What motivates young people in fragile contexts to participate in agriculture and food security programs? Insights from aspirations in Northern Benin

Aspirations of young people in northern Benin reflect the dynamic social, economic, and environmental realities. They are influenced by conflict and instability in this fragile context. Thus, we examine how these aspirations motivate participation in agricultural and food security programs. We randomly sampled 309 young men and women to derive qualitative narratives with quantitative survey data across Matéri, Kandi, and Natitingou communes in northern Benin. In that way, we identified three primary aspiration clusters (immediate needs, prevalent in Matéri, where food security is critical; personal ambitions, dominant in Kandi, focusing on upward mobility and entrepreneurship; and social obligations, reflecting family and community responsibilities). These aspirations are shaped by a combination of all these drivers—basic needs, social pressures, and personal goals—but show a notable trend toward individual aspirations. Conflict exacerbates challenges and perceived opportunities by fostering self-reliance while undermining trust and collaboration. Respondents perceive Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) programs as externally driven rather than participatory. Future research should explore longitudinal changes in aspirations and the impact of tailored interventions and provide insights for actors seeking to align agricultural and food security programs with community needs in fragile contexts.