In the run-up to our international conference on Young People, Farming and Food in March, we held a competition to find the best media reporting in Africa on young people and agriculture. This competition aimed to encourage young and early career journalists and media specialists (between ages 18-40) to investigate the challenges and opportunities associated with young people’s engagement in agriculture, to showcase success stories and best practices that can be replicated, and to raise awareness on the important role of young people in agriculture and rural development.

The competition was open to all media and communication professionals (either print, broadcast or electronic) who are nationals of African states and are from established media houses, private and public sector organisations (e.g. government ministries), and non-governmental organisations including farmer organisations. Either printed or audio entries were invited.

Entries corresponded to one or more of the three main crosscutting themes of the Conference:

• Education and training
• Micro-enterprise development
• The youth bulge – the salvation of African agriculture?

We received over 40 entries from 21 countries. These were shortlisted to 10 print entries and 5 audio entries from which the best print and best audio journalistic piece were selected using established criteria. These two finalists were fully supported to attend the international conference on Young People, Farming & Food at the University of Ghana, Accra. They were awarded a certificate of recognition during the conference, and invited to report on sessions during the conference.

Besides the winning entries, the top selected pieces have been published and promoted regionally, internationally and on the FAC website.