Young Africans do not lack the ambition, skills or innovation to contribute to more sustainable and productive food systems. Too often, they lack the land, finance, infrastructure, market access and decision-making power needed to turn their capabilities into meaningful opportunities. This is one of the main conclusions from the evidence synthesis of the INCLUDE research programmme Youth in Just Food Systems Transitions.
Bringing together findings from five INCLUDE-commissioned case studies in Benin, Ghana, Rwanda, Somalia and South Africa, the evidence synthesis shows that food systems transformations are not only shaped by climate pressures, technological innovation and shifting development priorities. Like any transition, these are inherently complex non-linear processes influenced by multiple actors and the existing distribution of information, access, capital and decision-making power that produce intentional and unintentional outcomes. Specifically, focusing on youth employment, the critical question is therefore not only how many green jobs can be created, but who can access them, who shapes the transition and who ultimately benefits.
Combining political economy, inclusive development and food systems perspectives, this report examines how different national contexts shape opportunities and barriers for youth employment and just transition outcomes. The analysis applies four interconnected dimensions of justice—distributive, procedural, recognition and restorative justice—to explore how power, historical inequalities and access to productive resources influence young people’s ability to participate in and benefit from food systems transitions.
Despite the striking differences between the five countries, the synthesis identifies recurring mechanisms of exclusion. It shows why skills training, entrepreneurship support and digital technologies are unlikely to deliver equitable outcomes without addressing the structural barriers embedded within food systems. Offering practical recommendations for policymakers, development agencies and researchers, the report demonstrates what it would take to move beyond supporting young people individually to transform the systems that constrain them.
