CEA-FIRST Gender & Youth Strategy: Advancing Inclusion in Research & Agribusiness

Background on the CEA-FIRST Gender and Youth Strategy and Action Plan

The CEA-FIRST Gender and Youth Strategy and Action Plan was developed as part of the CEA-FIRST (Consortium Europe-Africa on Research and Innovation for Food Systems Transformation) initiative. This project is funded under the Horizon Europe program and aims to foster collaboration between European and African institutions to drive innovation in food systems, focusing on sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience​.

Why a Gender and Youth Strategy?

Agricultural research and innovation have historically been male-dominated, and youth participation in food systems has remained limited due to barriers like land access, financing, and decision-making structures. This strategy was created to address these gaps by ensuring that:

• Gender and youth considerations are mainstreamed into all research and innovation projects under CEA-FIRST.
• Women and young professionals have equal access to leadership roles, funding, and decision-making in food system transformation.
• Gender-sensitive policies and inclusive governance structures are embedded in the research and policy frameworks of partner institutions​.

This Gender and Youth Strategy was built by CEA-FIRST consortium members under the co-leadership of YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development), FARA (Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa), Agrinatura (The European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development) and CORAF (The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development ). 
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Key Objectives

The strategy focuses on:

• Assessing gender sensitivity in existing frameworks within CEA-FIRST institutions.
• Identifying gaps and best practices for improved gender and youth inclusion.
• Developing policies and ethical guidelines, including codes of conduct and conflict resolution procedures.
• Implementing key actions with measurable indicators for progress tracking​
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Strategic Priority Areas

1. Scaling gender- and youth-responsive climate and nutrition-smart technologies
   
   • Promoting equitable access to innovative agricultural technologies for women and youth.
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2. Investing in youth- and women-led agribusinesses
   
   • Facilitating financial and capacity-building support for female and young entrepreneurs.
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3. Advancing scientific and leadership capacity for women and youth
   
   • Encouraging increased representation of women and youth in agricultural research and governance.
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4. Ensuring inclusive governance structures
   
   • Establishing gender-sensitive decision-making processes across all CEA-FIRST initiatives.
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5. Strengthening gender- and youth-responsive monitoring, evaluation, and communication
   
   • Setting up clear indicators to track and report on gender and youth inclusion in programs​

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Strategy Development Methods Approach

The strategy is built on evidence-based methodologies, including:

• Desk reviews to analyze institutional policies and identify gaps.
• Stakeholder consultations with gender and youth representatives.
• A Theory of Change framework guiding the integration of gender- and youth-sensitive approaches​
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Accountability and Governance

• A Gender and Youth Working Group will oversee implementation.
• Dedicated budgets will be allocated to gender and youth programs.
• Monitoring frameworks will ensure accountability and impact assessment​
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Conclusion

The CEA-FIRST Gender and Youth Strategy is a comprehensive framework for promoting inclusivity in agricultural research and innovation. It commits to ensuring equal opportunities, gender-responsive governance, and youth empowerment, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable food system​.

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About the CEA-FIRST
CEA-FIRST is a 48-month project designed to strengthen research and innovation (R&I) partnerships between Africa and Europe in Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA). The initiative addresses key challenges such as climate change, food security, and inclusivity in agricultural systems. The project seeks to align with global development frameworks such as:

• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• AU Agenda 2063 and the EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership.
• The Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024).

The CEA-FIRST consortium includes major agricultural research institutions, universities, and policy organizations from both Europe and Africa. For more information on the CEA-FIRST, you can visit the official website.

‘The CEA-FIRST project is funded by the European Union. The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of YPARD and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.’

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