In 2025, the Eastern Africa sub-region stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with both immense opportunities and formidable challenges in its agricultural sector. With a population exceeding 280 million, including 30 million pastoralists and agro-pastoralists, the region boasts vast arable land, abundant livestock, fisheries, and rich biodiversity. These resources position it favorably for an agriculture-centred economic transformation. However, the region is also plagued by recurring droughts, floods, landslides, and pest infestations, such as Desert Locusts and Fall Armyworms. These environmental threats, coupled with conflicts, have hindered development and resilience-building efforts.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) reports that in 2023, an estimated 10.7% of the global population, or 864 million people, were severely food insecure. Africa bore the brunt of this crisis, with 58% of these people residing on the continent. In Eastern Africa, the situation is even more dire, with the number of food-insecure people increasing by 50 million since 2019. The IGAD Regional Focus of the 2024 Global Report on Food Crises reveals that about 63 million people, or 25% of the population in seven IGAD countries, are experiencing acute food insecurity in 2024. This means that Eastern Africa is home to more than 50% of Africa’s chronically hungry, despite having only 25% of Africa’s population.
The urgent need for technology and innovation in revitalizing agriculture has never been more apparent. These tools can accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems, making them more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. From drought-resistant seeds to smart irrigation systems, data-driven decision-making tools, drones, and satellite imagery, technological advancements are unlocking new possibilities for farmers, herders, and food processors. These innovations can lead to better production, improved nutrition, a healthier environment, and ultimately, a better life for all.
The FAO has already implemented several successful projects in the sub-region. In Somalia, drones, satellites, and ground surveillance were used to provide real-time data on locust movements, enabling targeted interventions to manage Desert Locust infestations before they could cause significant damage. In Ethiopia, improved grain storage technologies, such as silos and hermetic bags, have helped preserve crops, reduced food wastage, and ensured safer food for households. In South Sudan, early warning systems have been implemented to provide timely information on droughts, floods, and other climate-related disasters.
Technology and innovation also play a crucial role in enhancing production and processing systems, promoting diversification, and ensuring better nutrition. This is particularly important in Eastern Africa, where the average prevalence of stunting is significantly higher than the global average, impacting a large percentage of children under five years old. Chronic malnutrition can severely hinder cognitive development and future health and economic opportunities.
Renewable energy solutions, such as solar, wind, biofuel, hydropower, and geothermal energy, along with community-based initiatives for reforestation and innovative waste management systems, can greatly help to protect the land, water, and vegetation. These efforts ensure a better environment, which is essential for agrifood systems transformation. Technology and innovation also facilitate anticipatory and response actions during disasters, building resilience and realizing rural transformation. With the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices, like precision farming and agroforestry, supported by early warning systems for extreme weather events using mobile technology, the youth and local communities can adapt to the sub-region’s unique challenges.
The “Better Life” principle at FAO emphasizes the importance of improving the well-being and livelihoods of people through sustainable agrifood systems and creating jobs for women and youth. In Eastern Africa, the youth population is rapidly growing, constituting about 70 percent of the population. This demographic offers a tremendous opportunity for agricultural transformation, as young people are increasingly seeking alternatives to traditional agriculture, especially in rural areas where unemployment rates are high.
The agriculture sector remains a key employer, with potential for youth engagement through innovative technologies and practices such as digital farming, agro-processing, and sustainable agriculture. Youth-led initiatives, such as mobile apps for agricultural advice, precision farming using drones and sensors, and e-commerce platforms for agricultural products, are reshaping farming and offering new pathways to economic empowerment.
Despite robust policies at national and sub-regional levels, there remains a significant gap in the implementation of these policies, especially those related to youth in agriculture. The implementation of these policies can help the youth access the necessary skills, capital, and infrastructures to engage in agriculture. Promising initiatives like the African Union’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the “Youth in Agriculture” strategies provide frameworks
