Abstract
This study generates evidence to understand the impact of agribusiness empowerment programmes
on youth livelihoods in developing countries based on the ENABLE-TAAT programme
implemented in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda. A multistage sampling technique was used in
obtaining primary agribusiness-level data from a sample of 1435 young agripreneurs from the
study countries. An Endogenous Treatment Effect Regression (ETER) model was used to assess the
impact of programme participation on youth livelihoods (income and food security). Results show
that participation significantly increased youth’s agripreneurship income by 7% and improved
food security by 75% for the pooled analysis. The country disaggregation results show that
participation led to a 54% and 37% increase in the income of participants in Nigeria and Uganda,
respectively. Also, positive and significant impacts were obtained for food security in the two East
African countries. These findings suggest policy interventions or programmes focusing on youth
agribusiness empowerment, particularly those that target young actors along different agricultural
value chains. The study also suggests interventions geared towards mitigating constraints to
credit access and productive resources by young agripreneurs to ease barriers to working capital
and business innovation.
Keywords:
Youth unemployment
Agribusiness programme
Youth livelihood
Young agripreneur
Food security