The Young Farmers Program is an initiative aimed at harnessing the potential, energy, creativity, and boldness of 320 young people aged 16 to 29, with a focus on their personal development and the creation of sustainable businesses with a strong social and economic impact in the agro-business sector. Lasting three years, the program has been implemented in three target regions: Dakar, Thiès, and Saint-Louis. In partnership with USAID (United States Agency for International Development) and IYF (International Youth Foundation), the Young Farmers Program was implemented by Synapse. The objective was to promote agro-business among young people through three main aspects: First, contributing to improving the performance of agricultural and food systems by establishing real value chains (production, processing, and marketing) in the cereal, fruit, and vegetable sectors. Second, training 320 young “agropreneurs”; and finally, creating 120 businesses with a strong socio-economic impact.
Areas of intervention
The implementation of this initiative to harness the potential, energy, creativity, and boldness of young people in the agro-business sector was carried out following a decentralizing approach of geographic distribution and penetration of strategic areas in Senegal. Thus, regions such as Dakar, Thiès, and Saint-Louis served as testing grounds for the Young Farmers Program, based on the realities and specificities of each region in terms of resources and potential.
Dakar Region
81 entrepreneurs have been trained,
59 income-generating activities (IGAs) created.
Thiès Region
123 entrepreneurs have been trained,
65 income-generating activities (IGAs) created
Dakar to Saint-Louis
110 entrepreneurs have been trained,
51 income-generating activities (IGAs) created.
Discovering Our Agropreneurs
The activities
Retirement
Gain access to deeper knowledge, discover your potential and talents, and overcome your own limitations
Educational expeditions
Organised visits to sustainable businesses and one-to-one meetings with leaders from different sectors
Formation
Enabling promising leaders to strengthen their entrepreneurial spirit and acquire the knowledge and skills to develop it
Experimental fields
They enable new farming practices, seeds and technologies to be tested, to optimise yields and reduce risks. They help to assess crop resistance and efficiency.
For more information on the programme, download the one pager.
Some of our entrepreneurs
Moustapha MBOW
Tolou Papa EL Adji
Production and marketing of gombo and watermelon.
Pape Malo SAMB
Production Agricole
Fruit processing and marketing.
Gora DIAKHATE
Maraichage
Production and marketing of vegetables.
Fatou, Adja & Oumy
SEN GNAM
Fruit and vegetable processing and marketing.
Tangible impact and prospects
The figures tell the story of a lasting and measurable impact. Through the Young Farmers Programme, Synapse, in partnership with USAID and the International Youth Foundation, has catalysed the potential of Africa’s youth by providing concrete solutions to the challenges of the agricultural sector.
In three years, this initiative has marked a turning point in agribusiness, promoting the creation of economic opportunities while meeting the needs of local communities.
Here is an overview of the key results that illustrate the scale of this transformation.
3
Regions
320+
Recipients
172+
Income generating
activities
Stories from former participants
Dive into the heart of our training programme through the inspiring stories of those who have experienced it first-hand. Each story reflects a unique journey, challenges faced and opportunities seized. These participants share their experience, their transformation and the impetus they received to realise their ambitions. Their success is our greatest achievement.
Partners
In partnership with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Youth Foundation (IYF), the Young Farmers programme was implemented by Synapse Center.
