Youth

RURAL EMPLOYMENT

agripreneurship
and pathways
of change

Results and lessons

learned from
Guatemala and Uganda
Youth agripreneurship and
pathways of change
Results and lessons learned from
Guatemala and Uganda

Authors
Ileana Grandelis, Hitomi Ho and Silvia Storchi

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Rome, 2024
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Cover page: © FAO/Rubí López

Contents

Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................................................................. v

Abbreviations........................................................................................................................................................................vii

CHAPTER 1

Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 1

CHAPTER 2

Background.....................................................................................................................................3

CHAPTER 3

Methodology of the assessment conducted............................................................................9

CHAPTER 4

Overview of change in terms of youth social networks,

skills, empowerment, and access to finance ........................................................................ 15

CHAPTER 5

Overview of change in terms of business revenues and job creation.............................27

CHAPTER 6

Feedback received from partners on project implementation,

sustainability and replicability................................................................................................33

CHAPTER 7

Conclusions and lessons learned ............................................................................................35

References ....................................................................................................................................38

iii
 Figures, tables and boxes

Figures Tables
Figure 1. Top three main changes experienced Table 1. Research questions............................................. 9
in 2021/2022 by country, gender,
Table 2. Summary of data collected
and integrated country approach (ICA)
by tool and country............................................ 10
contribution scale.............................................. 16
Table 3. Average monthly gross business revenue
Figure 2. Top three short-term effects of
by country and gender....................................... 29
integrated country approach (ICA)
by country and gender....................................... 16 Table 4. Number of workers at the endline by country,
gender of respondents, and type of workers..... 29
Figure 3. Least three areas of change experienced
in 2021/2022 and FAO contribution scale
by country and gender....................................... 23
Boxes
Figure 4. Least three short-term effects of
Integrated Country Approach (ICA) Box 1. The holistic rural entrepreneurship
by country and gender....................................... 23 support initiative in Guatemala........................... 4
Figure 5. Percentage of endline respondents Box 2. The YIYA initiative in Uganda.............................. 6
who reported increase in Business revenue
Box 3. Tools used in the assessment .......................... 12
or income by country and gender...................... 29
Figure 6. Percentage of endline respondents
who reported increase in workers by country,
type of worker, and gender................................ 29

iv
Acknowledgements

This document was developed in the context The authors would also like to extend their thanks
of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the to Peter Wobst, the ICA budget holder, and other
United Nations (FAO) project “Integrated Country members of the Rural Transformation and Gender
Approach (ICA) for boosting decent jobs for youth Equality Division (ESP), in particular Marwan
in the agrifood system” (2019–2023). Benali, Niclas Benni, Lauren Phillips, and Nicholas
Sitko, for their feedback and insights.
The authors would like to give special thanks to
evaluation consultants Gertrude Atukunda in FAO Finally, the authors would like to thank all the
Uganda and Anabella del Rosario Lopez in FAO young entrepreneurs and groups, implementation
Guatemala, and the ICA national coordinators partners, family and community members who
Edward Tanyima in Uganda and Otto Mora in kindly provided their time and information for
Guatemala, for their support in data collection and this process.
overall facilitation of the field work. Special thanks
also go to Tumwebaze Khamutima, CEO of the
Young Farmers Champions Network (YOFCHAN)
and to multiple youth members of YOFCHAN for
the significant support they provided for data
collection in Uganda.

v
© FAO

vi
Abbreviations

ADER Agent of Economic Rural Development

ESP Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FGD focus group discussion

