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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) – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: Peter Mwaura Mutua


1
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
2
  • 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

3
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
4
World Population (in Billions) 1950-2050
Source United Nations Population Division, World
Population Prospects, The 2008 Revision.
5
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.
6
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..

7
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?

8
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?

9
It will be business as usual and the Young
professionals will be missing in strategic policy
debates
  • If the questions find no answers ?

10
NOVEMBER 8TH 2006, NEW DELHI, INDIA
11
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
12
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
13
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.

14
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

15
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

16
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

17
Participation in ARD Meetings
18
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)

19
YPARD MEMBERSHIP
  • Program committee GFAR
  • Steering committee GFAR (official
    communication awaited)
  • Reciprocal membership APAARI
  • Advisory committee (2008-2010) (ACP-EU) CTA

20
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

21
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

22
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

23
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

24
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 

25
Thank you for your attention
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