YPARD participated in the Africa Career Network (ACN) Regional Leadership & Career Impact Summit from 5th -6th November 2025, held at Mestil Hotel, Kampala- Uganda under the theme “Harnessing Potential: Unlocking Career Opportunities in East Africa.”
The summit, co-hosted by Africa Career Networks, the Mastercard Foundation, and the African Leadership Academy (ALA), brought together an adverse community of business leaders, policymakers, educators, and young professionals from across Africa. The event served as a dynamic platform to explore the evolving world of work, youth employability, and the role of innovation and leadership in shaping Africa’s future.
ACN Ambassadors and partners played an active role in connecting scholars, alumni, and employers, demonstrating how youth leadership continues to drive transformation across the continent. Conversations throughout the summit were centered on youth employment, the fast-growing technological economy, and how young people can position themselves for for opportunities in a rapidly changing job market.
Uganda’s youth unemployment statistics are at 400,000 graduates entering the job market annually against only 40,000 available jobs which was highlighted an urgent call to action. Speakers emphasized the importance of skills development, innovation, and lifelong learning to enhance employability and entrepreneurship among young professionals.
In her opening remarks, Cynthia Mangaba, Director of Institutional Learning at the African Leadership Academy, urged participants to reflect on their personal “WHY” as a guiding principle in their professional and personal journeys. Douglas Opio, CEO of the Federation of Uganda Employers, delivered a keynote address on “Igniting the Potential of East Africa’s Youth: Catalyzing Talent and Opportunity in Uganda.” He emphasized that Ugandan youth are “not just a statistic, they are innovators, problem solvers, and the driving force of tomorrow’s economy.” He informed young people that 70% of the jobs require digital literacy to enhance performance and match the current technological demands, young people should therefore continuously improve the technological skills to compete favourably for the available opportunities.
During the Industry Leaders & Youth Panel Discussion titled “Power in Partnership – Shaping the Future of Work Through Youth& Industry Collaboration,” experts from the manufacturing, hospitality, and entrepreneurship sectors encouraged young people to identify and seize emerging opportunities across various industries. Jean Byamugisha, CEO of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association, underscored the importance of a positive work attitude, reminding youth that “companies hire for attitude, not just experience or academic performance,” while experience and good performance can help one get hired, only emotional intelligence can make them keep that job.
Additionally, Brian Owino led a focused group discussion with young participants from Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan and Ghana on climate change and climate-smart agriculture, exploring how these dynamics are reshaping agricultural production across various value chains. YPARD’s Communications and Networking Coordinator, Ednah Kukundakwe, shared the challenges that young people face in the agricultural sector, including limited access to land and credit financing unfavorable policies, and negative perceptions towards agriculture. She emphasized the need for advocacy, mentorship, and stronger policy engagement to unlock the potential of youth-led agri-food initiatives.
The Career Exhibition provided an interactive platform for organizations to showcase opportunities and share insights on employability and professional development. YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) proudly exhibited its work promoting youth engagement in agriculture, showcasing success stories, and connecting with like-minded professionals, employers, and partners.
The summit also explored how emerging technologies, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), can support professional growth. Youth were encouraged to embrace AI as a tool for learning, innovation, and prompt engineering, rather than allowing it to diminish creativity and critical thinking.
In a session on Career Advancement and ACN App Walkthrough, Faridah Nalunkuuma Program Manager for Agribusiness at the African Leadership Academy, showcased the ACN App and various career discovery programs. They demonstrated how the app can be used for mentorship, learning, and professional development, as well as how to access co-creation funds within ACN working groups.
The ACN Regional Leadership & Career Impact Summit was more than a networking event it was a powerful reminder of the role young people play in driving Africa’s transformation. It highlighted the importance of collaboration between youth, industry, and policymakers in building inclusive, future-ready economies for young people across all sectors. CSOs, Government Ministries , and Companies were all called upon to create internship and fellowship opportunities for the young people that build a great foundation for them to kickstart and grow their careers.
YPARD extends heartfelt appreciation to Africa Career Networks, the Mastercard Foundation, and the African Leadership Academy for creating a space where purpose meets opportunity, and where the spirit of youth-driven impact thrives.
As YPARD continues to champion the next generation of agri-food professionals, we remain committed to creating pathways for youth to lead change transforming challenges into opportunities and building a more sustainable and prosperous future for Africa’s food systems.
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