EAC Partner States Urged to Boost Youth Agripreneurs through Affordable Financing and Policy Reforms
EAC Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th December, 2025: EAC Partner States have been called upon to work closely with financial institutions to design affordable, flexible loan products tailored specifically for young agripreneurs. This is a significant step toward addressing, access to finance, which is one of the biggest barriers limiting youth participation in agriculture.
The call was made in Nairobi, Kenya, during the East African Youth in Agri-Food Systems Expo 2025 (EAYASE 2025), organised by the East African Community (EAC) in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
The Expo brought together youth agribusiness exhibitors from across the EAC Partner States, including young women and vulnerable youth, alongside policymakers, private sector actors and development partners. The platform facilitated knowledge exchange, innovation showcases, capacity building, policy dialogue and investment matchmaking to strengthen youth employment and agribusiness across the region.
EAC Partner States were urged to strengthen policy and regulatory frameworks that support the integration of climate-smart agriculture and advanced technologies such as drones, digital systems and precision tools into agri-food systems. They were also encouraged to introduce targeted incentives, including tax exemptions, affordable credit and investment in enabling infrastructure, to promote youth innovation and competitiveness across agricultural value chains.
The meeting further called on the EAC Secretariat and Partner States to mobilise dedicated financial and technical resources to establish a regional flagship programme on youth in agribusiness.
This programme is expected to accelerate innovation, investment and inclusive growth across the sector. The EAC Secretariat, together with AGRA, was also requested to establish the EAYASE 2025 Network of Youth Champions to support structured mentorship and long-term engagement for young innovators.
Delegates affirmed the need to institutionalise the Expo as a permanent regional platform for monitoring progress and strengthening youth inclusion in agri-food systems.
During the official opening, EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Hon. Andrea Ariik, reiterated the central role of agriculture in the region, stating that the sector continues to sustain millions of East Africans and anchor food security and economic growth.
“Limited access to finance, markets and technical skills remains a major obstacle for our young people. This is why youth empowerment is at the centre of the EAC Youth Strategy and fully aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” he noted.
Representing the Government of Kenya, Dr. Peter Orangi, Assistant Director at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, noted that the region’s youth have transformed agriculture through modern technology and innovation, shifting their role from passive participants to active entrepreneurs.
Speaking on behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Kenya Country Office, Mr. Joel Imitira, Senior Agricultural Economist, described youth as strategic partners in reshaping Africa’s food systems, emphasising the need to use digital solutions to address market information gaps.
Meanwhile, Mr. Boaz Keizire, Director of Policy and State Capability at AGRA, announced the rollout of a new Youth Performance Index to track progress on youth empowerment and commended the EAC for its leadership on regional integration.
Ms. Betty Kibaara, Director at the Rockefeller Foundation, encouraged young entrepreneurs to embrace agribusiness as a pathway to Africa’s future prosperity, urging them to remain patient, strategic and resilient.
The meeting concluded with a call to institutionalise the East African Youth in Agri-Food Systems Expo (EAYASE) as a permanent regional platform for driving youth inclusion, innovation, partnerships and accountability in agri-food systems.
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EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
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About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight (8) Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Federal Republic of Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc by the Summit of EAC Heads of State on 24th November, 2023 and became a full member on 4th March, 2024.