MARCH 2021 GREEN JOBS TOWARDS IN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEMS: POST-2020 SUPPORTING MOBILIZATION YOUTH IN DRIVING TRANSFORMATIVE OF #20 CHANGE Xiaoxiao Wang Associate Professional Officer, Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Yemi Adeyeye Director, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) Addressing the root causes of biodiversity loss and environmental challenges in agri- food systems, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery, must include not only environmental sustainability and protection of natural resources, but also access to environmentally-friendly employment for present and future generations, paving the way for intergenerational transformative DID YOU KNOW? change in our society. Today’s youth generation is the largest in history? 1 In 2019, 1.2 billion people were aged Agri-food systems must tackle socio-economic and between 15 and 24 and an environmental impacts while meeting the demands estimated 1 billion of this age of a growing world population. Should the world fail group reside in developing to address this, young people will be particularly countries. 88% of the latter affected in the short and long term. In 2019, nearly live in rural areas 2. 68 million youth are identified as unemployed and In Africa, three-quarters unemployed young women outnumber young men two of the population is below 35. to one. Youth are among those whose livelihoods are most vulnerable to global crises, including biodiversity loss and the COVID-19 pandemic 3. Young workers are often the first to be let go 4, with COVID-19 likely to exacerbate unemployment, job insecurity, unequal pay and access to land and financial resources. Concurrently, youth is driving international debates about climate change, environmental protection, or natural resources’ sustainable use. Green and resilient agri-food systems contribute to food security, creating employment and sustaining livelihoods. They produce nutritious food with more socio-economic benefits and less environmental harm 5. As transformative change to fight biodiversity loss requires an inclusive approach and greening agricultural value chains, youth empowerment in this sector will help reach the Convention on Biological Cover photo Diversity (CBD) objectives and the Sustainable Young person holding a “Green jobs” board at a demonstration. Development Goals (SDGs). 01 TOWARDS POST-2020 — MOBILIZATION OF #20 MARCH 2021 TOWARDS POST-2020 — MOBILIZATION OF #20 MARCH 2021 observations of an increasing skills mismatch in the Nowadays the society is becoming more conscious Youth Enterprise Services (YES) Malawi supports 1. FROM POLICY TO labour market, the students advocate for focused about the need to transition to a Green Economy young graduates in establishing climate smart small IMPLEMENTATION professional training and employment. Training that improves human well-being and social equity and medium agri-entreprises (SMEs). Since 2012, 250 opportunities that enhance readiness to engage in while significantly reducing environmental risks and graduates have been accompanied with mentorship environmentally conscious employment and activities considering ecological scarcity 9. ‘Green jobs’ profiles and business support services. One example is that of INTEGRATION OF YOUTH IN GLOBAL after graduation are desired, and responding to this are increasing, and more and more considered as Rowland Kasewentha who set up RoRiKA enterprise, PROCESSES aspiration can drive a Green economic shift. cornerstones of future workplaces and employment specialized in rearing local chickens; and hatching pools 10. In 2014, around 1.2 billion jobs were directly day-old chicks. His 720-egg incubator and hatcher Young people increasingly recognize the centrality Investments in environment-positive actions dependent on ecosystem services 11,.The sustainable uses homemade brooders, which consume 52% less of environmental challenges and their implications must be accompanied skills-training for the management and conservation of ecosystem and energy than conventional infrared-bulb brooders. His for climate, human health and food systems and younger generation, to equip them to rise to the biodiversity has high potential to create employment vision is to expand to a 5000-egg incubator capable are in the frontline of advocacy for them. Youth- challenges of the future of work. Technical and in the areas of land rehabilitation, forest restoration, of producing 1000 day-old-chicks weekly. The poultry led campaigns, including the ‘School Strikes for vocational education and training meeting emerging combating soil erosion, and promotion of eco-tourism droppings are composted and used in vegetable Climate’, ‘Fridays for Future’ and ‘Youth4Nature’, environmental challenges must be developed and and