In the context of renewed concerns about food security, demographic changes and globalization, rural development and youth employment are at the centre of the international development agenda. There are 71 million young women and men unemployed globally and more than 152 million young people in emerging and developing countries working, yet living in poverty. The rural economy holds significant potential for the promotion of decent jobs and youth are catalysts for a rural transformation conducive to improved employment prospects and prosperity.
“The future of humankind will be decided in rural areas,” said Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, while addressing participants at the “ONE WORLD - No Hunger. Future of the Rural World ” conference held in Berlin, on 27 and 28 April 2017. The high-level conference, linked to the German G20 Presidency, brought together over 600 actors from public and private sectors, academia and civil society, including 130 young people who presented and discussed concrete solutions to youth challenges in rural areas.
Throughout the conference, participants emphasized the critical importance of creating decent jobs and better prospects for young people in rural areas. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, stressed the need to embark on agricultural industrialization and value addition to transform rural economies in Africa. To support job creation for young people in rural areas, data-driven policies and good governance were essential, added Dr. Mo Ibrahim, entrepreneur and founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
The Berlin Charter: a call for action to create opportunities with the young generation in the rural world
On 27 April 2017, conference participants handed over the “Berlin Charter ” to Federal Minister Gerd Müller. The Charter relied on a highly participatory process that gathered ideas from youth and other key stakeholders and experts around the most needed actions to address rural challenges and shape the rural world positively for the young generations. It is intended to serve as a political impetus and guidance for decision-makers with a view to boosting their involvement in efforts to foster rural development and youth employment.
Through the Berlin Charter participants called on all national governments, the G20, the United Nations system, development partners and finance institutions, the private sector, civil society and youth to undertake additional and scalable joint efforts for creating new rural opportunities with a special focus on decent and attractive jobs for the young generation.