ICA Integrated Country Approach

II individual interview

KII key informant interview

MUBS Makerere University Business School

NGO non-governmental organization

NFLC Uganda National Farmers Leadership Center

NSYEA National Strategy for Youth Employment in Agriculture

OSH occupational safety and health

Sida Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

ToC theory of change

UDB Uganda Development Bank

UNYFA Young Farmers’ Federation of Uganda

YC youth champion

YIYA Youth Inspiring Youth in Agriculture Initiative

YOFCHAN Young Farmers Champions Network

vii
© FAO
CHAPTER 1

Introduction

This document presents the results and lessons The assessment aimed to contribute to an
learned in the domain of youth entrepreneurship improved understanding of the underlying
emerging from the implementation of specific motives and processes of change in relation
pilot models in Guatemala and Uganda in to youth entrepreneurship. For this purpose,
the frame of the project “Integrated Country it explored changes in the lives of direct
Approach (ICA) for boosting decent jobs for beneficiaries as well as their families and
youth in the agrifood system”. The ICA project, communities, along with collecting feedback
funded primarily by the Swedish International on the implementation process. Changes in
Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), was business activities and performance, business
implemented by the Food and Agriculture knowledge, skills and networks, and changes at
Organization of the United Nations (FAO) during family and community levels were investigated.
three project phases (2011–2014, 2015– Based on the findings of the assessment
2018, and 2019–2023). The third phase was conducted, this document summarizes lessons
implemented in Guatemala, Senegal, Uganda, learned and recommendations for future
Kenya, and Rwanda. project implementation.

More specifically this document presents the

methodology and findings of a mix-method
assessment of the effects of the ICA pilot
models implemented in Guatemala and Uganda,
respectively the Holistic Rural Entrepreneurship
Support Initiative, and the Youth Inspiring Youth
in Agriculture Initiative (YIYA), which were
implemented during the period 2020–2022.

1
© FAO
CHAPTER 2

Background

The ICA approach embodies several FAO core Chapman, 2016). The latter suggested prioritizing
functions in synergy, including knowledge interventions that offer medium- to long-term
generation, policy and normative support, technical training (3 weeks to 9 months), in combination
advice and capacity development, as well as with other entrepreneurship support for their
partnerships, advocacy, and communication. higher chances of success, whereas short-term
During the third ICA phase (2019–2023), in each training, provision of finance only, or job placement
ICA country, innovative approaches were piloted only were not considered to help improve the
for skills development, mentoring and incubation, youth socioeconomic situation. Such analysis
financial and digital inclusion, and youth-centred was integrated in the participatory development
public-private partnerships along the value of the ToC, aiming to support and accompany
chain. Each pilot was designed together with youth beneficiaries over approximately one year,
the main government counterpart of the project, including with training and facilitation of access to
depending on countries’ specific needs or ongoing finance. Additional empowerment and networking
country efforts that needed further support. Youth components were also included in the approach
organizations were engaged as much as possible (e.g. the construction of peer-to-peer networking)
as co-implementers, while also benefitting from to support sustainability of the project and provide
the interventions. The pilot models were designed opportunities for empowerment and learning. This
to support existing youth micro and small is consistent with the literature, which emphasizes
agripreneurs to become more sustainable, solid, the importance of common group identity in social
and to grow, thus also generating jobs and other learning and communications (BenYishay and
support opportunities for other youth. Mobarak, 2019). In summary, the ToC assumed
Through the pilot models’ implementation, that when dynamic youth or youth organizations
the ICA aimed to identify lessons learned, with entrepreneurial potential receive adequate
partnerships and implementation modalities and long-term support, including training,
to inform further scaling‑up while advocating facilitation of access to finance, visibility, and
for overall attention to youth engagement and group cooperation support, this results in positive
employment in agrifood systems. income growth, job creation, as well as positive
community effects.
The theory of change (ToC) of the ICA pilot
models was developed through a participatory In Guatemala, the pilot model implemented was
approach, engaging with representatives of the Holistic Rural Entrepreneurship Support
youth organizations, the FAO country offices, Initiative. This model was designed based on
and national stakeholders. Further, existing the evidence of the lack of adequate business
studies were analysed that had already evaluated development services for rural agripreneurs and
the impact of youth employment programmes aimed to demonstrate youth potential to generate
on socioeconomic indicators (Bello et al., 2021; dynamism in the rural economy (FAO, 2020).
Kluve et al., 2016; Adeyanju, Mburu and Mignouna, See Box 1 for more information on the initiative
2021; Chioda et al., 2021; Krause, McCarthy and implemented in Guatemala.

