Presentation made during Workshop on Supporting ICT-based Entrepreneurship and Innovations in Agriculture organised by CTA on 19-21 November 2013

1. Strengthening Youth Employment
Opportunities in ICTs and Agriculture
in Southern Africa (SOFIA)
Project Overview
Patrick Masarirambi
Executive Director
Lulote BMEP
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2. The SOFIA (Strengthening youth employment
Opportunities in ICTs and Agriculture in
Southern Africa) Project adopts an integrated
approach that addresses both policy issues and
capacity building activities
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3. Project Overall Objective
To improve Southern African
youth livelihoods by creating
employment opportunities in
agriculture and rural sectors
through ICTs.
Project Purpose and Target Group
strengthening youth employment opportunities in
agriculture and ICTs in Southern Africa. It will support
in particular Youth training centres and young farmer
groups, to make more effective use of ICTs to enhance
employment and business opportunities.
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4. Countries: Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland
Countries: Zambia, Malawi and Swaziland
Implementing Partners: NYRC, FAFOTRAJ
Implementing Partners: NYRC, FAFOTRAJ
and LULOTE
and LULOTE
Direct Beneficiaries: At least 15 youth training
Direct Beneficiaries: At least 15 youth training
centres, 99young farmer groupings and at least
centres, young farmer groupings and at least
300 youth in Southern Africa
300 youth in Southern Africa
Indirect Beneficiaries: :ICT policy making
Indirect Beneficiaries ICT policy making
bodies, youth councils, development agencies,
bodies, youth councils, development agencies,
other ARD stakeholders (researchers, rural
other ARD stakeholders (researchers, rural
development associations, public institutions,
development associations, public institutions,
producers, etc.) in Southern Africa
producers, etc.) in Southern Africa
Planned Activities
Planned Activities
•Regional planning and evaluations workshops
•Regional planning and evaluations workshops
•Country Stakeholders Consultation
•Country Stakeholders Consultation
•Case studies on Youth ICT and agriculture
•Case studies on Youth ICT and agriculture
initiatives in Southern Africa
initiatives in Southern Africa
•Organization of e-discussions on the findings
•Organization of e-discussions on the findings
of the studies and on policy actions needed
of the studies and on policy actions needed
•ICT & business training sessions
•ICT & business training sessions
•Monitoring and promotion of ICT use by youth
•Monitoring and promotion of ICT use by youth
farmer groups
farmer groups
•Youth online interactions
•Youth online interactions
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Project Duration
Project Duration
The duration of the project is 36 months,
The duration of the project is 36 months,
starting in December 2012. Follow-up
starting in December 2012. Follow-up
initiatives will be identified before its end.
initiatives will be identified before its end.
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5. Thank You
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6. Thank You
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