On 5th February 2026, at the M’kango Golfview Hotel in Lusaka, young professionals, researchers, educators, civil society leaders, and government representatives gathered for a networking and sharing event hosted by the Research for Agroecology Network Southern Africa (RAENS). This event was held to bring together research, teaching and practice to advance agroecology.

On 17 February 2026, the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) launched the call for applications for the 2026 #Youth4Soil Mentorship Programme in an online info session.

Regional leaders, scientists, policymakers, and development partners gathered at the ICRAF Campus in Nairobi on January 27–28, 2026 for the inception workshop of a groundbreaking initiative: Establishing an ecosystem of soil data-driven services to meet the Global Fertilizer and Soil Health Challenge. The workshop was anchored in the three‑year project titled “Establishing an Ecosystem of Soil Data-Driven Services to Meet the Global Fertilizer and Soil Health Challenge.” The initiative is implemented by CIFOR-ICRAF and the Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH) in collaboration with the Varda Foundation, with financial support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). It builds on a soil knowledge exchange pilot conducted in 2024 in Kenya and Tanzania, which identified key barriers and opportunities for strengthening collaborative soil data ecosystems 

To commemorate World Wetlands Day 2026, on February 2, 2026 leading youth networks convened a high-level virtual webinar titled “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage through Youth Action for Food Systems and Climate Resilience.”

The event was convened by the Sustainable Food Systems Youth Foundation (SFSYF) in collaboration with World Food Forum (WFF) Nigeria, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Nigeria, LCOY Nigeria, Biodiversity Rescue Club, and partner youth organizations, with technical and promotional collaboration from the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

On 27–28 January 2026, young agrifood system leaders from across Eastern and Southern Africa gathered at the CIFOR-ICRAF Campus in Nairobi for the Soil Health Knowledge Exchange Workshop.

The meeting marked the inception of a three-year initiative, Establishing an Ecosystem of Soil Data-Driven Services to Meet the Global Fertilizer and Soil Health Challenge, implemented by CIFOR-ICRAF in collaboration with the Varda Foundation and supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

The workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, development partners, civil society, private sector actors, and farmer organizations from Kenya, Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania to explore how soil data and knowledge can be better shared and used to advance sustainable land management, food security, and resilient agrifood systems. Within this diverse multi-stakeholder space, the YPARD played a visible and strategic role in championing youth-centered approaches to soil health action.

At the twenty-third session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in Panama City, Panama, young people from around the world gathered to explore how land, food systems, and climate resilience are deeply interconnected. Among the highlights was a keynote conversation with Dr. Barron Joseph Orr, Chief Scientist of the UNCCD, whose work has shaped global understanding of land degradation, drought resilience, and sustainable land management. 

At the twenty-third session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 23) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in Panama City, Panama, the side event “Youth Policy Pathways for Land and Food: Advancing Action on Land Degradation Neutrality” brought together young people, technical experts, and partners to explore the interlinkages between food systems and land, and how youth perspectives can help shape more coherent, inclusive, and actionable approaches to Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The session was co-hosted by the UNCCD Youth Caucus, World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative, and Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) Youth4Soil Initiative.

At the heart of COP30’s Blue Zone, the Action on Food Hub became a stage for one of the most urgent conversations of our time: how to scale farmer-centered restoration through the power of youth leadership. On Saturday, 15 November 2025, global voices converged to spotlight the role of young changemakers in driving soil health, food security and climate resilience.

The session was organized by the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH) in partnership with leading youth networks—including the Youth4Soil Initiative, the UNCCD Youth Caucus, Global Landscapes Forum Restoration Stewards, World Food Forum, International Association for Agriculture Students (IAAS), YOUNGO, and the Young Professionals for Agriculture Development (YPARD). Participants represented a global population from India, Belgium, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Zambia, Peru, and more.

In September 2025, 3 YPARD Zambia members participated in a transformative four-day training under the FACE-NDC Project, aimed at equipping young professionals with practical skills in tree nursery establishment and community forestry management.

Held in Lusaka, the workshop was facilitated by Vincent Ziba from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), with contributions from Arthur Parry of Just One Tree Foundation.

On August 28th, 2025, youth organizations and cooperatives from across Lusaka gathered at Protea Hotel Lusaka Tower for a transformative workshop under the theme “Strengthening Youth Voices in Agri-Food Systems Governance.”

Organized by FAO Zambia and ICLEI Africa, with active participation from YPARD Zambia, the session marked a pivotal moment in building youth capacity to influence food systems governance.

This wasn’t just another training—it was a shift in mindset. Following a series of engagements in agri-food systems governance dialogues and consultations that exposed a gap in youth capacity to effectively engage decision-makers, young leaders came together to move from “What is advocacy?” to “How do we make our advocacy more targeted, meaningful, and influential?”

