The conversation on societal progress misses an essential element when it overlooks the growing significance of young people as active drivers of change and transformation. Recognizing this, the UN General Assembly in 1965 began emphasizing the need to empower young people.
This commitment was further strengthened in December 1999 when the UN established International Youth Day (IYD), first celebrated on August 12, 2000. Since then, IYD has evolved into a global platform that not only celebrates the contributions of young people but also raises awareness about the challenges they face, while promoting their active participation in shaping their communities and the world at large.
Every year, IYD is commemorated under a specific theme, spotlighting the most pressing global issues and the role youth play in addressing them. This year, one of the themes focusing on: “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond,” is no exception. It calls on the global community to reflect deeply on the role of young people in driving sustainable development, especially in areas such as climate action, innovation, and food security. In our local and national context, emphasis also on youth voices driving impact and their contribution to local context for SDGs for sustainable development, is very vital.
This year, Mastercard Foundation and all its partners including KIC are focusing on the shift from voices of young people being heard, to the tangible and visible impact that young people are making across their communities through education, employment, climate action and policy engagement and implementation, to highlight the International Youth Day Celebrations.
Africa stands at the centre of this global youth narrative. According to the Population Reference Bureau, by 2030, African youth will make up 42% of the global youth population. On the continent, 75% of people will be under the age of 35, making Africa not only the youngest but the fastest-growing bloc in the world in terms of population. This demographic shift presents both enormous opportunities and challenges. But more importantly, it positions African youth as a vital force in shaping the continent’s development agenda and influencing global priorities.
Ghana is no exception. Data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveals a demographic shift in the country; from a population dominated by children to one led by youth aged 15 to 35, as defined by both the African Youth Charter and Ghana’s National Youth Council. Today, Ghana’s youth represent 38.2% of the national population, totaling approximately 11.7 million people.
This youthful energy presents a strategic opportunity for innovation, leadership, and sustainable progress.
However, despite leading globally in youth population growth, Africa continues to face significant resource gaps when it comes to youth empowerment. Ghana’s experience mirrors this reality. Yet, in the face of limited resources, young people across the continent and in Ghana specifically, are stepping up boldly to confront one of the world’s greatest challenges: climate change.
From climate-smart agriculture to clean tech and green business innovations, youth are leading the charge to protect their future. Governments have also made efforts to create a policy environment and agency that supports development and empowerment of young people.
In a world grappling with climate change and food insecurity, empowering youth is not just a moral obligation; it is a strategic investment. Agriculture, once viewed as outdated and unattractive to young people, is undergoing a transformation through technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation. This shift is giving rise to a new wave of agripreneurs who are reimagining how we produce, process, and distribute food sustainably.
Youth empowerment and agriculture are interlinked. Young people bring energy, creativity, and a fresh perspective to age-old agricultural challenges. By supporting youth-led innovations, whether in precision farming, hardware innovations, digital marketplaces, sustainable irrigation, or food preservation and processing, we edge closer to achieving food security and building climate-resilient communities.
This is why it is imperative that organizations support youth with mentorship, incubators, skills advancement, knowledge sharing, building a community of like-minded individuals, financial support that help these young individuals discover their creativity and innovative mindset. In this regard, the role of partnerships and collaborations across sectors, organisations and multilaterally, cannot be overemphasized.
Kosmos Innovation Center, KIC, an organisation committed to inspiring, transforming and investing in youth leadership and entrepreneurship, is one of the leading organisations contributing to youth-led sustainable solutions. KIC expands its assistance to youths who are poised to solve challenges within the agricultural sector. Their initiatives span from programs for senior high school students to students from tertiary universities, colleges, as well as small and medium-scale entrepreneurs and innovators, also reaching farmers and rural communities through its impact on jobs and livelihoods.
Through their initiatives and working in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and other partners such as Kosmos Energy, KIC has impacted more than 58,425 young leaders and students in mind-set change about agriculture.
With a strong thematic area in sustainable agriculture and technology, they established their flagship program, KIC Incubation Program, a structured business accelerator program designed to help start-ups scale and become investor-ready, after going through business ideation, product/ service development at the KIC AgriTech Challenge Classic and Pro Programs.
KIC has nurtured over 1,000 AgTech start-up solutions, launched over 250 AgTech Start-ups. KIC businesses raised a total external funding of $22.7m in grants and equity. Through KIC’s School Farm Project, more than 50,336 students have been trained from 560 schools in 2024 and expanding to 700 schools in 2025 on opportunities within the agricultural sector.
Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), through its youth-focused initiatives has contributed to ensuring young people have the necessary knowledge, skills, guidance and support to be empowered and builders of tomorrow.
As the world looks ahead to a sustainable future, it is essential for more organisations to invest in long-term youth-focused solutions. Supporting youth in agriculture and innovation is a sure path to securing the future of food, climate, and economic stability. This empowers them to build sustainable and inclusive futures, contributing to social transformation and impact
