Global Innovation Fellowship: Youth Sustainable Agripreneurship in Yemen

Agriculture is vital to Yemen’s economy, but the sector is severely affected by climate stress and ongoing conflict, exacerbating the nation’s food insecurity. Yemen is the most vulnerable country to climate shocks in the MENA region. The agriculture sector faces numerous challenges including water scarcity, damaged infrastructure, restricted access to markets and agricultural inputs, supply chain disruptions, and poor agricultural practices. Therefore, fostering sustainable agricultural entrepreneurship among youth is critical to Yemen’s rural economy and country food security. Youth can transform the agri-food sector through innovation and entrepreneurship, strengthening livelihood, conserving natural resources, boosting environmental resilience and reducing unemployment.

Project Aim:

The primary aim of this fellowship is to investigate sustainable agripreneurship among youth in Yemen through a holistic, evidence-based approach that bridges academia, practice, and policy.

Project Activities:

• Sector, Stakeholder & Policy Mapping: Map the sector, stakeholders and policies shaping youth agripreneurship.
• Rapid Needs Assessment: Assess youth agripreneurs’ aspirations, barriers and opportunities.
• Virtual Stakeholder Roundtables: Explore pathways for an enabling, supportive ecosystem for sustainable youth agripreneurship.
• Capacity-Building Workshop: Strengthen youth participants’ practical sustainable agripreneurship skills.
• Policy Dialogue: Translate evidence into actionable policy recommendations with decision-makers and ecosystem actors.

Project Partner:

Safiya Aljabry, Executive Director, Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service (SMEPS), Yemen