Our Youth Approach
Young people are key drivers of change, innovation, and sustainability within agrifood systems.
Our Youth Approach prioritizes their leadership, creativity, and lived experiences in shaping solutions that respond to current and future challenges. Youths are meaningfully involved at every level of transforming agrifood systems, from capacity-building and mentorship to co-creating initiatives that strengthen agroecology and organic agriculture.
When young people are equipped with the right skills, networks, and opportunities, they are empowered to lead sustainable action, influence policy processes, and build viable green enterprises. By placing youth at the center, we are ensuring their voices, aspirations, and expertise actively shape agrifood systems that are resilient, inclusive, and future-focused.
Empowering young professionals not only drives innovation but also secures the long-term sustainability of agriculture by nurturing a generation ready to champion ecological practices, strengthen communities, and contribute meaningfully to rural and urban transformation.
Introducing:
The WYNA Programme
The Building Women & Youth-led Network Alliances for Agroecology and Organic Agriculture (WYNA) Programme builds on the experience and knowledge developed through the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa (KCOA) project.
The Programme is implemented by GIZ in collaboration with Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD), Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Kenya, and African Green Store Network (AGSN).
WYNA strengthens women and youth-led networks working to advance sustainable agrifood systems across Africa. The programme promotes intentional collaboration, capacity building, and leadership development. Its core objectives include increasing awareness of agroecology and organic agriculture, equipping young and female professionals with practical skills, fostering entrepreneurship and green job opportunities, enhancing partnerships between networks, and improving knowledge management through storytelling and co-creation.
By prioritizing inclusion and innovation, WYNA empowers the next generation of African agrifood leaders by supporting their community solution fellows/ interns and their ideas.
Partners:
Key Contact Points:
Ajuna Tadeo
Programme Coordinator, YPARD
Ratemo Bathseba Moraa
KHEA Project Officer, PELUM Kenya
Oluwatayo (Tayo) Oni
Secretary General, AGSN
Our Progress
Since its launch in Entebbe in September 2025, the WYNA Programme has made significant strides in strengthening women- and youth-led agroecology networks, attracting widespread international recognition across different online platforms.
Onboarded 6 Community Solution Fellows and Interns across Africa
Community Solutions Projects in agroecology or organic agriculture are initiatives that respond to specific local needs of a community. Through the engagement of these 6 Fellows/Interns and their projects, WYNA aims to strengthen youth and women’s leadership in agroecology, promoting knowledge exchange, sustainable livelihoods, and climate-resilient food systems.
The impact of the Community Solution Projects goes beyond the 6 Interns/Fellows by involving the larger communities and creating a cohort affect through peer learning and success stories.
Promoting youth and women through the YALTA and the AWOLA
Through the WYNA Programme, PELUM Kenya’s African Women Leaders in Agroecology (AWOLA) and the Youth in Agroecology Business Learning Track (YALTA) will be further developed. Activities will include dedicated capacity building of women leaders, initiating and developing business linkages and partnerships between the YALTA youth and key sector players like banks, SACCOs, cooperatives, and development partners, and more.
Incorporating targeted online trainings and farm visits
Trainings will be conducted in virtual and hybrid formats on different topics related to agroecology and organic agriculture. Peer to peer learning and co-creation will be at the core of different learning modalities.
Opportunities for practical learning experiences in farms and showcasing of agroecological products at expos like the National Organic Week in Uganda that took place in September, 2025 will be a key focus. An online training on digital tools and AI in agriculture as well as a hybrid workshop in Cameroon/online will take place in the upcoming months.
Our Sustainability Plan
The WYNA Programme is building a long-term sustainability plan that ensures its impact continues beyond the project cycle.
Central to this plan is strengthening women- and youth-led networks within the KCOA network so they can independently drive agroecology and organic agriculture initiatives.
By investing in leadership development, mentorship structures, and community-based learning models, WYNA enables partners like YPARD, PELUM Kenya, and AGSN to maintain continuous capacity building. The programme also promotes collaborative knowledge-sharing, digital storytelling, and cross-network partnerships that can be scaled and replicated across the KCOA network.
By reinforcing local ownership, enhancing green enterprise pathways, and nurturing strong alliances, WYNA ensures lasting transformation within Africa’s agrifood systems.
News and Updates
Blogs
Launch of the WYNA programme
Announcement of the WYNA Fellows/ Interns
