The document discusses the role of youth and small-scale businesses in transforming food systems in Africa. The Agripreneurship Alliance supports young entrepreneurs through training programs and grants. It has trained over 1250 entrepreneurs across Africa. Youth and small businesses can drive innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable practices in agriculture. They also support local food systems and rural development. Investment in youth and small businesses strengthens food security and employment.

1. ROLE OF THE YOUTH AND SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES IN FOOD SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

2. INTRODUCTION

3. AGRIPRENEURSHIP ALLIANCE
The Agripreneurship Alliance is a Swiss-based non-profit organisation working with
partners across Africa to encourage and support young African entrepreneurs to:
Launch and grow MSMEs across the African agri-food sector
Create the needed eco-systems to enable entrepreneurial activities to develop
and thrive
In 2022, the Alliance registered as an international NGO in Uganda and
established its first office in Africa

4. ALLIANCE’S WORK
Generating, scaling, and sustaining solutions to youth
entrepreneurial challenges in Africa through:
Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness (EiA) course – Hybrid entrepreneurialtrainingacross
10 universities in 5 African countries
Over 1250 entrepreneurs have been trained. 167 business plans have been reviewed and 36 grants @
USD 1000 have been given out. EiA alumni founded87 businesses still in operationacross the continent
Agribusiness Readiness Course - Tailored trainingto small-scale farmers and owners of agri-food businesses with
lower levels of numeracyand literacyand limited access to the internet, phones, and computers
Conductingresearch to inform policies andprogrammes and organisinglearningevents

5. Food System
Transformation

6. Food system transformation
Supportive policies and a good working
environment enable youths and small
businesses to engage in agribusiness
and contribute to achieving socio-
economic progress and building
resilient food systems
Food system transformation is needed
to enhance mitigation, adaptation and
resilience to climate change risks and
enable equitable and sustainable access
to safe and nutritious foods
The food system refers to
the production,
distribution, consumption
of food and the
management of food
waste

7. ROLE OF THE YOUTH

8. ROLE OF THE YOUTH
Youth involvement in food system transformation is essential because:
They have a unique perspective and can contribute innovation, creativity, and
activism to solve nutrition, environment, and food loss and waste challenges
Enables intergenerational dialogue, knowledge sharing, and development of
skills, networks, and opportunities for youth engagement, leadership, and
entrepreneurship
For effective and long-lasting contributions, youth need to have access to
education, health, nutrition and finance

9. ROLE OF THE YOUTH
Activism & Advocacy:
Advocating for sustainable
and equitable food systems
e.g policy support for dryland
cereals
Vanessa Nakateet al.

10. ROLE OF THE YOUTH
Innovation: Innovators and
early adopters of new
technologies and practices
e.g use of insect sources for
food, feed, and fertilizer
Ento-OrganicFarm

11. ROLE OF THE YOUTH
Entrepreneurship: Creating
innovative and sustainable
businesses, from small-scale
farming to processing and
distribution of food
Capacity building: Provide
training and support for
developing the skills and
knowledge needed to
transform food systems
Participation: Active
participation in decision-
making processes helping to
shape food policy and practice
e.g engaging in research and
political processes

12. SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES

13. SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES
Diversification: Small-scale
businesses can offer a range
of different products and
services such as value-
added processing, catering,
and other food-related
services
Fiber Foods

14. SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES
Sustainability: Small-scale businesses offer
opportunities to promote more
sustainable production methods focused
on agroecology, conservation agriculture,
and reduced waste and energy
RUCID

15. SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES
Innovation: Small-scale businesses can
drive innovation that promotes more
efficient and sustainable agriculture
and food systems, from farm to fork
Anne Roulinet al

16. SMALL-SCALE BUSINESSES
Local and Regional Food
Systems: Small-scale
businesses can support local,
regional, and national food
systems that prioritize access
to fresh, healthy and
sustainable food
Rural Development: Small-
scale businesses can provide
income, generate employment
opportunities, and promote
economic diversification,
particularly in rural areas

17. CONCLUSION

18. • Youth and small businesses can drive positive change in the food systems
• Small businesses develop local value chains and promote better income
distribution, with their wealth being more likely to be retained in local
communities
• Small-scale businesses can diversify the food system, reduce dependency on
a single or few dominant crops enhance food security, and overall economic
growth
• Investment in youth and small businesses to strengthen their participation
can improve food security and employment
CONCLUSION

19. CONTACT US

20. •John Mugonya
• Programme Manager
• john@theagripreneur.org
• info@theagripreneur.org
+256776089387
CONTACT US