The average age on the African continent is 18 years. With a birth rate of five children per woman, the population is expected to double by 2050. At the same time, 90 % of all inhabitants of rural areas live in Africa and Asia.  

 

Therefore Africas future lies in the hands of the largest rural youth generation of all time. This generation has the potential to reform rural areas. But it drives them into the cities. What to do about it?

By the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Africa’s population is young and ready to take its destiny into its own hands. Agriculture offers amazing opportunities in this regard. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation wants to support the next generation in this way.

GIZ study; conducted by Geopoll

Does Africa's youth want to live in the city or in the country? Which career path seems particularly attractive? And how optimistic are the young people about the future? Young adults from rural areas answered these questions by SMS.

Festveranstaltung zur AGRA Tagung im BMZ Berlin mit Strive Masiyiwa

Recording Townhall-Meeting Berlin

Berlin, December 2018: The well-known entrepreneur Strive Masiyiwa formulates a dramatic message at a performance in front of young researchers: Every policy in Africa must be geared towards young people. Documentation of a call.

Kenia, Machakos / Frauen bei der Feldarbeit in ihren selbst angelegten Gemüsebeeten.

Interview with Reiner Klingholz

How can agriculture modernise Africa? And does the road to the cities really lead out of poverty? Dr. Reiner Klingholz from the Berlin Institute for Population and Development in conversation with Jan Rübel .

By Dreyer Foundation

Later on you want to become a farmer yourself, or would you prefer to take up another profession? Two young people from Burkina-Faso talked to representatives of the Dreyer Foundation about their parents' farms, the profession of farmer and their own plans for the future.

Ost-Kongo / Schulkinder und ihre Lehrerin auf einem Schulhof der 40.000 Einwohnerstadt Kaina.

By Jan Rübel

What happens when young people leave the rural areas? How can the region achieve what is referred to as the demographic bonus – and how can it reap the benefits of the demographic dividend? A look at demography shows the following: What is most important is promoting women’s rights and education.

Somalia, Mogadishu / Die Lebensmittelverteilungen für IDPs werden von bewaffneter Security gesichert.

Interview with Karina Mroß 

What contribution does development cooperation make to conflict prevention? What can it do for sustainable peace? Political scientist Karina Mroß talks to Raphael Thelen about post-conflict societies and their chances for peaceful development.

By Essa Chanie Mussa

Rural youth need viable livelihood opportunities to escape out of poverty and realize their aspirations. How could they be helped to fully unleash their potential? This is an aloud call that needs novel strategies among governments, policy makers, and international development partners and donors.