To mark Canada's second Gender Equality Week, MEDA is highlighting important issues and voices around women’s empowerment and gender equality in the area of economic development. This is the first installment of our #EveryoneBenefits blog series. This is written by MEDA Project Manager, Catherine Walker on the importance of integrating youth into the gender equality discussion.

Young men and women are the future leaders and employers of tomorrow. If we can educate youth now on the benefits and importance of gender equality for all there is huge potential for positive change.

Agriculture as a sector is a particularly important vehicle for gender equitable employment going forward. Agriculture is central to the economies of many developing nations; however, there are generally low levels of interest among youth in engaging in agriculture as a career. Young people are migrating to cities in search of jobs when there is huge potential in agricultural production. That is if we can convince young people that this potential exists and give them the skills and resources needed to harness it.  

To mark International Women’s Day 2018, MEDA is highlighting important issues and voices around women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in the area of economic development. This is the second in our “Press for Progress” blog series celebrating the power of women entrepreneurs and their partners around the world.

International Women’s Day is an occasion to celebrate the achievements of remarkable young women, women like Mebrehit Hagos. Mebrehit is one of the recipients of the first round of grants provided to graduating agricultural students in in Ethiopia to start their own businesses. This program is being implemented by MEDA and Dalhousie University through the Agricultural Transformation Through Stronger Vocational Education (ATTSVE) project. The project, funded by the government of Canada, is intended to better prepare graduates from 4 selected agricultural colleges across the country to gain employment after graduation, including self-employment through entrepreneurship. The grant program is a key part of the project’s strategy to support Ethiopia’s budding young entrepreneurs.