Video
Why invest in rural youth and jobs in agriculture in Africa?
In this interview, Juan Carlos Mendoza, Director of the Environment, Climate, Gender and Social Inclusion Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) explains why IFAD is committed to invest in rural youth employment in agriculture and agrifood systems and how the successful partnership with the ILO contributed to secure the creation of decent jobs for rural youth in Africa.
12 August 2025
Drawing on global evidence and concrete results from the ILO–IFAD ProAgro YOUTH project, the interview highlights how targeted investments in skills development, access to finance, modern technology and market integration can transform agriculture into a dynamic sector offering decent work, entrepreneurship, and green and digital jobs for young people.
The discussion also showcases how the ProAgro YOUTH partnership is contributing to tangible employment outcomes in Algeria, Malawi, Madagascar and Côte d’Ivoire, and why scaling up integrated, country-led approaches is key to accelerating more and better jobs for rural youth.
Through its partnership with IFAD, the ILO is advancing solutions that place young people at the centre of rural transformation, fostering resilient agrifood systems, inclusive economic growth and more stable societies across the African continent.
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