To create momentum for a new dynamic, 80 young African entrepreneurs detailed their demands and commitments in six key topic areas for all actors in the sector making use of several online formats. Andreas Hermes Akademie (AHA) developed the concept for the process and accompanied participants in drawing up convincing proposals based on their personal experiences.
What are the most pressing issues? Which topic areas do political decision-makers need to be made aware of? What ideas do we have for achieving the required improvements? This bundle of questions launched the process, resulting in a joint call-to-action paper.
The joint work culminated with the forum in Addis Ababa at the headquarters of the African Union (AU). The event was held under the patronage of AU Agriculture Commissioner Josefa Sacko and German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir and was opened by high-ranking representatives from the EU and FAO, among others. Participants engaged in intense exchanges with over 100 experts from scientific, financial and political domains.
The AYAF closed with a joint outcome – the Call to Action, aimed at political decision-makers. It was presented to Cem Özdemir and Josefa Sacko at the subsequent UNIDO conference “A World Without Hunger”. The forum impressively demonstrated that the next generation is ready to assume responsibility and change its shared future in agribusiness. As a member of the implementing consortium of the Agricultural Policy Dialogue (APD) between Germany and the African Union, AHA had the opportunity to help shape this exciting forum. We are ready to continue supporting this commitment and to accompany young entrepreneurs in following up and implementing the Call to Action.
