The African Development Bank's Agriculture and Agro-industry Department (OSAN) in conjunction with the Ministry for the Promotion of Youth, Youth Employment, and Civic Engagement of Côte d'Ivoire held a workshop at the Bank in Abidjan on 8 July to reflect on the imperatives for the successful implementation of ENABLE Youth-Cote d'Ivoire (CI).
One of the flagship programs of OSAN'S Feed Africa: Strategy for Agricultural Transformation in Africa 2016-2025, ENABLE Youth seeks to train the next generation of agriculture entrepreneurs, or "agripreneurs". The program, which is part of the AfDB's wider Jobs for Youth Program, seeks to build the capacity of young graduates between the ages of 18-35 to start businesses along the 18 priority value chains identified in the Feed Africa strategy.
The Bank will work in close collaboration with the Consultative Group for International Agriculture Research to place young graduates in incubation centers where they will received skills training on the priority value chains. The graduates will then be provided with assistance in developing bankable business plans and obtaining financing to launch their enterprises.
To further contribute to the success of the agripreneurs, the Bank will concomitantly work with its regional member countries to foster an enabling environment that clarifies land tenure, facilitates market access, creates incentives, eases regulations, and improves access to credit. In view of the 30 regional member countries, including Côte D'Ivoire, who have already expressed interest in the program, ENABLE Youth will seek to create 300,000 agricultural enterprises and 1.5 million jobs for youths across Africa over the next five years.
The workshop, attended by over 70 participants from Côte d'Ivoire's public and private sectors, civil society organizations, university and research centers, as well as various Bank departments, sought to build momentum and crystallize stakeholder ownership of ENABLE Youth-CI. The workshop included presentations, speeches and panel discussions.