The Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF), held from August 31 to September 5, 2025, in Dakar, Senegal, placed youth and women at the center of its discussions, emphasizing that without their full participation, no real progress can be made in food security, sustainability, and climate resilience. Under the theme « Africa’s Youth: Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation, » the forum brought together over 6,000 delegates from 113 countries to promote concrete initiatives and commitments.
Africa is the youngest continent in the world, with more than 60% of its population under the age of 25. Yet, it is facing its most severe food crisis in decades. In July 2025, over 282 million people—more than one in five—were affected by food insecurity, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It is in this context that the AFSF took place in Dakar, gathering over 350 experts and sector stakeholders who highlighted the essential role of youth and women as key drivers in transforming Africa’s food systems.
« Today, my commitment is strong and central. It involves finding ways to structure our value chains from primary to secondary sectors to turn our local resources into growth engines. Many young agricultural entrepreneurs and those in cultural and creative industries share this dream but face two main obstacles: lack of suitable financing and insufficient technical support. »
Moustapha Sy Ndiaye, Entrepreneur, Senegal
Among flagship initiatives, the PlantwisePlus program, led by CABI, has reached over 7 million young farmers in five years, offering innovative and tailored solutions.
« As an engineer, I found it unacceptable that in my own country, farmers face post-harvest losses while children suffer from malnutrition, and at the same time, many imported products flood the market. »
Siny Samba, Food Engineer, Senegal
Despite their crucial role, women still face significant inequalities. In Senegal, they represent 70% of the rural agricultural workforce and supply 80% of the national food, yet receive only 3.5% of bank financing allocated to agripreneurs. To change this, programs like the Women in Agriculture Development Initiative (WADI) have been launched to strengthen their inclusion and empowerment.
« We know that 50% of SMEs in Africa face financing challenges. Facilitating access to finance is vital to expanding their capacity to create jobs and become stronger players on the continent. »
Marie Jeanne Uwanyarwaya, Coordinator of the Deal Development and Financing Program
For a sustainable and inclusive transformation, it is essential to boost youth and women’s participation through adapted policies, targeted investments, and skills development. This major challenge aims not only to ensure food security and better nutrition but also to support equitable economic development across Africa.
