African Youth Showcasing Agroecological Opportunities to Adapt to the Climate Crisis
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) is excited to announce the Thousand African Youth Summit on Food Systems and Agroecology 2024, set to take place from October 14th to 16th, 2024, in Addis Ababa. Over 250 youth will gather in person, with more than 2,000 young leaders joining virtually, to explore agroecological solutions and lead Africa’s response to the climate crisis.
Dr. Million Belay, AFSA General Coordinator, remarked on the critical timing of this summit: “The Thousand African Youth Summit is not just an event; it is a movement that empowers African youth to develop and share solutions for building climate-resilient food systems. It’s an opportunity for young leaders to take center stage in shaping our food and climate future.”
The summit, themed “African Youth Showcasing Agroecological Opportunities to Adapt to the Climate Crisis,” comes at a crucial time when Africa is grappling with two competing narratives to feeding its people, adapting to climate change, and restoring biodiversity. The dominant narrative pushes for an industrial food system, which is a major driver of the very crisis it claims to solve. In contrast, agroecology offers a sustainable solution that builds resilience, protects biodiversity, and strengthens food systems.
In response to these challenges, AFSA is committed to empowering young Africans—who make up the majority of the continent’s population—to take direct action through agroecology.
Summit Highlights and Thematic Areas
The summit will feature an engaging lineup of thematic sessions, presentations, workshops, and interactive discussions. The thematic areas are:
- Approaches to Minimize Conflicts through Agroecology: Focusing on reducing conflicts related to climate-induced migration, land, and seeds through agroecological practices. Discussions will highlight how African youth can contribute to minimizing these conflicts while ensuring food system resilience.
- Agroecological Entrepreneurship in a Climate Crisis: Unlocking sustainable economic opportunities for youth in agroecology, fostering entrepreneurship, and ensuring healthy food value chains. Breakout sessions will focus on financing mechanisms, territorial markets, and the role of digitalization.
- Technological Innovations for Adaptation through Agroecology: Exploring the role of youth-led appropriate technological innovations in enhancing climate adaptation, while assessing the risks of harmful technologies. Participants will also discuss supportive policies and community engagement for advancing agroecological innovations.
- Biodiversity Conservation and Indigenous Knowledge: Leveraging indigenous knowledge and practices to promote sustainable food systems and build resilience to climate challenges. Discussions will focus on the synergies between traditional and modern knowledge, and the importance of intergenerational knowledge transfer.
Simon Bukenya, AFSA Program Officer and Youth Platform Secretariat Coordinator, shared insights into the summit’s structure and intended outcomes: “Over three days, participants will engage in key thematic sessions, interactive workshops, and practical knowledge exchanges, with a focus on actionable outcomes. Our goal is to establish a strong, pan-African youth network for agroecology, capable of influencing national policies and creating tangible change.”
In addition to in-person participation, the event will also be livestreamed on Zoom, allowing a broader audience to join this vital conversation. Hakim Baliraine, AFSA Board Chair, said: “This summit is a call to action for every young African passionate about climate action, social justice, and sustainable food systems. We invite you to join us, take ownership of Africa’s food systems, and be a part of this transformative journey towards a resilient and self-reliant future.”
A one-week social media campaign will accompany the summit, promoting youth engagement in transforming African food systems and the transition towards agroecology.
Joyce Brown, Director of Programmes at Health of Mother Earth Foundation, emphasized the focus on action and tangible outcomes, explaining why strategic and impactful campaigning is crucial to changing perceptions about African foods and driving agroecological transformations across the continent. “A ‘Summit of Solutions’ means we’re moving beyond discussions to real, on-the-ground actions that bring meaningful change. This summit will equip youth with practical skills, foster networking and collaboration, and provide the tools they need to make a difference in their communities.”
We invite the public to join the movement by following us on social media using the hashtags #1000AfricanYouthSummit and #Youth4Agroecology.
For more information or to register for the livestream, please visit the official summit website at 1000africanyouthsummit.afsafrica.org.
About AFSA
The Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) is the largest civil society network on the continent, working to promote agroecology, food sovereignty, and sustainable food systems in Africa. Through collaboration, advocacy, and knowledge-sharing, AFSA strives to empower African communities to reclaim their food systems and ensure food security and sovereignty
For more information, interviews, or media inquiries, please contact:
- Simon Bukenya- [simon.bukenya@afsafrica.org]
- Kirubel Teshome – [Kirubel.tadele@afsafrica.org]
