The “Strengthening Institutional and Organizational Capacity of PAFO for Youth Work Opportunities in Agrifood Systems” project is a strategic initiative funded by AGRA with a 30-month duration, spanning from October 2025 to March 2028. The project is structured around three core components: institutional and organizational capacity strengthening of PAFO, youth voice and mobilization, and women leadership capacity strengthening.
To date, the project has achieved significant milestones, including the hiring of an IT company to design a specialized portal and a consultant to assist PAFO and its members with ISO 18716 professionalization. Additionally, the program has successfully trained 20 young women leaders to take an active role in the sector.
Future actions will focus on the finalization of the portal and its integration into the PAFO MIS, alongside the organization of continental dialogues with the African Union to accelerate the professionalization of Farmer Organizations. Moving forward, the project aims to ensure that ISO 18716 professionalization guidelines are institutionalized within PAFO and the Regional Farmer Organizations (RFOs), while also establishing and strengthening continental youth platforms and creating youth wings at both the continental and regional levels.