3
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

Box 1. The holistic rural entrepreneurship support initiative in Guatemala

The Holistic Rural Entrepreneurship coaching for both individual and collective
Support Initiative identified and supported businesses with a focus on business skills,
youth producers, micro-agripreneurs and marketing and group cooperation, facilitated
youth-led organizations or groups, in the through project technicians and contracts
prioritized migration-prone Departments of with local NGOs; 3. Support to youth financial
Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, inclusion (both savings and credits) through
and Totonicapán. the implementation of financial pilot
models adapted to rural youth developed in
Youth beneficiaries were selected through
partnership with youth organizations and a
local partners and youth organizations,
local cooperative; 4. Technical support for
based on their engagement in agricultural
selected youth groups on value addition
value chains in the prioritized municipalities.
through processing and innovation support
It should also be noted that since the ICA
(in partnership with a local NGO); 5. Digital
2021–2022 phase in Guatemala was designed
literacy and access support through the
as a consolidation of the previous 2015–2018
digital platform Chisparural, namely through
phase, it continued to engage the youth Agents
its Chispa Lab, for capacity building, and
of Economic Rural Development (ADERs)
its Vitrina, which offers entrepreneurs a
that were trained in the previous phase and
digital space to present their businesses;
that were still found active in the market
and 6. Additional ad hoc support in terms of
in 2021 (15 of the 60 ADERs trained in 2017).
partnerships with the private sector, access
The ADERs, selected through a call and a
to markets, participation in fairs and local
competitive process in 2017, had been trained
governance meetings, knowledge exchanges,
through the ICA Entrepreneurship Factory
and overall visibility. Additional desired
initiative, facilitated by the non‑governmental
components, which could not be funded in
organization (NGO) Grupo Enlace and
the 2020–2022 pilot, included developing
established in Quetzaltenango in 2017. In
marketing information and linkages, and more
addition to the ADERs, additional youth were
transformative value chain upgrading strategies.
identified through local partners and youth
organizations. Minimum requirements for In total, the ICA in Guatemala supported
the selection included the following: living 16 youth organizations or groups and more
and working in the prioritized municipalities than 500 young individuals, of which around
of Guatemala; being 18–35 years of age; and 50 percent were young women, and more than
having basic literacy and numeracy skills. 75 percent belonged to Indigenous Peoples.
Selection criteria encompassed motivation, Around 30 enterprises were linked to the
including for community development; an School Feeding Program to sell their products,
entrepreneurial and winning attitude; and and more than 65 businesses displayed in the
engagement in the sector. Chisparural Vitrina page.

The support provided to youth was organized The initiative was designed and implemented
around six pillars, namely: 1. One year together with the Ministry of Economy
agricultural technical support, facilitated (MINECO), as well as with local NGOs,
through project technicians and contracts incubators and training centres. Training,
with local NGOs; 2. One year entrepreneurship marketing and business coaching was

4
Chapter 2.Background

offered in partnership with local NGOs transformation of vegetable raw materials

such as Asociación Desarrollo Agricola y from ICA young producers. Finally, the
Microempresarial (ADAM) [Agricultural and pilot initiative on financial inclusion was
Microenterprise Development Association] implemented with a financial cooperative
and Asociación Estudios de Cooperación – Cooperativa Integral de Ahorro y Credito
de Occidente (ECO) [Western Cooperation Desarrollo Comunitario Buenabajense
Studies Association]. The partnership [Comprehensive Savings and Credit
established with the NGO Grupo Enlace Cooperative for the Community Development
enabled the establishment of an Innovation of Buenabaj], and two youth organizations,
and Development Laboratory in their food- namely Asociación de Desarrollo Integral
processing school plant. The laboratory de Jóvenes Emprendedores (ADIJE)
has been in charge of designing processes, [Association for the Integral Development
methodologies, and technologies for the of Young Entrepreneurs] and Cooperativa
development of nutrition-sensitive products de Comercialización Emprendedores del
(i.e. Nutrisoup or Nutripuré) for schools Valle (COOPEVA) [Marketing Cooperative of
and the national market, based on the Entrepreneurs of the Valley].

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

©FAO/Leonessa Crisci

5
Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

In Uganda, the pilot model implemented was The YIYA 2021–2022 round was informed by an
the Youth Inspiring Youth in Agriculture (YIYA) internal analysis of the 2017–2018 first round
initiative, which aimed to identify and support (FAO, 2021; Ose 2021a, b), which provided positive
youth champions (YCs) in the agriculture sector. feedback on the adequacy of the original ToC of
This model was designed based on the evidence the ICA champions’ approach while suggesting
that, while Uganda is one of the countries with the some improvements (i.e. from establishing a
highest proportions of young people (76 percent technical working group among the organizations
of the population being under 30 [UNDESA, partnering for the approach to engaging youth
2022]), the role of youth as contributors to rural organizations to support implementation). See
transformation was not adequately valued and Box 2 for more information on the YIYA initiative
harnessed (FAO, 2019). implemented in Uganda.