On 28th and 29th May, 2025, Youth including Young professionals from the YPARD Zambia Chapter joined industry leaders, policymakers, and agripreneurs for a two-day workshop under the theme "Promoting Youth Entrepreneurship Across Agrifood Systems." Convened by Hydrangea, WEAC, ICLEI, and the FAO, the event focused on unlocking opportunities, improving market access, and driving sustainable innovation in Zambia’s agrifood sector.

The Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda stands at a critical crossroads. Once buoyed by global humanitarian aid, its resident refugees from over five neighbouring nations are now caught in a deepening food crisis following the withdrawal of major food aid support. In this article, I explore a promising, scalable solution: regenerative agriculture rooted in community-based soil knowledge, sustainable agroforestry and permaculture practices, and self-reliant farming. With over 75% of Nakivale’s refugee population relying on agriculture as their primary economic activity, the soil represents more than land. It means our survival. By transforming Nakivale’s struggling smallholders into empowered stewards of their land, we can unlock food security, resilience, and dignity for over 171,000 displaced individuals.

The Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network Global (GCSAYN), under the visionary leadership of its Executive Director, Mr. Divine Ntiokam, successfully convened the Inaugural Symposium on Monday, June 30, 2025. This event was held virtually via Zoom from 9:00am to 11:00am EST and brought together 70 participants from across Africa and beyond.

Organized through the collaborative efforts of the Strategic Planning, Program and Partnership, and Communications working groups (WGs), the symposium focused on building and strengthening capacity, as well as empowering the 4th Cohort of Interns from approved and pilot Centers of Excellence as key drivers of change in achieving the AU 2063 Agenda ‘The Africa We Want” and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ( 17 SDGs).

This Innovative Symposium drew inspiration from the recent GLOBE–NASA 24-hour 2025 Research and Innovation Marathon Relay, themed “Accelerating Towards Water Security Through Community Research and Innovative Technologies.” That 24-hour global relay allocated two-hour session per continent, promoting continuous engagement and showcasing regional impact in reframing tangible, concrete and sustainable solutions to better water resource management in defining a strategic pathway to improving on SDG 6 ( Clean Water and Sanitation).

24 June 2025 | The second virtual #Youth4Soil Solutions Showcase, themed “Restore. Reform. Reap.” spotlighted the critical role youth are playing in reversing land degradation, rethinking failed systems and reaping the collective benefits of healthier ecosystems.

Excerpt:

Soil health took centre stage at the June Climate Meetings (SB 62) in Bonn as the Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health (CA4SH), in partnership with EIT Food and CIFOR-ICRAF, launched a pioneering global network of Soil Action Hubs. The Hubs will act as a collection of decentralised platforms designed to accelerate local soil regeneration, investment and innovation. EIT Food is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

Recently, Nakivale has experienced a significant increase in refugee arrivals driven by various push and pull factors. Addressing these dynamics requires coordinated regional peacebuilding, sustainable development initiatives, and enhanced support for both refugees and host communities.

The community-based organisation AFRICAN YOUTH INTEGRATED FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT (AYISD) has been actively supporting the residents of Nakivale with capacity building and agricultural programming for the past four years. Now, organisers are concerned with how to sustainably accommodate the new influx of refugees to the settlement.

This article explores the context and need for support to the community of Nakivale, and outlines entry points for activists and stakeholders who want to get involved!

Between 23 April and 16 May 2025, the Young Professionals for Agriculture Development (YPARD) hosted a three-part Global Café Series focused on resource mobilization for youth leaders in agricultural development. The series aimed to equip young professionals with practical strategies, insights, and networking opportunities to effectively secure funding, build partnerships, and sustain donor relationships.

Le potentiel des jeunes francophones est immense : ils représentent plus de 50 % des 321 millions de francophones de moins de 35 ans. Les membres du groupe #Jeune4Sol Francophone de la CA4SH incarnent une génération dynamique, créative et scientifiquement engagée. Nos actions en faveur de la santé des sols, pilier de la sécurité alimentaire et de la biodiversité, permettent de bâtir un avenir durable pour les générations futures.

This article refers to soil heroes as people, places or things that stand for soil health even when climate change and other threats are rampant; all living and nonliving components that support the soil ecosystem thus bringing it glory and honour in the form of soil health. 

From February 5th to 9th 2025, I and three other Community Facilitators working with CIFOR-ICRAF in Kenya were privileged to attend a Syntropic Agroforestry and Regenerative Regenerative Agriculture course at ForestFoods in Limuru, Kenya. It was an awesome 4-day training course with intensive learning about the topic coupled with lectures and field activities.

Story and photos by Clemence Mnyika, Community Facilitator with CIFOR-ICRAF Kenya and Member of #Youth4Soil