WFF Côte d’Ivoire Youth Chapter: Youth-lead discussions on climate Adaptation

The World Food Forum (WFF) Côte d’Ivoire Youth Chapter took part in the 17th Meeting of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) organized by the Subregional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for West Africa, held in Abidjan, from 18 to 21 November. The meeting brought together government institutions, technical experts, regional partners, civil society representatives and youth-led organizations from across West Africa, creating a dynamic space for dialogue on the region’s climate challenges and agrifood systems transformation.

The opening session was chaired by  Côte d’Ivoire’s Ministry of Employment and Social Protection, which highlighted the country's ongoing structural reforms aimed at strengthening social protection systems, improving employment opportunities and enhancing community resilience in the context of climate change. These national reforms were presented as strategic pillars for supporting vulnerable groups, including youth, and for advancing equitable climate adaptation at territorial and sectoral levels.

The participation of the Chapter reflects the country’s growing commitment to placing young people at the center of climate adaptation and agrifood systems transformation. Throughout the meeting, youth representatives engaged in exchanges with experts and institutional actors on innovative financing, governance mechanisms and structural reforms needed to strengthen adaptation pathways.

During the closing ceremony, the Minister of State, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production delivered a powerful call to accelerate climate adaptation efforts, stressing that projected yield losses of 20–25 percent for major crops by 2050 make adaptation “a condition for the survival of our agrifood systems and our populations".

Throughout the MDT, participants engaged in discussions on climate resilience, agricultural productivity, natural resource management and governance. Young agripreneurs and farmers highlighted pressing challenges, including declining soil fertility, irregular rainfall, water scarcity, limited access to land, financing and climate-resilient infrastructure. Structural barriers such as high land leasing costs, administrative hurdles and low transparency further restrict youth engagement in sustainable agriculture.

The programme included visits to local climate adaptation initiatives, including the Banco Forest conservation model, a critical biodiversity hotspot within Abidjan. These visits showcased community-led efforts to restore degraded ecosystems, protect water sources and implement climate-resilient land use, illustrating how local solutions contribute to national adaptation goals.

High-level discussions with government officials, technical experts, development partners and regional institutions focused on innovative financing mechanisms and structural reforms. Young participants contributed concrete recommendations to strengthen youth engagement in national climate adaptation efforts, highlighting the importance of inclusive policies, flexible finance and participatory governance.

Youth emphasized the need to expand access to inclusive climate finance, particularly mechanisms that support climate-resilient agriculture, soil restoration and water-efficient technologies. They stressed that financing tools must be flexible, accessible and better tailored to the realities of young agripreneurs.

Participants also emphasized the importance of stronger governance and coordination. They called for local climate adaptation observatories and multi-stakeholder platforms, bringing together youth representatives, traditional authorities, technical services and municipalities, to monitor land use, track adaptation efforts and strengthen participatory decision-making.

Participants underlined the need to expand private sector engagement in climate adaptation. Youth representatives advocated for incentives that encourage investment, collaboration with youth-led cooperatives and public-private partnership for climate-smart infrastructure and renewable energy solutions. These approaches would help mobilize additional resources and accelerate adaptation nationwide.

The Chapter reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for inclusive, youth-driven climate adaptation policies at national and regional levels. By promoting innovative financing, improving governance and advancing structural reforms, the Chapter aims to ensure that young people play a central role in building resilient agrifood systems. Through continued collaboration with FAO and national stakeholders, the Chapter will work to ensure that youth perspectives remain integral to the country's climate agenda and long-term agricultural transformation.