African Youth Pave the Way Forward on Agroecology

We’re pleased to share these reflections by Million Belay, director of Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA) following the recent AFSA Youth Summit on Agroecology. Grassroots was deeply honored to support this landmark event at a moment when the wellbeing of people and the planet hang in the balance. Africa’s youth are clearly up to the challenge!

The AFSA Youth Summit on Agroecology in Addis Ababa was a defining moment for young African leaders uniting for sustainable food systems. For the first time, African youth from diverse regions, along with participants on Zoom from as far as Jamaica and Brazil, came together to champion agroecology—a movement rooted in farming practices that honor the environment, food sovereignty, and local communities. The summit celebrated youth leadership and laid the foundation for a sustainable future. Here are five powerful lessons we took away from this groundbreaking event.

1. Youth Are Ready to Lead—and They’re Organized

One of the most remarkable aspects of the summit was the high level of organization and discipline shown by the youth participants. The journey began with an initial meeting in Machakos, Kenya, where they decided to host a 1,000-participant Youth Summit. The leaders chosen at that meeting traveled to Kampala and developed a detailed roadmap. I was captivated by their stories of the work they accomplished between the Nairobi meeting and our October 2023 gathering in Kampala. Nearly all of them initiated something impactful in their countries, a level of follow-through rarely seen in meetings I have facilitated.

They developed criteria for selecting participants, managed social media to promote the summit, divided into groups to work on specific agendas, and met regularly to track progress. My role was primarily fundraising and checking in periodically, while the youth handled the bulk of the work. During the conference, they arrived on time, respected each other’s contributions, and engaged actively both in person and online. Their readiness and commitment demonstrated their capability to lead the agroecology movement across Africa with focus and purpose.

2. Government Involvement Strengthens the Movement

I remember meeting with the staff of the Minister of Planning and Development to express frustration over the challenges of organizing a conference in Ethiopia. “Why is it so hard to get a visa?” I asked them. They took my concerns seriously and assigned up to seven people to help streamline the logistics. One of the summit’s major takeaways was seeing the Minister of Planning and Development openly support agroecology in her speeches and her promises to the youth. Her commitment to integrating agroecology into national policies sent a powerful message to attendees: their work and dedication are recognized at the highest levels. This collaboration between young leaders and government representatives is essential, as meaningful change often requires policy support. The summit underscored the importance of engaging with policymakers to advance the agroecology agenda, and the youth felt encouraged by this commitment.

3. Mainstream and Social Media Amplify Advocacy Efforts

On the third day, a friend called me to “complain” that we had taken over the media. The level of press and television coverage was phenomenal. Social media engagement was equally impressive, with the summit trending in Ethiopia for two consecutive days. This highlighted the power of digital platforms in amplifying advocacy efforts. Both in-person and online participants kept the conversation alive, making agroecology visible and relevant beyond the conference. Young people used social media to bring agroecology into the public eye, sparking discussions that reached new audiences and underscoring that digital advocacy is key to driving social change.

4. Diversity Brings Depth, but Language Barriers Must be Overcome

The diversity of participants—from various regions of Africa and beyond—brought a wealth of perspectives that enriched the discussions. However, it also revealed some language challenges. The dominance of English left some Francophone participants feeling slightly excluded, highlighting the need for more inclusive language support. AFSA has made great strides in bridging French and English, and for this meeting, we even added Portuguese. Nonetheless, English still dominated. Africa’s linguistic diversity is a strength, and finding ways to bridge these gaps will be essential for future gatherings to ensure everyone can engage fully.

5. Youth Need Time for Dialogue, Not Just Presentations

While the summit was packed with informative presentations and keynotes, some participants felt that the tight schedule left little room for organic conversations and deeper interactions. Many expressed a desire for fewer scheduled sessions, allowing more time for open dialogue and peer exchange. Moving forward, creating space for unstructured discussions could foster stronger networks and shared learning among young agroecology advocates.

The AFSA Youth Summit on Agroecology was more than just a meeting; it was a landmark gathering that inspired, educated, and empowered Africa’s young leaders to take a stand for sustainable food systems. These five lessons remind us that youth are not only the leaders of tomorrow—they are already leading today. With government collaboration, a clear vision for advocacy, and a commitment to inclusivity, this generation is poised to shape the future of agroecology in Africa.

We always said the summit would be a springboard to the future. Here are three key takeaways in this direction:

First, the youth have created seven working groups, covering areas from governance to agroecological entrepreneurship. These groups were formed after an extensive process, where nearly a hundred suggestions for future working groups were proposed and later consolidated.

Second, they have agreed to establish an AFSA youth wing in their respective countries. A Terms of Reference document is being developed to guide the creation of a viable network of youth activities focused on promoting a healthy and sustainable food system.

Finally, they have committed to actively participating in AFSA’s ongoing campaigns, including My Food is African and Seed is Life. They will join regular meetings for these campaigns and contribute to their continuity.

In addition to these steps, they will maintain their connections through a WhatsApp group created for the event and use upcoming events, including UN summits, to organize collective activities.

Read the declaration coming out of the summit here.