Marina Cherbonnier presented the young professionals platform for Agricultural R4D, an international movement of young professionals under 40 who are active in agricultural development. The platform networks a number of regional offices and country representatives. The rational behind YPARD is that youth need to get involved, to access professional opportunities and to be given a collective voice in agricultural development. Objectives of the platform include the exchange of information and connection people, contributing to strategic ARD policy debates, the promotion of agriculture among young people and facilitating access to resources and capacity building opportunities. The disenfranchisement of youth in the dry areas is primarily due to a lack of political power and decision-making, poor access to finance and markets, unsupportive institutions and policies, and the absence of social equality. Dryland Systems will focus on youth because youth migration and unemployment are key challenges in dry areas and youth retention and positive community contribution in rural areas are a means to meet those challenges. Strengthening youths ability to learn and make decisions based on adequately contextualized knowledge and the development of leadership skills to overcome the complexity of dryland systems in its whole are key strategies for youth empowerment. A youth component will be a part of every SRT within Dryland Systems. SRT1 will include youth as an explicit stakeholder in the innovation platform. SRT 2 will address youths’ specific vulnerabilities and risks. SRT 3 will build capacity and employment of youth through entrepreneurship and innovation. SRT 4 will enhance cross regional cross-regional information sharing via ICT4D.

1. Supporting the YOUTH in CRP1.1 to
achieve impact

2. • International movement
• YPs under 40
• Active in Agricultural Dev.
• Multi-stakeholders
• Network of regional offices
and country representatives
What is YPARD?

3. Why YPARD?
Because youth need…
• To get involved
• To access Professional opportunities
• To be given a voice
• Sustainable ARD = their future!

4. 1. Exchanging information & Connecting people
2. Contributing to strategic ARD policy debates
3. Promoting agriculture among young people
4. Facilitating access to resources and capacity building
opportunities
Objectives

5. Youth specific needs
 Disenfranchisement of Youth in the dryland areas =
 Lack of:
◦ political power and decision making
◦ access to finance and markets
◦ supportive institutions and policies
◦ social inequity

6. Why a Youth focus in the CRP?
• Policies, institutions and technology’s access for
Youth empowerment
• Sustainability through social equity (Payne) and
work with leaders of today and tomorrow
• Research -> best practices for sustainable
livelihoods
• Address the causes of youth migration and
unemployment – retain youth in rural areas
and get them to contribute to the well-being of
their community

7. Youth empowerment in Dryland systems
Strengthening their...
 “ability to learn and make decisions based on
adequately contextualized knowledge”
 leadership skills to overcome the complexity of dryland
systems in its whole

8. How to empower the youth?
• Conducting Youth targeted research (age-
disaggregated data)
• Providing Capacity building opportunities
• Involving youth in Policy debates and decisions
• Mentoring – Policy level and beyond
• Making sure to address young women issues
through the gender-focused activities planned
• Be context-specific and valorise collaborative
action

9. Youth component in the SRTs
• SRT 1 – Youth as explicit stakeholder in the
innovation platform, notably as a voice of the
youth on policy level
• SRT2 – Addressing youths’ specific vulnerabilities
and risks – finance, land, capacity building
opportunities
• SRT3 – Capacity building & employment –
entrepreneurship, innovation and productivity
for sustainable intensification
• SRT4 – Youth to enhance cross-regional
information sharing via ICT4D

10. Key points for Youth empowerment
 Age disaggregated data (research)
 Mentoring senior/junior
partnerships
 Assessing the capacity needs of
YPs locally
 Involving YPARD/youth
representatives in country
strategic teams
 Engaging youth as an explicit
stakeholder representing different
groups of stakeholders

11. Thank You!
Sign up now (if not yet done)! @ www.ypard.net
and