Box 2. The YIYA initiative in Uganda

The YIYA initiative identified and supported development and environmental sustainability;
youth champions (YCs) in the agriculture an entrepreneurial and champion-like attitude
sector. The approach had already been tested (i.e. interest in mentoring other youth);
at very small scale in 2017–2018 and was then employment creation potential; and previous
scaled up as the main ICA implementation training on agriculture and years of activity in
model in Uganda in 2021–2022. In total, the sector.
25 YCs were identified in the first round of the
The support provided to the selected YCs was
initiative implemented in 2017–2018 and 270
organized around four pillars, namely:
(two per district; 181 males and 89 females) in
1. Recognition as champions through awarding
the second round in 2021–2022.
ceremonies at local, regional and national
Youth champions were selected through level, with the aim to increase the visibility of
calls for applications spread via local district the young agripreneurs and their connections
offices and youth organizations websites. with the agripreneurship ecosystem in Uganda,
For the 2021–2022 YIYA round, more than including youth organizations; 2. One-week
1 200 applications were received, thrice mindset change and sustainable agribusiness
the number received in 2017. Applications training, focusing on agripreneurship and
were then screened on the basis of agreed environmental sustainable agronomic
selection criteria by a panel of judges from practices, decent work and peer-to-peer
selected organizations, including youth support; 3. Training and coaching on access
organizations active in the implementation of to finance and linkages to business support
the National Strategy for Youth Employment in services to improve YCs' business plans and
Agriculture (NSYEA). Minimum requirements financial literacy and possibly access available
included: living and working in Uganda, being financial products; and 4. Additional ad hoc
18–35 years of age, and previous involvement support for more successful champions,
in agriculture and agribusiness. The selection including small prizes (equipment),
criteria included the following: interest participation in fairs and exhibitions,
and motivation, including for community knowledge exchanges and policy dialogues

6
Chapter 2.Background

such as those related to mainstreaming youth additional 85 champions, with less-advanced

issues into Uganda’s National Development economic activities, were informed about other
Plan (NDP III) Agro‑industrialization financial options offered at national level,
programme, and overall visibility as well as their specific requirements and interest rates.
broad opportunities for all champions to attend Finally, around eight champions, scored as “top
webinars (e.g. with financial institutions and champions” because of their performance and
entities supporting business formalization). active role, received prizes in the form of small
Additional desired components, which could equipment with a value equivalent to about
not be funded in the 2021–2022 pilot, included: USD 850, as well as more support in accessing
longer-term tailored technical agricultural visibility opportunities or partnerships
advisory services, acceleration support facilitated by FAO.
and one-year mentoring for all champions;
The YIYA was designed and implemented
facilitation of peer-to-peer exchanges; and
together with the Ministry of Agriculture,
provision of small grants.
Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF),
More specifically, in the 2021–2022 round, the the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social
best 270 youth agripreneurs were awarded Development (MGLSD) and two youth
at district and regional levels; then, following organizations, namely the Young Farmers
additional screening, 135 YCs (43 percent Champions Network (YOFCHAN) and the
female) were selected as national champions Young Farmers Federation of Uganda
and trained for one week at the Uganda (UNYFA). During the process, several
National Farmers Leadership Center (NFLC). Of organizations expressed interest in the
those, 50 champions were further trained by approach and joined the effort, such as AVSI
Makerere University Business School (MUBS) through their Skilling in Agripreneurship for
on aspects of business management and increased Youth employment project, which
marketing and coached to prepare business cost-shared the champions’ regional awards
plans and additional related documentation ceremonies, and UDB and MUBS, which
to eventually access Uganda Development partnered with FAO in exploring financial
Bank (UDB) loans for youth agripreneurs. An inclusion opportunities for the YCs.

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

7
©FAO
© FAO
CHAPTER 3

Methodology of the
assessment conducted

The assessment employed primary and It was also out of the scope of the assessment
secondary data, using a mix of qualitative to analyse the cost of the ICA interventions
and quantitative approaches, including relative to its benefit. The data collection for
pre- and post-surveys and case studies. The this assessment was conducted in the last
assessment is not a rigorous impact evaluation quarter of 2022. Research questions are
and does not statistically assess causality. summarized in Table 1.

