCard Foundation works with visionary organizations to provide greater access to education, skills training, and financial services for people living in poverty, primarily in Africa. As one of the largest private foundations, its work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. Based in Toronto, Canada, its independence was established by MasterCard when the Foundation was created in 2006. For more information and to sign up for the Foundation's newsletter, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org. Follow the Foundation at @MastercardFdn on Twitter.

About The MasterCard Foundation's Youth Livelihoods Program 
The Youth Livelihoods Program seeks to improve the capacity of young men and women to transition to jobs or create businesses through a holistic approach which combines market-relevant skills training, mentorship, and appropriate financial services. Through our partnerships, our program is supporting innovative models that help young people transition out of poverty and into stable livelihoods. Since 2010, the Foundation has committed $US402 million to 37 multi-year projects across 19 countries in Africa. More than 1.8 million young people have been reached through the Youth Livelihoods program.

SOURCE The MasterCard Foundation