Youth are pivotal for the future of agriculture and the world’s food security.
As such, GFAR is committed to integrate, stimulate and mentor involvement of youth in all of its collective programmes. In GCARD3, the Third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development, we will take any opportunity to live up to that commitment.
We want to use the upcoming GCARD3 global event to pilot a number of innovative projects and approaches. One of these projects is “YAP”, the Youth Agripreneurs Project. “YAP” is a pilot project targeting young agricultural entrepreneurs (“agripreneurs”).
Within “YAP” we want to select ten young agripreneurs from all over the world, and provide a seed fund to facilitate the startup of their project. During one year, we want to mentor them within their project by linking the youth with seasoned researchers and practitioners and integrating them in the YPARD (Young Professionals for Agricultural Development) mentoring program. We also want to train them on new ways to advocate and network using innovative communication tools.
“YAP” is a pilot project, a proof of concept. If successful, we want to refine and expand the project, combining the seed funding and mentoring program, to give youth a chance to realize their projects, and to give them a platform to showcase their projects. It is our hope this will inspire other youth and prove that agriculture and all its value added services ARE a viable, respectable, profitable business and livelihood.
To fund the “YAP” project, we are looking for sponsors who will collectively contribute to the seed fund, for a total of US$75,000.
This will be used to fund US$5,000 to each of the 10 selected agripreneurs’ projects (The number of finalists being dependent on the available funding). An additional US$2,500/person will be used for their participation at the GCARD3 global event (travel and accommodation) to kick-start their mentoring and training program.
There is NO administrative overhead in this entire project. All funds are directly allocated to the young agripreneurs.
Potential sponsors can be institutes, organizations, private donors or companies.
Here are the full details of the “YAP” project (PDF).
Interested? More information and expressions of interest for funding can be sent to Fiona Chandler (GFAR Secretariat): fiona.chandler(at)fao.org
And… act fast! By Feb 15th we will evaluate if we have the needed funding quorum to launch the public appeal for youth project proposals!
Background:
CGIAR (the Global Agricultural Research Partnership) and GFAR (the Global Forum on Agricultural Research) co-organize the global event of GCARD3 (the Third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development) in April 2016. This event will be held in Johannesburg, co-hosted by the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa.
In cooperation with YPARD (the Young Professionals for Agricultural Development), we aim to fully integrate youth in the whole GCARD3 process and to showcase their crucial role in the future of agriculture.
Picture courtesy Vivian Atako (CCAFS)
Hi
The email address “f.chandler@fao.org” seems not to exist. I tried sending her a mail. Can you please give an alternative e mail address?
Regards
sorry, it is Fiona.Chandler@fao.org — i will update it in the blogpost and the reference document…
Peter
Thanks very much sir
This is a lovely initiative… just please keep funds from looters
Hi Ajibode!
Yes, rest assured that we will be thoroughly scrutinizing all applications from young agripreneurs to ensure the best projects get the funding. Please monitor the blog for updates on this project (and to see when we launch the actual call for project proposals).
best,
Peter
This sounds very similar to an idea launched last year by Mediae makers of Shamba Shape up makeover on small holder farms TV series in Kenya.
This is a new TV and radio series called “Don’t lose the plot” and is a competition where 4 young farmers (2 from Kenya and 2 from Tanzania 2 men 2 women) compete with an initial investment farm 1 acre each side by side and supported by experts in the field and mobile and internet advice from viewers will lead to a winner. The farmer who makes the most income in the most sustainable and climate adapted way. The winner gets a plot back home.
We are partly funded by USAID and need further partners. We started this project over one year ago and will start filming in 3 weeks time and follow the farmers over the next 9 months - the growing season da
Hi David,
We’re all loving Shamba Shape Up, here…!
Yes, the seed funding concept is the same, but “Don’t lose the plot” probably has more of an ongoing “reality show”-like competition throughout the year. Cool idea to make everyone see the struggles and victories of individual farmers.
Our is more focused on the training and mentoring aspect, though we will follow the progress of all funded agripreneurs throughout the year, in the form of blogposts…
Happy to announce we have a pledge of US$15,000 from IFAD.. Well done, IFAD, as our first sponsor!
And, we have received another pledge from the Agripolis Fondation for US$5000 to US$15,000 (depending on some parameters)!
I like the spirit towards youth in the agriculture field ……. -YAP Proposal #2: “The One Muscle Borehole” http://blog.gfar.net/2016/02/19/yap-proposal-2-the-one-muscle-borehole-andrew-kangangi-machina-kenya/ #GCARD3
Waow,this is a great opportunity coming at the right time for youth agripreneures especially in Nigeria,Borno state where we have a similar project of which I am a beneficiary.it’s called borno youth agripreneures and it has positively changed our minds about youth and agriculture.
To what extent are you reaching on in agriculture. Does water quality enhanceenhancement qualify aswell.aswell . Mean looking at its status in Botswana
Hi Baone, if you are thinking of a proposal relating water quality with agriculture, then I would surely think this is applicable! Sustainable agriculture is all about “feeding the world without wrecking the planet”!
best,
Peter
Hi what must l do if l want to participate?
Hi Raynold,
All information is in this blogpost: http://blog.gfar.net/2016/02/17/calling-on-all-young-agripreneurs-submit-your-project/
best,
Peter
In GCARD3 , the Third Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development, we will take any opportunity to live up to that commitment. Where is this information?
Hi @okracdisc,
Just follow the links in the blogpost. All background information is in the links.
Best,
Peter
It is good project if it is done in poential areas like Hassan, Karnataka district, as milk production is high.As calves are the future production cows, definitely the initial growth and colostrum play vital role in fertility and immune system.Calf starter including colostrum replacer and microminerals using local agricultural byproducts or extraction from agricultural byproducts could be better option.
Nice one. thanks for appreciating youths and giving us a platform to showcase our entrepreneurial abilities. when is the next phase of entries. i want to participate. i will be most grateful if am updated on the next date of submission of project proposal.
Me gusta mucho el proyecto
There may be completely no guideline that says your bracelet is required to be full from the beginning.
Wiw!
Its a great idea indeed!
My village needs something similar!