PEP Highlights Agriculture-Led Growth as a Pathway to Inclusive Job Creation at AGORA 2025

Africa’s agricultural sector remains one of the continent’s most powerful—yet still underleveraged—engines for inclusive growth and climate-resilient development. Drawing on decades of Southern-led research, PEP argues that transforming agriculture into a competitive, innovation-driven ecosystem is essential for addressing youth unemployment, food insecurity, and economic vulnerability. At AGORA 2025, PEP reinforced that evidence-based agricultural strategies are not optional; they are central to shaping Africa’s economic future.

Following the COP30 negotiations—where food systems, adaptation, and just transitions dominated global discussions—it is clear that agriculture must play a leading role in building climate-resilient and inclusive economies. The summit underscored the urgency of transforming agriculture from subsistence-based production into a high-productivity, innovation-led driver of job creation and structural change.

For Africa—where agriculture supports nearly half of all livelihoods—the need for coherent, evidence-based strategies is particularly acute. PEP’s research consistently demonstrates that such transformation is only possible when policymaking is grounded in rigorous, Southern-generated evidence.

Against this global backdrop, the AGORA 2025 conference provided a timely platform for advancing insights on how research, investment, and governance can converge to position agriculture at the heart of Africa’s economic transformation.

PEP reinforced its commitment to advancing Southern-led solutions for inclusive growth at the inaugural Africa Growth & Opportunity: Research in Action (AGORA) conference—co-hosted by the World Bank Group Institute for Economic Development with the Bank of Italy, Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, and African partners.

Held under the theme “Growth, Energy Transition, and Job Creation in Africa,” the three-day event brought together policymakers, economists, and development experts to explore how research and investment can unlock transformative opportunities across the continent.

PEP Executive Director Prof. Jane Mariara moderated a high-level session on Agriculture-Led Development, guiding a forward-looking discussion on how agriculture and related investments can serve as sustainable engines of inclusive growth and job creation.

The distinguished panel featured:

• Carola Alvarez, Managing Director, Office of Development Effectiveness, IFAD
• Chris Barrett, Stephen B., and Janice G. Ashley Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University
• Brahima Sangafowa Coulibaly, Vice President and Director of Global Economy and Development, Brookings Institution
• Mohamed Manssouri, Director, Investment Centre, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Their reflections converged around a common message: agriculture must be understood not simply as a sector, but as an ecosystem that requires coordinated action across research, innovation, policy, and enterprise.

Key insights included:

• Chris Barrett called for sustained investment in research and effective risk management to strengthen agricultural systems and resilience.
• Mohamed Manssouri highlighted the need for long-term private sector engagement to drive innovation and scale.
• Carola Alvarez emphasized the importance of policy coherence and country-led strategies to ensure lasting impact.
• Brahima Sangafowa Coulibaly stressed the need to place agriculture at the heart of job creation and regional integration, supported by predictable governance and inclusive policy frameworks.

Prof. Mariara noted:
 “It was a great honor for PEP to moderate this high-level panel. The insights shared underline the urgency of transforming agriculture from subsistence into a driver of inclusive prosperity.”

From Evidence to Action: Connecting Research to Real-World Transformation

The AGORA discussions align directly with PEP’s ongoing work to connect agricultural transformation, clean energy, and inclusive job creation across Africa. Through initiatives such as:

• What Works for Youth Employment in Africa
• Clean Energy for Development in Africa
• PEP-supported research projects on agriculture, climate resilience, and enterprise growth

PEP continues to demonstrate how locally generated evidence can guide policy and investment decisions that deliver equitable and sustainable outcomes.

Prof. Mariara reflected:
 “AGORA 2025 was an inspiring example of how evidence can shape action. The energy and expertise in the room reaffirmed our shared commitment to building partnerships that deliver real transformation across Africa.”

PEP was also pleased to see strong participation from its fellows—including AFEP fellow Michel Armel Ndayikeza based in Burundi, Bezawit Adugna Bahru, a PEP-World Bank STARS fellow, Ethiopian-based in Germany, and collaborators such as Simone Borghesi, who also served as a keynote speaker at the June 2025 PEP Policy Conference.

Looking Ahead: Strengthening Global Partnerships for Agriculture-Led Transformation

As African governments and development partners seek to align agricultural investment with inclusive job creation, PEP’s evidence-based insights offer timely guidance. The key message emerging from AGORA 2025 is clear: Africa’s agricultural transformation will be shaped by research, innovation, and strong partnerships—and PEP will continue to contribute through Southern-led evidence and policy engagement.