The effective ways for government to engages indigenous and reduce poverty in the state

Rapidly rising demand for food fuelled by population growth, urbanisation and income growth offers enormous opportunities for employment creation in the agri-food sector in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): the sector has the potential to be a driver of economic trans- formation. This policy brief highlights the main results from a GIZ-supported study of the evolving employment dynamics in SSA’s agri-cultural value chains by Michigan State University. Three main pathways are described that provide job opportunities in agricultural value chains and in the non-farm sectors. Further, the study summarizes key entry points for investment and policy actions to promote inclusive, competitive and productive agri-food systems generating employment opportunities and contributing to economic growth and transformation. In order to fully capture employment and income growth opportunities in SSA’s agricultural value chains, investment is required in the following five key areas: 1. Broad-based agricultural productivity growth; 2. Information and communication technologies (ICT) and complementary research and development (R&D);3. Education and skill development;4. Conditions for responsive policymaking on youth employment issues; and5. Interventions that reduce fertility rates and speed up the demographic transition.