Youth lessons from Malawi's youth

1. POLICY PROCESSES
AND THE YOUTH –
LESSONS FROM
MALAWI’S
AGRICULTURAL
Mariam A.T.J.
Kadzamira
IFPRI - Malawi Strategy
Support Program
April 14, 2015
Lilongwe, Malawi

2. INTRODUCTION
Countries with youngest population
% of population <15 years
2011 2013
Niger 48.9 Niger 50
Uganda 48.3 Uganda 49
Mali 47.6 Chad 49
Angola 47.3 Mali 48
Zambia 45.5 Somalia 48
Burundi 46.3 Angola 48
DR Congo 46.0 Zambia 47
Mozambique 45.3 Burkina Faso 46
Burkina Faso 45.2 Malawi/Gambia 46
Malawi (2011) – 45% of population below 15 years of age.
Globally – 17% of all youth live in Africa
Source: Population Reference Bureau – World Population Fact Sheets (2011, 2013)/ UN(2014)

3. INTRODUCTION (CON’T)
65 % of SSA total
population -
employed in
agricultural sector.
Youth - will spend
most of their lives in
the agriculture sector.
Evidence of youth
disillusionment with
and disinterest in
agricultural-based
livelihoods - raises

4. STUDY THEMES
Theme 1:
Assess the
nature of
networking
between
youth and
agricultural
policymakers
in Malawi
Theme 2:
Analyze the
factors
affecting
youth
inclusion in
community
development
forums in

5. TOOLS AND METHODS
Primary data: Key informant interviews from
stakeholders on the youth-agriculture nexus
(public entities, private sector, youth
advocates/organizations). 20 interviews in total.
Tools: Social network analysis to analyze depth
and direction of interactions between youth
advocates and agricultural policymakers at
national level
Secondary data - Nationally representative
2010/11 Integrated Household Survey data for
Malawi (the community module of the data set -
768 rural communities focus group discussions)
Tools: Factor analytic approaches to unearth

6. FINDINGS

7. NETWORKING IN AGRICULTURAL POLICY PROCESSES
Very few direct connections
between youth
organizations/advocates.
Existing indirect connections
are weak
Youth - stronger ties with local
youth offices and youth council
than line Ministries in terms of
information exchange
Youth are on periphery
of agricultural
policymaking networks

8. AT COMMUNITY LEVEL –FACTORS
HINDERING YOUTH PARTICIPATION
Political
patronag
e
Availabilit
y of social
amenities
Access to
information/
educational
services
Accessibility of the
community (remoteness)
Remote rural communities are less likely to include the youth in community level
‘leadership’ and planning forums.

9. FACTORS AFFECTING EFFECTIVE
YOUTH PARTICIPATION
•Lack of awareness of policy processes.
•Lack of appropriate support mechanisms
and government initiatives to engage the
youth.
•Inability of the youth to articulate their
ideas and inadequate financial resources
to participate.
•Negative youth attitudes towards farming

10. TO IMPROVE YOUTH
ENGAGEMENT…
•Deliberate engagement and support of the
youth.
•Strengthen local public systems and
community structures.
•Engagement of community leaders to enable
youth inclusion.
•Implement multi-sectoral strategies and
initiatives that are transformative for
agricultural transformation.

11. ZIKOMO KWAMBI