Promoting youth engagement in agriculture and food systems in Europe and Central Asia

Youth play a fundamental role as key agents of change in the revitalization of rural areas and in the transformation towards sustainable food systems.

Yet there exist diverse challenges, including access to knowledge, training, natural, as well as financial resources that act as barriers to encouraging youth in taking up careers in agriculture sector. Youth also have limited access to markets, decent employment opportunities and engagement in policy making processes. Despite a high general level of development in the region, inequalities are on the rise in all parts of the ECA region, manifested by high levels of youth unemployment, exclusion of marginalized groups, and lack of access to social services, often leading to outmigration. 

The United Nations Strategy on Youth represents a real opportunity to coordinate efforts on youth issues. The event will showcase the Strategy and the solutions it proposes to accelerate youth engagement in agricultural value chains.

The youth consultations seek to raise awareness about ongoing efforts to promote youth in value chains, including the sharing of successful experiences and existing challenges. Ultimately, the event seeks to contribute to building regional networks and coalitions of experts and agents of change.

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