Strengthening Youth Employment and Participation in the EAC Agricultural Sector

This policy brief examines youth employment and participation in the agricultural sector across the East African Community (EAC). It assesses the implementation of the African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS) and the EAC Youth Policy, as well as the extent to which youth are integrated into wider agricultural, trade and industrial policy frameworks.

The brief highlights persistent gaps in policy domestication and implementation, including limited access to finance, weak institutional coordination, inadequate youth-specific monitoring and evaluation systems, insufficient integration of youth priorities into national policies, and limited formal platforms for youth participation.

It presents practical recommendations for EAC Partner States and the EAC Secretariat, including formally integrating AAYS into national frameworks, ring-fencing domestic financing for youth in agriculture, strengthening cross-ministerial coordination, institutionalising youth participation in policy and governance platforms, establishing regional youth-specific monitoring and accountability systems, and revitalising regional youth engagement and knowledge-sharing platforms.

The brief aims to support evidence-based policy dialogue and strengthen youth participation, employment, entrepreneurship and innovation across East African agrifood systems.