Youth and rural development in ACP countries - Brussels

50 Pages·2012·5.01 MB·English

B r D B
russels ural evelopment riefings
a aCp-eu
series of meetings on

Development issues
Youth and rural
development in ACP
countries
Prepared by Isolina Boto (Head of CTA Brussels Office), Ronalee Biasca
and Filippo Brasesco (Young researchers at CTA Brussels Office)
Youth and rural development in ACP countries
Briefing n. 19 – Compiled by Isolina Boto (Head
of CTA Brussels Office) Isaura
Lopes, Gabriele Verginelli, Cristina
Pruna, Serge Kamuhinda, (Young
researchers at the CTA Brussels
Youth and rural
Office)
development in
Revised version September 2012
ACP countries
This Reader does not intend to
exhaustively cover the issue of
the linkages between climate
change, agriculture and food
Brussels, 16th June 2010
security, but to provide some
background information and
selected information resources,
focusing on the implications for rural
development. The Reader and most
of the resources are available on
http://brusselsbriefings.net
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
Index
Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Who are the Youth? .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
1. Demographics trends ................................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.1 Global trends .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
1.2 The Demographics of Youth ..................................................................................................................................................................................10
1.3 Youth Migration........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15
1.3.1 Youth migration- Africa ..........................................................................................................................................................................................16
1.4 Youth employment .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
1.4.1 Unemployment among Youth ............................................................................................................................................................................ 12
1.4.2 Unemployed and underemployed .................................................................................................................................................................. 13
1.4.3 Potential and promise ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
2. Economic opportunities for the rural Youth ........................................................................................................................ 22
2.1 Rural Youth: a disadvantaged Group..................................................................................................................................................................22
2.2 Child labour ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................22
2.3 Improving Youth livelihoods in rural areas......................................................................................................................................................23
2.4 Improving Youth’s access to capital .................................................................................................................................................................25
3. Improved and targeted education for the rural Youth .......................................................................................................26
4. Youth and research in ARD- African trends.......................................................................................................................... 29
4.1 Investments in agricultural research ..................................................................................................................................................................29
4.2 African public agricultural R&D spending in a global context (2006)...............................................................................................30
5. Key initiatives in support of youth ......................................................................................................................................... 31
5.1 United Nation system ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
UNICEF ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
UN Economic Commission for Africa.........................................................................................................................................................................31
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) - Rural youth development programming ..................................................................... 31
International Labour Organisation (ILO) ................................................................................................................................................................ 31
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)................................................................................................................................ 31
5.2 European Commission and ACP cooperation................................................................................................................................................34
5.3 International Youth Farmer Associations ...................................................................................................................................................... 36
5.4 African initiatives .......................................................................................................................................................................................................37
6. Youth and development policies ........................................................................................................................................... 38
Resources available online (English and French) .......................................................................................................................40
Websites .............................................................................................................................................................................................43
Glossary................................................................................................................................................................................................45
Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................................................................47
End notes ............................................................................................................................................................................................49
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
Introduction
In developing countries, 75 percent FAO 3 estimates that around 50 invest in youth to accelerate growth
of poor people live in rural areas and percent of youth reside in rural and reduce poverty. The developing
most of them depend on agriculture areas, but this figure is as high as 70 world‘s youth is the next generation
for their livelihoods. Agriculture percent in Sub Saharan Africa and of economic and social actors.
thus remains vital for sustainable South Asia. In SSA, young people
development, poverty reduction and aged 15-24 comprise 36 percent of Who are the Youth?