agroforestry, etc. Sectors like agriculture and production. These vegetables are sold to community have mobilized millions to demand more ambitious strengthened, for instance by integrating thematic forestry, with a more direct integrative relationship members – with Rowland, and one youth whom he policies, strategies, programmes, and their proper courses and learning modules into existing curricula. with nature, are proved to generate more jobs in a employs, making deliveries by foot or bicycle. During implementation 6. International networks such as the Green paradigm than business-as-usual 12. Creating the COVID-19 pandemic, RoRika moved to digital Young Professionals for Agricultural Development green jobs in agri-food systems is particularly advertising and e-payments. (YPARD) or the Global Youth Biodiversity Network “ONLY IF WE ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC necessary as it can provide diverse economic (GYBN) advocate for opportunities that strengthen INEQUALITIES BETWEEN RURAL AND opportunities while investing in the natural capital YES Malawi is working with Rowland, and other youth’s contribution to achieving sustainable food URBAN AREAS, BETWEEN THE GLOBAL that many poor rural communities depend on. Green innovative youth like him, to help them expand systems globally. NORTH AND THE GLOBAL SOUTH, CAN jobs in agriculture are expected to yield a 52-59% their climate-smart, circular agri-SMEs to promote WE CREATE GREEN JOBS FOR YOUTH increase in primary-sector employment and a 20% 13 sustainable youth agri-entrepreneurship and Nevertheless, youth voices are yet to receive AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.” increase in global Gross Domestic Product by 2050 14. employment.Mariam Kadzamira, Founder - Youth adequate attention in policymaking and Melina Sakyama, co-Founder, Global Youth The forestry sector alone can generate more than Enterprise Services (YES) Malawi. implementation, particularly in agricultural and food Biodiversity Network 86 million green jobs 15. policy dialogues. Rural youth are significantly affected by environmental disruptions, as most of them rely Agriculture-related green jobs increase productivity on agriculture, one of the sectors most vulnerable to In rural areas, capacity development for green while consuming fewer natural resources, with 2. A FORWARD- In 2014, around 1.2 climate change and degradation of natural resources. innovation can accompany farmers, especially Green jobs also are limited negative impacts on biodiversity and billion jobs were directly At the same time, youth, especially young women, part of youth claims LOOKING APPROACH dependent on ecosystem younger ones, to take up climate-smart and and mobilization for ecosystems. Green jobs can not only be generated in services, accounting for are often invisible in debates on emerging issues and biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices. Such environment. food systems, but also other economic sectors and TO EMPLOYMENT, 40% of global employment - solutions. Bridging the gap between acknowledging type of trainings can be conducted through Farmer industries associated with production, processing, RoRiKa Enterprise. young people’s voices and concrete youth-oriented Field Schools and extension and advisory services. packaging, distribution, transportation, and provision YOUTH AND NATURE 9 UNEP (2011) Towards 15 policies and actions – from education to job market Meanwhile, environmental education and skills a Green Economy: Pathways of specific inputs . 1 ILO (2020). Global Employment reform and empowerment – will be instrumental in development can be accelerated by participative to Sustainable Development Trends for Youth 2020. and Poverty Eradication. DRIVING TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE reversing these trends. and inclusive digital tools and technologies, A green job is a role in agriculture, manufacturing, https://cutt.ly/Kkq53YJ https://cutt.ly/lhHHfjE THROUGH GREEN JOBS FOR YOUTH including e-learning programmes, online information research and development, administrative, and service 2 10 International Fund for The integration of youth in global and national Read Mobilization of Business Agricultural Development sharing and knowledge exchange, and Information (#15) https://cutt.ly/ejWR06N activities that contribute substantially to preserving Green Jobs represent one of the few approaches (IFAD, 2019). Creating governance will better reflect the aspirations of and communications technology (ICT). Innovative or restoring environmental quality. Agriculture-related 11 with relevance across social, economic and Opportunities for Rural Youth. present and future generations and cultivate the Around 40% of global https://cutt.ly/AhHSvUT extension services should be considered when such employment. 80% of these are