CONCEPT NOTE
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON PROMOTING YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND REDUCING CHILD LABOUR IN AGRICULTURE
COURSE BACKGROUND
Despite significant global efforts, child labour persists as a pervasive issue in agriculture, while youth unemployment and underemployment remain widespread challenges in rural areas. These two critical issues, though distinct, are often deeply interlinked; a lack of decent work opportunities for young people can inadvertently push younger children into exploitative and hazardous labor. Many existing policies and programs address child labour and youth employment in agriculture in isolation, thereby missing crucial opportunities for synergistic impact and failing to create a truly supportive environment for all young people within the sector.
ECAS Institute, committed to fostering sustainable and equitable agricultural development, recognizes the urgent need for integrated solutions that simultaneously promote decent youth employment and reduce child labour. By offering this specialized training course, ECAS directly addresses this complex challenge, providing a unique perspective that emphasizes the coherence between these seemingly separate issues. This initiative aligns with ECAS’s broader mission to build capacity for inclusive agricultural growth, social responsibility, and the realization of fundamental labour rights in rural economies.
This course is specifically designed to equip agricultural stakeholders with strategies to strengthen the impact of their policies and programs by considering youth employment and child labour in agriculture together. Participants will gain a nuanced understanding of their differences and underlying linkages, and learn concrete measures to improve policy and program coherence. The ultimate aim is to support young people in accessing decent opportunities in agriculture, thereby contributing to both sustainable economic development and the progressive elimination of harmful child labour practices.
COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Articulate a clear understanding of the differences between youth employment and child labour in the agricultural context.
- Explain the complex linkages between youth under-/unemployment and child labour in agricultural value chains.
- Identify and propose how initiatives designed to reduce child labour and initiatives aimed at promoting rural youth employment can be coherently designed and implemented to improve opportunities for young people in agriculture.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This course will provide participants with a comprehensive perspective on addressing the interconnected challenges of youth employment and child labour in the agricultural sector. You will learn:
- The precise definitions and distinctions between child labour and youth employment, and their manifestations in agricultural contexts.
- How the lack of decent work opportunities for youth can contribute to child labour, and other critical interlinkages between these two issues.
- Strategies for fostering policy and program coherence, enabling initiatives to mutually reinforce goals of child labour reduction and youth employment promotion.
- Concrete measures and practical approaches to support young people in accessing decent and productive opportunities in agriculture.
DURATION AND PROGRAM
This is a structured training course. The program is designed to guide participants through the strategic integration of youth employment and child labour reduction efforts in agriculture. The detailed program schedule, including specific session timings and interactive activities, will be communicated prior to the training commencement.
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
The course is intended for a diverse range of stakeholders who are involved in agricultural development, policy-making, and youth or labour issues in rural areas. The target audience includes:
- Agricultural producers and their organizations: Farmers, cooperatives, and farmer associations.
- Small and large-scale agribusinesses: Companies operating within agricultural value chains.
- Agricultural policy makers and advisors: Government officials and technical experts shaping agricultural policies.
- Those working in NGOs, and public or private sector: Professionals involved in agricultural value chains, rural development, youth empowerment, or child protection initiatives.
TRAINING MODULES
The course is structured into three key lessons, moving from foundational understanding to integrated policy and practical strategies:
| No | Module | Details | |
| 1. | Understanding Child Labour and Youth Employment: Definitions and Linkages |
This foundational lesson clarifies the distinct concepts of child labour and youth employment in agriculture. It will explore the nuanced relationship between these two issues, recognizing how one can influence the other within rural contexts.
The key objectives are:
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| 2. | Enhancing Policy and Programme Coherence |
This module delves into how policies and programs can be designed and implemented to address child labour reduction and youth employment promotion in a coherent and mutually reinforcing manner. It will highlight the benefits of integrated approaches over isolated interventions.
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| 3. | Strategies for Promoting Decent Youth Employment and Reducing Child Labour |
The final lesson focuses on concrete, actionable strategies and measures to improve opportunities for young people to access decent work in agriculture, which in turn contributes to the reduction of child labour.
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TRAINING STYLE
The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.
The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.
The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.
GENERAL NOTES
- Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
- Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
- We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
- Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.
ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE
The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.