food security2. the entire labour force, 33 percent
in the Near East and North-Africa
Agriculture and rural development (NENA), and 29 percent in South The United Nations defines youth as
are key economic sectors for most Asia. Furthermore, rural youth face all individuals aged between 15 and
of the developing countries, and major health problems, including 245 .This definition was made during
especially for the African, Caribbean malnutrition, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. preparations for the International
and Pacific Group. Agriculture It is important, however, to keep the Youth Year (1985), and endorsed
contributes to the national direct health threat posed by HIV/ by the General Assembly6. By that
economies, provides employment, AIDS in proper perspective. Except definition, therefore, children are
food security and social stability for a handful of very high prevalence those persons under the age of 14. It
especially to the small-scale farmers, countries, HIV prevalence among is, however, worth noting that Article
women and vulnerable groups who rural teenagers remains very low. In 1 of the United Nations Convention
do not have access to the formal very large countries in sub-Saharan on the Rights of the Child defines
occupational employment and to Africa such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, children‘ as persons up to the age
any social benefits. The current Democratic Republic of the Congo of 18. This was intentional, as it was
situation of rural youth in many and all of Asia, the incidence of HIV hoped that the Convention would
ACP countries is characterized infection among rural teenagers is provide protection and rights to as
by illiteracy, lack of educational well under one percent. The main large an age-group as possible and
and training opportunities, impact of the AIDS epidemic on because there was no similar United
unemployment leading to migration rural youth livelihoods is the rapidly Nations Convention on the Rights
of large numbers of rural youth to growing number of children and of Youth. Many countries also draw
the cities, lack of access to land and youth whose parents have died from a line on youth at the age at which
productive resources. This situation AIDS-related illnesses4. a person is given equal treatment
is likely to deteriorate if a significant under the law – often referred to
effort is not made to improve it. Rural areas are losing the young as the “age of majority‘. This age
The developing world‘s youth is the productive workforce, due to is often 18 in many countries, and
next generation of economic and consistent rural urban migration of once a person passes this age,
social actors and they can be agents young people. There is an urgent they are considered to be an adult.
of change in favor of sustainable need to provide appropriate However, the operational definition
development. Acute problems for education, training, and job and nuances of the term youth‘
the rural youth are unemployment opportunities that give rural youth often vary from country to country,
and lack of sustainable income the choice of staying, working and depending on the specific socio-
which forces them to migrate to prospering in rural areas. Around cultural, institutional, economic and
cities or abroad. The low level of eighty five per cent of the 500 political factors. Within the category
agricultural skills, the limited access million people who will become of of “youth”, it is also important to
to financial resource explain the working age in the next decade distinguish between teenagers (13-
low level of production, low level of live in developing countries. This 19) and young adults (20-24), since
entrepreneurship and the decreasing situation presents the world with the sociological, psychological and
involvement of youth in agriculture. an unprecedented opportunity to health problems they face may differ.
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
ILO Worst Forms of Child Labour female and male adolescents below States fix a minimum age for
Convention, 1999 (No. 182) states age 18 who have attained the admission to employment or
that the term child “shall apply minimum legal age for admission work. Under this Convention, the
to all persons under the age of to employment and are therefore minimum age for employment or
18”. However, there are other legally authorised to work under work should not be less than 15
sub-categories, based upon age, certain conditions. The ILO years, but developing countries
which are relevant to action on Minimum Age Convention, 1973 may fix it at 14. A number of
child labour. Young workers are (No.138) stipulates that ratifying countries have fixed it at 16.
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
1. Demographics trends
1.1 Global trends
Population in developing countries and 1.0 billion young people),
is still young. posing a major challenge for their
In 2009, world population stood countries, which are faced with the
at 6.8 billion, up about 83 million Currently the population of the necessity of providing education
from 2008. According to the 2008 less developed regions is still or employment to large cohorts
Revision of the official United Nations young, with children under age 15 of children and youth even as the
population estimates and projections, accounting with 30 per cent of the current economic and financial
the world population is projected to population and young persons aged crisis unfolds. The situation in the
reach 7 billion in late 2011 and surpass 15 to 24 accounting for a further least developed countries is even
9 billion people by 2050. 19 per cent. In fact, the numbers more pressing because children
of children and young people in under 15 constitute 40 per cent of
the less developed regions are at their population and young people
an all time high (1.6 billion children account for a further 20 per cent.
