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Youth and Agriculture can change Africa

The Africa Commission has now finished its work and presented the final report.

Christian Friis Bach, International Director, DanChurchAid, is member of the Africa Commission and supports the report, but he underlines that the Commission only discussed youth and employment and that it is presenting five specific initiatives.

Therefore, the work of the Commission cannot be used to change the Danish development aid. It would not work either, to use a report about primary schools to implement a tax reform. We cannot do that, he says, referring to the comments of some politicians that the report of the Africa Commission will form the foundation of a new strategy for Danish development aid.

Personally, Christian Friis Bach has argued for a stronger focus on agriculture. The African farmer, often a woman, is the primary force in Africa when it comes to creating growth and employment and fighting poverty, he says.

“For years, the African farmer has been affected by wars and conflicts, corruption and bad government, lack of investment in infrastructure and information technology. But now, she has far better possibilities. And if we give her that possibility, the poor African farmers, male and female, will be able to change Africa,” he emphasises.

In addition, he has fought for stronger support to civil society associations and more influence to African youth. If civil society and African youth do not have the possibility to make themselves heard and keep the government up to the mark so that it behaves, nobody will invest and start new businesses, he says.

Christian Friis Bach thinks that the Commission’s initiatives can give thousands of young Africans a chance. A chance for education and job – for the benefit of themselves, their families, their local community and for the benefit of Africa. They deserve it, he emphasises.