Youth in Agrifood Systems Performance Index (YAPI) Pilot Countries Report 2026

The Youth in Agrifood Systems Performance Index (YAPI) Pilot Countries Report 2026 is the first continental assessment framework developed to measure and monitor youth participation, inclusion, and empowerment across Africa's agrifood systems. Led by the African Union Commission (AUC) in collaboration with AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), AGRA, IFPRI, and other continental partners under the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture (YEFFA) Programme, the report provides a comprehensive evidence base to support implementation of the CAADP Kampala Declaration (2026–2035), particularly the commitment to empower at least 30% of young people in agrifood value chains by 2035. 

The report introduces the Youth in Agrifood Systems Performance Index (YAPI), a multidimensional monitoring and accountability tool designed to move beyond measuring youth employment alone. Instead, it evaluates the enabling environment that allows young people to thrive in agriculture and agribusiness through five interconnected domains: (1) Education, Skills and Technology; (2) Productive Resources and Services; (3) Economic Opportunities; (4) Policy Engagement and Governance; and (5) Sustainability and Resilience to Shocks. Together, these domains assess access to quality education and vocational training, digital technologies, finance, land, extension services, markets, entrepreneurship opportunities, youth-responsive policies, leadership and participation in governance, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.  

The pilot implementation covered eleven African Union Member States representing all five regions of Africa: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Eswatini, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, and Uganda. Collectively, these countries represent approximately 580 million people and nearly 196 million youth aged 15–34. The report compares country performance using standardized indicators, analyzes strengths and weaknesses across each domain, highlights differences in policy and institutional environments, and identifies major data gaps affecting youth-focused decision-making.  

Beyond country rankings, the report examines the methodology used to construct the index, including indicator selection, weighting approaches, normalization techniques, and validation processes. It discusses lessons learned during the pilot phase, challenges related to institutional coordination, statistical capacity, data collection, reporting consistency, and platform usability. The publication also provides recommendations for strengthening national statistical systems, improving youth-disaggregated agrifood data, enhancing policy implementation, expanding access to productive resources, and integrating YAPI into the CAADP Biennial Review process as a continental monitoring framework.  

This resource is intended for policymakers, government ministries, Regional Economic Communities, development partners, researchers, youth organizations, agribusiness stakeholders, academia, and practitioners working to advance evidence-based policies, investment planning, accountability, and youth-inclusive transformation of Africa's agrifood systems. It serves as a foundational reference for monitoring progress toward the African Union's Agenda 2063, the CAADP Kampala Declaration, and broader continental efforts to create sustainable employment, entrepreneurship, innovation, and resilience for Africa's young people in agrifood systems.