The urged are given at the official opening of the 2nd Post-COP workshop on customary tenure Rights and Agroecology, held from October 2–3 at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi
Nairobi. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has urged African countries to place youth at the center of implementing land governance, environmental conservation, and climate change agendas and calling them the “pillar and decisive card” for sustainable agriculture, land stewardship, and pastoral systems on the continent.
The urged are given at the official opening of the 2nd Post-COP workshop on customary tenure Rights and Agroecology, held from October 2–3 at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi.
During the official opening, FAO Kenya’s team lead for land Governance and Social Inclusion, Husna Mbarak said that with Africa’s vast youth population, their participation is key to advancing environmental protection policies and strengthening food security.
The urgency is underscored by sobering statistics, Africa’s agricultural productivity has declined by 34 percent due to climate change (AFSA), while over half of the continent’s youth are engaged in agriculture (FAO) and yet many remain locked out of secure access to land.
The workshop aims to produce a strategic roadmap and position paper underscoring youth land rights as essential for combating land degradation, strengthening resilience, and advancing climate-friendly food systems.
Africa’s demographics highlight the stakes, in 2025, the continent’s population reached 1.5 billion, with over 75 percent are under 35 years old and making it the world’s youngest region, with an annual growth rate of 2.34 percent (Macrotrends).
“The biggest challenge for young people has been lack of land ownership, through lease agreements, however, they can access and develop land"
"It is time African countries move from endless dialogue to concrete action, guided by the lived experiences of communities,” said Mbarak.
She said that FAO and its partners are pushing forward the agenda of land tenure security and customary land rights to counter the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change.
“These agendas will not achieve the outcomes we seek if we leave this majority group behind, Countries must not only make commitments in words but must implement the international agreements they have signed, ensuring land, environment, and ecosystems are safeguarded for future generations.”
FAO also underlined the role of agroecology, family farming, and climate-resilient agriculture as vital tools for mitigating land degradation and desertification.
The workshop, convened by the Youth and Land Multi-Stakeholder Platform in Africa (YLMPA) in collaboration with FAO Kenya, RECONCILE, ILC Africa, and YILAA, builds on outcomes of the 2024 COP sessions and looks ahead to COP30 in Brazil later this year.
In his remarks, Coordinator of YLMPA, Innocent Antoine Houedji, said the workshop was designed to elevate youth voices on customary land tenure and agroecological practices.
He cautioned that there remains a wide gap between climate commitments made at international COP negotiations and the lived realities of young people struggling with land insecurity.
“We cannot protect the environment, biodiversity, and climate if the land itself is not secure, so Land rights, youth empowerment, and investment are the foundations of every sustainable solution,” he said.
More than 70 participants attended, including youth from across Africa, representatives from governments, the African Union, IGAD, UN agencies, pastoralist and Indigenous communities.
According to Houedji, the workshop is expected to deliver two flagship outcomes, a youth advocacy position paper for global forums and a roadmap to catalyze collective action toward COP30 and the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026).
“This position paper will be our collective voice, strengthening the place of young people in shaping the future of land governance and climate resilience,” Houedji added.
Founded by the African Union, IGAD, ILC, Landesa, and YILAA, YLMPA now includes 55 members from 18 countries, supported by YILAA and led in partnership with RECONCILE, DIOP, and CED.
Also speaking at the event, Technical Advisor to Kenya’s Council of Governors, Evance Kipruto, affirmed the role of youth in transforming Africa’s agricultural economies.
“We must make agriculture attractive to young people so they are not viewed as a burden on governments"
"I urge you to use this opportunity for meaningful dialogue, and I commit to relaying your resolutions to the highest levels of government for action,” he said
