Youth Hold the Key.

The future belongs to youth. But in many parts of the world, young women and men lack the means and the opportunity to build livelihoods and fully participate in their communities. This is especially true in rural areas, where agriculture is the foundation of the economy, but land rights remain out of reach.

Consider the case of sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 10-12 million young people enter the workforce each year, but only 4 million new jobs are created, leaving the majority of young workers either unemployed or settling for menial and informal work.

But imagine the opportunity and the potential that could be unlocked if these youth had secure rights to land. A more robust agricultural workforce could boost productivity and lead to improved food security. Young farmers would bring greater understanding of technology and on-farm innovations, contributing to greater uptake of sustainable farming practices and better outcomes for climate adaptation and mitigation. And the rural economy would benefit from millions of more employed young Africans, contributing to broad economic development across the region.

By investing in programs to strengthen youth land rights across Africa and Asia, Landesa is investing in the future of our planet. Learn more about how we’re creating opportunities for young women and men to enjoy stronger rights to land in our issue brief, Youth Hold the Key.