Rooted in Resilience: Youth-Led Agroecology for Climate Justice and Food Systems Transformation in Africa
About This Event
Rooted in Resilience: Youth-Led Agroecology for Climate Justice and Food Systems Transformation in Africa is a regional virtual webinar for youth in agrifood systems, convened under the East African Community’s Youth in Agrifood Systems in EAC (YASE) Platform.
Youth across East and Southern Africa are increasingly experiencing the impacts of climate shocks, including drought, water stress, floods and cyclones, while remaining underrepresented in climate finance, policy and governance spaces.
This webinar will use agroecology as a practical lens for exploring climate action, climate justice, resilience and sustainable food systems. It will bring together perspectives from climate negotiations and research, climate justice advocacy, and practical agrifood systems transformation.
The session will feature contributions from AGNES, PACJA and AGRA, followed by a cross-institutional panel and youth Q&A.
Objectives
- Deepen youth understanding of agroecology as a pathway to climate action, climate justice and sustainability.
- Showcase practical, youth-led agroecological innovations that build resilience to drought, floods and water stress.
- Highlight climate justice issues affecting youth and smallholder producers, including land rights, food sovereignty and access to climate finance and knowledge.
- Connect youth with institutions working across climate negotiations, climate justice and agrifood systems.
- Generate youth-informed recommendations for regional processes including RASIP, NASIPs, the Kampala CAADP Declaration and the EAC Agroecology Bill.
Event Materials & Documents
Download the following materials related to this event:
What You'll Learn
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Understand agroecology as a pathway to climate action, climate justice and sustainability.
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Identify practical youth-led agroecological approaches for building resilience to drought, floods and water stress.
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Explore climate justice issues affecting youth and smallholder producers, including land rights, food sovereignty and access to climate finance.
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Understand opportunities for youth engagement in regional climate and agrifood policy processes.
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Develop practical ideas and recommendations for strengthening youth participation in resilient and sustainable food systems.
Prerequisites
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No prerequisites. The webinar is open to youth agripreneurs, innovators, researchers, students, extension officers, policy actors and other stakeholders interested in climate-resilient agrifood systems.
Speakers
Petronila Adhiambo
African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES)
Research Associate, African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES) Petronila Adhiambo is a researcher in climate adaptation serving as a Research Associate at the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES). Her work focuses on the intersection of climate research, policy and implementation. Through AGNES, she has contributed to policy briefs and technical papers that have informed Africa’s positions in UNFCCC negotiations, including on the Global Goal on Adaptation. She has also represented AGNES at regional and international climate forums and worked with governments, research institutions and development partners to advance evidence-based climate solutions across Africa.
Philip Kilonzo
Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) Philip Kilonzo is Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication at the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA). With over 18 years of experience, he has led campaigns and policy advocacy on climate change, land, food and livelihood security, and natural resources governance. He drives PACJA’s pan-African policy influencing and advocacy across major international climate processes, including COP28, COP29 and COP30. He has consistently championed the interests of smallholder farmers and the integration of agrifood systems into global climate policy, including through farmer-focused workshops connected to COP29 and COP30.
Dr. Jeremiah Rogito
AGRA
Specialist in Soil Health, Climate and Food and Land Use (FOLU), AGRA Dr. Jeremiah Rogito is a Specialist in Soil Health, Climate and Food and Land Use (FOLU) at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). He holds a Ph.D. in Strategic Business Leadership, an M.Sc. in Agribusiness from Strathmore University Business School and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from Egerton University. He has worked with organizations including Welthungerhilfe, SNV Netherlands and Equatorial Hortifresh, contributing to initiatives that have impacted over 2.5 million smallholder farmers across Africa. At AGRA, he leads Food and Land Use Coalition and soil health and climate programming, including a climate risk mapping tool being rolled out across five African countries. He has also been recognized for his youth-led food systems advocacy.