Large Numbers of Young People and Large Population Growth Developing Countries by Age and Sex, 2009
Age
80 - 84
75 - 79
65 - 69
Males Females
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
300 200 100 00 100 200
Millions
United Nations Population Division, World Population Prospects, The 2008 Revision, medium variant
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
Fewer and Fewer Young People and Furture Aging in Developed Countries by Age and Sex, 2009
Age
80 +
75 - 79
65 - 69
Females
Males
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
300 200 100 00 100 200 300
Millions
United Nations Population Division, World Population Prospects, The 2008 Revision, medium variant
In the more developed regions, whereas in the more developed By 2050, the number of youth
children and youth account for regions that number is expected will have risen from just under a
just 17 per cent and 13 per cent of to peak over the next decade half billion in 1950 to 1.2 billion. At
the population, respectively, and and decline thereafter reaching that point, about nine in 10 youths
whereas the number of children 528 millions in 2050, in the will be in developing countries.
is expected to change little in the less developed regions it will This very large group will arrive at
future, remaining close to 200 continue rising, reaching 3.6 working age with a right to expect
million, the number of young billion in 2050 and increasing gainful employment, adequate
people is projected to decrease by nearly half a billion over the health care, and the ability to raise
from 163 million currently to 134 next decade. These population a family with an appropriate living
million in 2050. In both the more trends justify the urgency of standard if they so choose. Before
and the less developed regions, supporting employment creation those things can come about, they
the number of people in the in developing countries as part of must have had access to sufficient
main working ages, 25 to 59, is any strategy to address the global education and training so that
at an all time high: 603 million economic crisis that the world is they can take part in building their
and 2.4 billion, respectively. Yet, experiencing7. country‘s society and economy.
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
Most likely, tomorrow‘s youth will economic conditions of their few decades8. (Reader Population
have moved to cities in larger country be able to meet their rising growth in ACP countries9
numbers as opportunities in the expectations? This will be one of the
rural areas diminish. But will the major social questions of the next
Africa’s Population Age Structure Age
80 +

75 - 79
In mid - 2003, Africa’s population was estimated Male Female
65 - 69
at 967 million, with about 400 million (42 percent)
60 - 64
below age 15. This youthful population age struc-
55 - 59
ture provides momentum for continued growth.
50 - 54
With an annual growth rate of about 2.4 percent
45 - 49
(a high of 2.8 in Middle Africa and a low of 0.8 in
40 - 44
Southern Africa), the continent is projected to
35 - 39
reach 1.9 billion by 2050. Africa is projected to ac-
30 - 34
count for 21 percent of world population by 2050,
25 - 29
up from just 9 percent in 1950.
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5 - 9
0 - 4
0 60 40 20 0 20 40 60 80
Millions
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Youth and rural development in ACP countries
1.2 The Demographics
a high and peaking proportion of an increase in absolute numbers,
of Youth
many populations. The youth bulge the proportion of young people in
represents both a challenge and an the world is actually dwindling. This
Today‘s world population counts opportunity for development. Its means that the number of young
an estimated 1.2 billion people at duration is a limited window in which people in the world between 1980
the ages of 15 to 24 years, and one to develop a larger and younger and 1995 has dropped as a proportion
billion live in developing countries, workforce who can drive economic of the total population. In fact, during
an increase of 17% compared to development and play a significant the 1990s, the annual growth rates
1995, or 18% of the world population. role in the social development of their among the world‘s youth population
This is often referred to as the youth communities and society11. have slowed down in every region of
bulge10 as young people constitute The table below12 shows that despite the world except Africa.
Table 1 World total youth population trend 1985-2025
% of Total Global
Year Youth Population
Population
1985 941 million 19.4 %
1995 1.019 billion 18.0 %
2025 1.222 billion 15.4 %
Source: UNDESA http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/qanda.htm
Regional distribution of Youth percent in Asia alone. A remaining 23 areas in sub-Saharan Africa, south-
percent live in the developing regions eastern and south-central Asia and
The majority (almost 85%) of the of Africa, and Latin America and the Oceania. Figures from 2005 show a
world‘s youth live in developing Caribbean. Despite mass urbanization, total of 525 million young men and
countries, with approximately 60 the majority of youth live in rural 500 million young women13.
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