TA B L E 1
Research questions

AREAS RESEARCH QUESTIONS SECTION

IN REPORT

Effects in terms of youth nnHow and to what extent has the capacity of youth to raise 4
social networks, skills, the issues they care for, initiate a process of change in the
community and family, and make their voice heard, changed?
empowerment, and access to
finance (Outcome level). nnHow and to what extent have the technical and entrepreneurial
capacities of youth changed, including their skills and
confidence?
nnHow and to what extent have the social and business networks
of youth changed?
nnHow and to what extent have the business activities,
performance and financial practices changed?
nnWhat effect has the project had on youth to access finance?
nnIs there any gender difference in the effect?
nnHow have the youth beneficiaries perceived the holistic support’s
contribution towards the changes?

Socioeconomic effects of nnWhat effect has the project had on the business revenues of the 5
the ICA support in terms of young agripreneurs supported?
business revenues and job nnWhat effects has the project had in terms of job creation for
creation (Impact level) other youth or broader effects in the agripreneurs’ communities?
nnDid the ToC of the project work as expected?

Efficiency, transparency, nnHow efficient and transparent was the implementation process 6
sustainability, and replicability of and decision‑making related to the planning and delivery of
the implementation of the holistic activities?
support nnWill project activities be sustained and replicated after the FAO
funding ends?

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

9
© FAO Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

Primary collection tools included, first, a partners and community leaders, individual
structured online endline survey carried out with interviews (IIs) were carried out with selected
youth beneficiaries, and, second, a qualitative youth beneficiaries and focus group discussions
component of the assessment that investigated (FGDs) with youth beneficiaries, their families,
in more depth the main changes that youth and youth trained by the ICA youth beneficiaries.
experienced in the last two years and the main Sample size is summarized in Table 2, and each
drivers of change. For this purpose, key informant tool is briefly described in Box 3.
interviews (KIIs) were conducted with project

TA B L E 2
Summary of data collected by tool and country

TOOL G UAT E M A L A UGANDA

Endline survey with individual youth beneficiaries 103 76
(20% of target) (28% of target)

KIIs with project partners, groups that received support, and 16 10

community leaders

IIs with selected youth agripreneurs (direct beneficiaries) 17 14

FGDs with top youth beneficiaries 2 2

(1 female-only and (1 female-only and
1 male-only) 1 male-only)

FGDs with top youth beneficiaries’ families 4 4

FGDs with other youth trained by top youth beneficiaries 4 4

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

10
Chapter 3.Methodology of the assessment conducted

© FAO
Among the challenges experienced during data the 270 youths preselected for the trainings, in
collection is the relatively low level of response Guatemala it was conducted with an initial group
to the online endline survey (i.e. 20 percent of of youth mapped in the territories as potential
500 targeted youths in Guatemala and 28 percent beneficiaries of the ICA activities. However,
of 270 in Uganda). According to conversations some of the initially mapped youth did not
with the country teams, the reasons for this can finally concretize as beneficiaries for different
be attributed to youths’ reluctancy to use their reasons (e.g. lack of interest, mobility and so
own mobile data to fill the survey, technical on) while new beneficiaries were added because
issues impeding completion of the survey, as new opportunities for support emerged jointly
well as some research fatigue (i.e. some youth with other partners therefore enlarging the final
mentioned that FAO had interviewed them beneficiaries’ population. Another challenge
in different occasions outside this specific experienced, especially in the case of Guatemala,
initiative). Also, in the case of Guatemala, there was the fact that the interviews conducted by
was significant discrepancy between youth the local consultant often did not result in a good
covered by the baseline survey and youth understanding of the reasons for change, making
covered in the endline one. This is because while the attribution to the ICA intervention less explicit
in Uganda the baseline survey was sent to all and therefore more difficult to confirm.

