The youth have a vital contribution to the global economy, and there have been numerous efforts to address the challenges that limit this achievement. However, the challenges have not been fully addressed. In quoting Dr. Agnes Kalibata, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for the Food Systems Summit, “We cannot build a better future for tomorrow without including the youth of today.” Accordingly, the youth need to be actively involved as key contributors and partners when materializing this year’s International Youth Day theme of “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health.” Such participation would intensify their efforts in providing innovative solutions for food systems’ resilience.

Covid-19 and the Youth
Covid-19 has added to the challenges limiting youth’s potential. Some have lost their jobs, others have limited opportunities to expand their small and medium enterprises, and those studying have experienced a delay in the system, primarily due to the schools’ closure. The International Labor Organization (ILO) established that Covid-19 has destroyed young people’s employment and has undermined their career prospects. Notably, for the employed youth, one in six of them lost their employment, especially those in the clerical support sales, services, and crafts. Moreover, a reduction in working hours resulted in some of them experiencing a reduction in their income. The disruption in learning and employment that the youths are experiencing has deteriorated their mental well-being. ILO established that 17% of young people are most likely affected by depression and anxiety. These are some of the issues limiting their potential. The interlinkages between success in education, mental well-being, and labor market integration have therefore been undermined. As a result, the youth fail to utilize their innovative capabilities fully.

Supporting Youth Innovations
Youths are innovative. However, they need support to reach their highest potential. First, the government could provide new policies or enhance the existing policies for boosting research and innovation. Moreover, it could offer tax incentives for research and development. Government tax subsidies on research and development (R & D) would increase investment in innovation. Additionally, the government could provide direct grants to researchers whose projects are likely to have long-term benefits. There has been private funding in R&D; nonetheless, the government needs to step up and give more direct grants. In addition, the government could actively engage in intellectual property reforms to ensure that they are adequately protected.

Secondly, youth's small and medium enterprises need more support from the government and private entities. Due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, there could be more innovations. The tax incentives and grants highlighted above could also be instrumental in supporting these enterprises. Additionally, the inventors can be exposed to role models and mentoring, allowing them to think beyond. Moreover, they can be trained in their fields to diversify their abilities and skills. Food systems would be enhanced by simply enhancing the SMEs.

Thirdly, youths’ innovations could be supported by enhancing their building capacity. There has been more emphasis on university education; hence some young people have been left out. Kenyans perceive TVETs to be inferior and are usually the last option that form four graduates take. The Kenyan government has put an effort in changing the negative perception that people have towards TVETs, however, more needs to be done. The poor infrastructure in TVETs is one of the reasons that they are not valued. Notably, since we are in the technological era, TVETs need to be digitized so as to equip the learners with new capabilities and enable them to adapt effectively in the Fourth Industrial Revolution environment. Consequently, they will considerably contribute to the country’s innovations, especially in transforming food systems.

Fourthly, there is a need to strengthen youth-led initiatives related to climate change. Handling climate change requires well-coordinated government action along with informed and conscious efforts by individuals. Accordingly, the youth should be supported as environmental champions in their localities. Moreover, partnerships between governments, non-governmental, intergovernmental, and youth organizations could be developed for initiatives directed towards building youth capacity as the driving forces and future leaders for a new climate change regime. Additionally, emphasis needs to be placed on providing both formal and informal education regarding viable lifestyles and climate change.

Sustainable Inclusive Business, the knowledge center under the Kenya Private Sector Alliance for instance, has been on the forefront creating awareness and providing training to youth in the informal sector on sustainable waste management and on the waste to value concept. According to the organization, addressing the waste management challenge effectively is critical to delivering on Kenya’s constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment for all, advancing the circular economy to create green jobs and wealth from the waste sector, and advancing the nation’s sustainable development goals.
Furthermore, efforts for enhancing the readiness and capabilities of youths to take employment opportunities that are environment-oriented would be crucial. As a result, green economic growth will be achieved. Thus, young people will get employment opportunities and still contribute directly to eradicating climate change by adopting innovative green behaviors in their private lives and workplaces.

In a nutshell, food systems do not only encompass how food is obtained from the farms; rather, it includes the infrastructure and process involved in feeding the population, effects of the processes such as pollution and desertification, population health, zero hunger, and forced displacement. The youth have a vital role in raising governments' ambitions of transforming food systems by providing innovative solutions. However, they need ultimate support for them to reach their full potential. They should not be viewed as recipients or targets but as key contributors and partners towards the anticipated change. Accordingly, we will build back together without leaving any youth behind.

Dr. Ehud Gachugu is the Project Director of the Ajira Digital and Youth Employment under the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA).