Up to 200 people from Africa are being recruited to participate in the first Annual Africa Youth Assembly. The goal is to ensure that at least two young people from every African country are represented at this event, all with direct experience in youth-led development, so their valuable perspectives and realities provide a new paradigm for Africa’s development.

The CTA/UNITAR/FAO online tutored course entitled: "Innovative Collaboration for Development" on the use of Web. 2.0 tools for development will take place from 4 March to 3 May 2013  (in English and French).

A course to empower development professionals to use social media tools to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their work.

Involving youth in agricultural development and decision making processes is key to ensuring sustainable development in Africa, and framing this within the context of ICTs and entrepreneurship provides a valuable dimension to the discourse of agricultural modernization and prosperity. Her Excellency Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of African Union Commission, said this while officiating at a workshop held in Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia, 29 March 2012, on youth, ICT and entrepreneurship in agriculture, organised by Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Co-operation (CTA) and NEPAD E-Africa Programme.

“Innovation works well for large companies, but it’s not so easy for a sole trader to gain recognition,” says Eric Mutta, a software designer whose latest app won him recognition in the Apps4Africa Climate Challenge. But it’s through youthful innovation that Africa will find long-term solutions to long-standing problems.

By Anthony Itodo Samuel from Nigeria: West African Regional Winner of the CTA ARDYIS Essay contest

Nigeria’s economy is overwhelmingly agrarian. In 1999 70% of Nigeria’s labor force was involved in agriculture. In 2009 agriculture accounted for 33.4% of Nigeria’s GDP, while 70% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2007.