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Webinar: Barriers and Opportunities for Dignified and Fulfilling Youth Employment in Kenya’s Agrifood Value Chain

WEBINAR: Barriers and Opportunities for Dignified and Fulfilling Youth Employment in Kenya’s Agrifood Value Chain

Findings from Qualitative Research

Co-organized by IFPRI and WFP in partnership with The Mastercard Foundation

Date: July 28, 2026

Time: 8:00-9:00am (Washington,DC ) _ 3:00-4:00pm (EAT) 2:00-3:00 pm (Europe/Amsterdam)

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Agricultural value chains (AVCs) present significant opportunities to create dignified and fulfilling employment pathways for young women and men in Kenya. However, many young people continue to face barriers that limit their ability to fully benefit from these opportunities, including limited access to skills, finance, markets, technology, and supportive systems. Evidence on what enables youth to thrive within agricultural value chains remains critical to designing effective interventions.

This session will explore how digital tools can help bridge these gaps and transform agricultural work into more resilient, rewarding, and sustainable livelihoods. The session will feature research insights from the Youth and Gender research team of the Strengthening Food Systems for Youth research project, highlighting what dignified and fulfilling work looks like in practice, the systemic barriers affecting youth participation, including restrictive gender norms and limited access to appropriate financial services, and how digital solutions are reshaping market access despite persistent cost and social challenges.

This webinar, co-organized by IFPRI and WFP in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, will present key findings from recent qualitative research. A presentation featuring experts from IFPRI will offer deep reflections on the research findings, and remarks from partners WFP and the Mastercard Foundation.

Agenda

Opening Remarks | 3:00-3:05pm (EAT)

  • Mastercard Foundation

Presentation of Research Findings | 3:05-3:25pm (EAT)

  • Project Review and Highlights: An overview of the mid-2025 qualitative study, Jessica Heckert, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
  • Pathways to Dignified and Fulfilling Work: Youth participation in Kenya’s AVCs and its contribution to improved dignified and fulfilling livelihood outcomes, Harriet Mawia, Research Officer, IFPRI
  • Barriers and Enablers: Overcoming the obstacles and leveraging opportunities for youth in agricultural processing and marketing, Emily Myers, Senior Research Analyst, IFPRI
  • Digital Tool Adoption: How youth leverage digital tools, the access challenges they face, and the support needed to enhance adoption for better work opportunities, Baragu Geoffrey, Research Associate, IFPRI

Q&A Session | 3:35-3:55pm (EAT)

WFP Country Office Remarks | 3:05-3:25pm (EAT)

Closing Remarks  | 3:55-4:00pm (EAT)

  • Steven Were Omamo, Director, Development Strategies and Governance (DSG); and Director for Africa, IFPRI