Peter Mwaura Mutua

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The role of young Researchers in setting the ARD
research agenda

• Peter Mwaura Mutua
• Young Professionals Platform for Agricultural
  Research for Development (YPARD)

Young Professionals Platform for Agricultural
Research for Development
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and
Technology
Plant Research International
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• Introduction
• Policies in Agriculture and Agricultural research
• Pertinent questions in ARD
• Why YPARD?
• Young professionals value added and
  disadvantages
• YPARD as a link
• YPARD achievements so far
• Suggestion for course of action
• Some examples

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INTRODUCTION

• Global population numbers are on track to reach 7
  billion in 2011
• Virtually all of the growth is in developing
  countries
• And the growth of the worlds youth population
  (ages 15 to 24) is shifting into the poorest of
  those countries
• In developing countries 75 of poor live in rural
  areas
• Agriculture thus vital for poverty reduction and
  food security
• But interest among young people in agriculture
  seems to decrease

http//www.prb.org/Publications/Datasheets/2009/20
09wpds.aspx
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World Population (in Billions) 1950-2050
Source United Nations Population Division, World
Population Prospects, The 2008 Revision.
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The Worlds Youth Population Will Become More
Concentrated in Africa and Asia
Population Ages 15-24 by World Region 1950 and
2050
1950
2050
Source Carl Haub and Mary Mederios Kent, 2009
World Population Data Sheet.
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Who shapes agricultural decisions

• Governments underscore the importance of
  agriculture
• In policy debates shaping the future of
  agriculture and agricultural research for
  Development rarely involve the youth
• The voice of the youth has to be heard..

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Pertinent questions where is the youth?

• Do the youth understand the political economy and
  policy processes surrounding agriculture in
  specific regional/country settings
• Do they have the capacity to critically assess
  how food and agriculture is understood in policy
  circles
• Do they know the extent to which bureaucratic,
  political, budgetary and other processes either
  support or constrain investment in the
  agricultural sector?

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If yes

• What is the understanding and the perception and
  potential and roles of youth in the future of
  ARD?.
• How is the demographic change affecting the
  availability of farmers in the future?
• How can agriculture be made more attractive as a
  livelihood option for future farmers in Africa?

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It will be business as usual and the Young
professionals will be missing in strategic policy
debates

• If the questions find no answers ?

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NOVEMBER 8TH 2006, NEW DELHI, INDIA
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Open and frank
Fresh perspectives
Adaptable
At ease with change
Enthusiastic
Value added of Young Professionals
Fast learners of new technologies
Able to build partnerships
More computer literate
Transfer ICT skills
More aware of new tools
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Lack experience
Limited time for supervision
Lack negotiating skills
Short-term contracts
Lack conflict resolving skills
Disadvantages of Young Professionals
Not taken seriously
Lack access to decision-making levels
Little access to meetings
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YPARD AS A LINK?

• YPARD Vision
• Sustainably improved livelihoods, worldwide,
  through dynamic agricultural research for
  development (ARD) Mission
• To serve as a global platform through which young
  professionals can express their ideas and realize
  their full potential towards a dynamic
  agricultural research for development.

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YPARD OBJECTIVES

• 1. Facilitate exchange of information and
  knowledge among young professionals across
  disciplines, professions, age and regions
• 2. Broaden opportunities for YPs to contribute
  to strategic ARD policy debates
• 3. To promote agriculture among young people
• 4. Facilitate access to resources and capacity
  building opportunities

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Concrete achievements of YPARD so far

• 1581 members, 117 countries as of 10.02.09
• Functional Website
• Regional and local representatives worldwide
• Youth organizations related to ARD Mapping
  (Publication March 2009)
• YPARD newsletter 4 times/year November 2008,
  February 2009
• TERRA VIVA YPARD funding newsletter for young
  professionals in ARD 6 times/year

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Concrete achievements of YPARD so far

• Knowledge, Education and Learning meeting
  (Maputo, Dec. 2009) YPARD supported by GFAR was
  one of the lead organizer together with GFAR,
  ICT-KM, COL.
• East Africa Young Farmers Strengthening Project
  (YOFA)
• South Asia Leveraging the Potential of Young
  Professionals for Agriculture Research for
  Development in India
• Latin America and Caribbean Assessing the role
  of Young People in ARD in Latin America and
  Caribbean
• Grant writing workshop how to write successful
  research and grant proposals

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Participation in ARD Meetings
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FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

• Electronic discussion fora (ongoing)
• Linking young professionals through regional
  fora GFAR, APAARI, FARA, FORAGRO, AARINENA)
  EC FSTP (Concept note submitted after
  discussion) (December 2008)
• Youth and United Nationas Global Alliance (FAO,
  UNFCCC forum for youth) publication on youth
  quick guide to climate change (August 2009)

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YPARD MEMBERSHIP

• Program committee GFAR
• Steering committee GFAR (official
  communication awaited)
• Reciprocal membership APAARI
• Advisory committee (2008-2010) (ACP-EU) CTA

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Suggestions for course of action

• Stimulating career development of young
  professionals
• Support for better advocacy for young
  professionals
• Support and lobby for policies within
  organisations
• Negotiate young-professional friendly budgets
• Ensure age balance in teams
• Design research projects that are relevant to
  young people

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Suggestions for course of action

• Stimulating career development of young
  professionals
• Develop capacity of young professionals to take
  part in agricultural research and policy debate
  by
• innovative mentoring and experience programs
• gradually involving them in policy debate
• giving more support to youth-led organisations
• promoting pro-activeness among young
  professionals
• Need for more thorough assessment of the impact
  of short-term contracts

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Suggestions for course of action

• Improving the quality of agricultural education
• More specific attention to agricultural education
• Strengthening information availability on
  enrolment
• Advocacy among donors for investments
• Increasing investments in agricultural research
  More involvement of private sector to stimulate
  innovation
• Creation of youth interest in agriculture
• Among the general public in Africa
• Sensitization on agricultural careers
• More attention for employment and salaries
• Improving awareness of African policy makers for
  agricultural employment

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Some examples general

• Specific focus on agriculture and Africa
• African Youth Forum on Science and Technology
  (AYFST)
• Programs of the Forum for Agricultural Research
  in Africa (FARA) BASIC, PAEPARD, SCARDA
• Regional Universities Forum for capacity building
  in agriculture (RUFORUM)
• Use of ICT tools
• Examples of tools Grads-LinkedIn, Devex
•  Initiatives that use ICT as a major tool AYFST,
  Research-Africa.net, TakingITGlobal

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Some examples stimulating career development of
YPs

• Lobby and advocacy
• Young Professionals Platform for Agricultural
  Research for Development (YPARD)
• Mentoring and experience
• CTA internship programme
• Netherlands Associate Expert Program
• Promote pro-activeness
• FairFood volunteers
• CIDIN advanced Master programme 

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Thank you for your attention