Policy highlights:

• With a growing population and rapidly expanding labour supply, SSA has enormous potential to fuel its development trajectory. However, such growth hinges on the region’s ability to achieve structural change and absorb the booming labour force of young women and men. Based on the evidence, three main priority areas and related recommendations emerge:
• 1) Support knowledge creation and strategy design to more effectively support rural diversification. Successful implementation and ownership rely on effective interaction between state, local governments and civil society.
• 2) Support family farmers and the diversification of rural incomes. This requires adopting a holistic approach where the sector is not limited to food security but comprehensively explores economic, social, cultural and ecological aspects. Some key actions include supporting farmers’ organizations, facilitating payments for the adoption of environment-friendly agricultural practices and developing a legal framework for family farming that considers the rights and status of family farm members.
• 3) Strengthen rural-urban linkages and promote territorial policies to facilitate development of new activities, new employment opportunities and access to specific goods and services for agriculture.