New York, 17 April 2024 – Lift Africa Foundation participates in the ECOSOC Youth Forum,
contributing to global discussions on strengthening governance and youth participation within
sustainable food systems. Founder Aisha Hamman presents perspectives from communities
across Nigeria, emphasising how gender inequality, limited access to education, and weak
governance structures continue to shape food insecurity in the Global South.
During the plenary session “Feeding the Future: Youth and Sustainable Food Systems for All,”
Lift Africa Foundation highlights the need for policies that recognise young people —
particularly girls and marginalised youth — as essential actors within food and agriculture value
chains.
Key areas of engagement include:
- Governance and accountability:
The Foundation calls for stronger institutional mechanisms that ensure youth participation in
national and local food system planning. - Gender-responsive approaches:
Lift Africa stresses the importance of addressing barriers that restrict women’s access to land,
finance, technologies and agricultural training. - Skills and innovation:
The Foundation advocates for investments in sustainable agriculture training, agribusiness
development and digital extension services targeting rural youth. - Inclusive policy processes:
Lift Africa underscores the need for collaboration between governments, civil society, private
sector actors and youth-led groups to ensure that policy commitments translate into community
level outcomes.
Linking global dialogue with local realities
Drawing from its work in Nigeria, Lift Africa Foundation contributes evidence on how socio
economic vulnerability, harmful norms and weak policy implementation shape food system
inequalities. By bringing lessons from local communities into global forums, the Foundation
reinforces the importance of aligning global commitments with practical realities on the ground.
Lift Africa Foundation’s commitment
Through its participation in the ECOSOC Youth Forum, Lift Africa continues to advance its
mission of promoting inclusive governance, strengthening youth leadership and contributing to
policy reforms that improve development outcomes across the Global South.