Empowering Youth Entrepreneurship in Agrifood Systems Governance

On May 28–29, 2025, Lusaka hosted the “Empowering YouthEntrepreneurship in Agrifood Systems Governance” workshop. The eventprovided a platform for young professionals, cooperatives, traders, academics, and policymakers to engage on the role of youth in shaping inclusive andsustainable agrifood systems.

Objectives

The workshop aimed to:

• Strengthen youth participation in agrifood systems governance.
• Promote entrepreneurship and innovation among young people.
• Build connections between youth, policymakers, and market actors.
• Co-develop policy recommendations to advance inclusive food system transformation.

Proceedings

Opening and Keynotes

The workshop was officially opened by Lusaka Town Clerk,Liftry Ndaba, who emphasized the importance of youth engagement in policy processes. A keynote address by Matthews Mhuru highlighted the opportunities for young people to access Zambia’s policy frameworks and drive transformation in agrifood systems.

Marketplace Exhibitions

Youth cooperatives and entrepreneurs presented innovative agribusiness models and products in a vibrant marketplace setting. These exhibitions facilitated market linkages, promoted youth-led enterprises, and created visibility for grassroots innovations.

Panel Discussions

Panel sessions brought together experts, youth leaders, and policy makers to discuss:

• Funding challenges for youth agripreneurs.
• The limited role of young people in governance processes.
• Opportunities to scale sustainable agrifood innovations.

Interactive Sessions

Participants engaged in collaborative exercises to identifysolutions and co-create a Youth Governance Roadmap. This process ensuredthat youth perspectives were integrated into governance dialogue and policydevelopment.

Outcomes

The two-day workshop delivered the following outcomes:

• A Youth Governance Roadmap outlining pathways for policy engagement.
• Policy recommendations co-created by youth and stakeholders.
• Strengthened market linkages for youth entrepreneurs.
• Greatercollaboration between youth groups, cooperatives, policymakers, and development partners.

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