11
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

Box 3. Tools used in the assessment

An endline survey on KoboToolbox

nn and perception of the work of the youth
distributed to all the youth beneficiaries in agripreneurs supported. Interviews with
both countries (500 youths in Guatemala cooperatives and youth groups explored
and 270 in Uganda). The survey replicated changes in the membership and governance
the baseline survey conducted prior to of the cooperative or group, core operational
the interventions, with new questions capabilities, as well as the skills of members
added onto respondents’ self-evaluations and staff.
about the changes they had experienced
Semi-structured individual interviews (IIs)
nn
between pre- and post-intervention
with youth agripreneurs who had received
phases, the initiatives’ short-term effect,
different levels of support. These interviews
and the implementation process and its
explored changes in participants’ business
transparency. The youth beneficiaries
activities, performance, and financial
self‑administered the online survey, and the
practices, in their skills and confidence in
project country team provided support in
making business decisions and advising
case of need, while a local consultant fluent
other youth, in their social and business
in local languages was trained in how to
networks, as well as in terms of their family
administer the qualitative data collection
well-being and relationships with the
tools. Interviews and group discussions
broader community. In addition, interviews
were mainly conducted in person. However,
explored youth perspectives about the cause
in some instances they were carried
of any changes experienced in the last two
out online or by phone when it was not
years. A stratified random sampling was
possible to meet respondents in person.
adopted, based on the following strata:
Languages used were Spanish in Guatemala,
i. geographic scope (i.e. including different
and English and local dialects (Rutooro,
geographic areas in terms of their distance
Runyankore and Luganda) in Uganda.
from urban centres and main services);
Key informant interviews (KIIs)
nn ii. gender (i.e. female and male beneficiaries
with implementing partners, leaders were equally selected within the sample);
of communities where “top youth and iii. different degrees of support received
beneficiaries” are based (i.e. beneficiaries (i.e. only training or also facilitation of
having received the full package of access to finance). Given the small sample
support), and cooperatives and youth size, the adopted sampling method was
groups. With implementing partners, however not intended to ensure the
the interviews explored participants’ representativeness of the entire population
opinions regarding the efficiency and of youth beneficiaries.
transparency of implementation, the
Focus group discussions (FGDs) with both
nn
challenges and successes experienced, as
direct and indirect beneficiaries. With “top
well as the sustainability and replicability
youth beneficiaries”, the FGDs (with women
of the initiative. With community leaders,
and men respectively) explored their
KIIs investigated changes in terms of
perspective on the different components
youth involvement in agriculture, as
of the initiative, what worked well and
well as community leaders’ awareness
the challenges experienced. With families

12
Chapter 3.Methodology of the assessment conducted

of “top youth beneficiaries” (selected these changes. With other youth trained
through the youth agripreneurs’ referral, by the “top youth beneficiaries” (selected
for up to 6 available members aged 15+), through referral by the youth agripreneurs,
the FGDs explored changes in household community leaders, and agricultural
income‑generating activities and assets, officers), the FGDs explored changes in
family decision-making over money and youth involvement in agriculture, and the
expenses, family well-being (e.g. health, changes participants experienced as a
education, and food security), as well as result of the training they received from the
the family members’ perspective about youth agripreneurs.
the contribution of the initiative to any of

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

©FAO/Rubí López

13
© FAO
CHAPTER 4

Overview of change
in terms of youth social
networks, skills, empowerment,
and access to finance

The findings of the assessment show that the The results in terms of social networks’ focus
ICA pilot models implemented in Guatemala and on the connections with other youth, resulting in
Uganda were very successful at building social peer‑to‑peer learning. According to the results
networks around the beneficiaries. Together of the endline survey (see Figure 1), in Uganda,
with individual entrepreneur characteristics, “connecting with peer youth” was the most
firm characteristics (e.g. firm age, formality, cited self-reported change, with more young
and access to finance), and contextual factors women than men reporting it (74 vs 65 percent).
(e.g. business environment), relational factors According to the respondents’ self-evaluation,
such as social networks and value chains are the ICA activities had a high contribution (above
considered among the key factors for the growth 7 on a scale from 1 to 10) towards this change.
of micro and small enterprises in developing For Guatemala, other changes were more
countries (Nichter and Goldmark, 2009). As frequently reported, but “connecting with peer
pointed out by the youths themselves during the youth” was reported by 23 percent of men and
interviews and reflected in the literature (Brüderl 15 percent of women. Also, “better connected
and Preisendörfer, 1998), social networks with peer youth” was reported as the highest
are important channels for gaining access to and second-highest short-term perceived effect
information, customers and suppliers, as well as of the ICA support in Guatemala and Uganda
financial resources. Cultivating them demands respectively (see Figure 2).
time to initiate and consolidate, particularly for
those youth-led businesses that lack the easy
entrance through family and kin (Greve and
Salaff, 2003).

15
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

FIGURE 1
Top three main changes experienced in 2021/2022 by country, gender, and integrated country approach
(ICA) contribution scale

U GAN DA GUAT EMAL A

80 7.6 7.5 8.0 80 8.0
74 7.1
69
70 67 7.0 70 6.6 7.0
65

60 60 5.8
56
54 6.6 54 6.0 6.0

PERCENTAGE
PERCENTAGE

52
50 50 48
43

SCALE

SCALE
5.0 5.0
40 40 38
4.0 30 4.0
30 26 30 28 28 26
26
3.0 3.0
20 20
12
10 2.0 10 2.0

0 1.0 0 1.0
Connected with Business revenue Developed my Business revenue Employed more Developed my
peer youth has increased business plan has increased temporary business plan
workers

Total Men Women Scale (1–10) Total Men Women Scale (1–10)

Notes: The full list of options was the following: Connected with peer youth, Business revenue has increased, Developed my business plan,
Became more environmentally sustainable, Gained more customers, My income has increased, Registered my business, Employed more
seasonal/temporary workers, Improved my employees’ working conditions, Employed more permanent workers, Initiated to offer a new product
or service , Added value to my product, Obtained financing (e.g. loan, grant), The quality of my agricultural production has increased, and The
quantity of my agricultural production has increased.

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

FIGURE 2
Top three short-term effects of Integrated country approach (ICA) by country and gender

U GAN DA GUAT EMAL A

80 79 80
76
74 73
70 71
70 70
65
62
60 56 60
PERCENTAGE

PERCENTAGE

50 50
43
40 40 37
30 30 32
30 30
25 24
20
20 20 16

10 10

0 0
My confidence as Better connected Gained a better Better connected Got concrete financial My confidence as
an agripreneur with peer youth understanding of my with peer youth or technical support an agripreneur
has increased business and finance for business has increased

Men Women Total Men Women Total

Notes: The full list of options was the following: My confidence as an agripreneur has increased, Better connected with peer youth, Gained a
better understanding of my business and finance, My skills have increased, Became aware of more environmentally sustainable practices,
Identified partners and entities, Initiated the process to formalize my business, Became aware of basic occupational safety and health (OSH)
measures, Got new clients/market partners, Got concrete financial or technical support for my business, and No effect at all.

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

16
Chapter 4.Overview of change in terms of youth social networks, skills, empowerment, and access to finance

© FAO
Further sustaining the results of the survey, the
interviews conducted with selected youth and “I have kept in touch with most of the
partners bring additional details on the appreciation fellow YCs. It has helped accessing
of peer-to-peer exchanges and learning. In Uganda, cheaper raw materials, create and
youth that were trained by YCs shared in the
maintain market linkages, discussing
interviews that a peer‑to‑peer approach is useful
our businesses and how to improve.”
to complement more formal ways of training and
(male respondent, Uganda)
can create further opportunities for youth to learn
and get inspired by others. Project partners also “YIYA encouraged us to create
highly valued the role peer-to-peer approaches
WhatsApp groups for continuous
play in learning as these approaches can create
networking, and we are sharing a lot
strong relationships among youth with a series
regarding our businesses. We give
of benefits for them, such as improved flow of
advice to each other; we inform
information, training and funding opportunities,
and linkages across a variety of services and
each other about the markets and
agribusinesses. This confirms the assumption that training opportunities.”
an approach built around youth champions and role (male respondent, Uganda)

models can be quite effective for accompanying

“Exchanges will always help both
youth in engaging in the sector and growing their
businesses, since it makes it possible for them
parties to learn something new about
to learn and build their self-confidence because what is being done.”
they can visualize a career path and get strategic (male respondent, Guatemala)

direction (Garaika and Margahana, 2019).

17
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

Significant changes were also reported by

“My social networks increased. I know survey respondents (by 43 and 19 percent of
not many youth[s] of my age [who] youth in Uganda and Guatemala respectively)
have my level of exposure to different regarding the visibility and connections with
other partners, beyond youths. Expanded
organizations and to Europe.”
(male respondent, Uganda)
networks was explicitly reported as a main
benefit of participating in policy dialogues,
“YIYA connected us to the diaspora. agricultural exhibitions and fairs in Uganda, while
Some people in the diaspora are looking in Guatemala, the benefit experienced referred
for international African investors more to promoting their products and improving
based here. They did the match making, their commercial experience.1
and I got a partner.” (female respondent, Uganda)
The expansion of networks was also confirmed
in the interviews with selected youth where
Ugandan beneficiaries in particular indicated
that being recognized as a youth champion
and taking part in ICA activities meant being
able to showcase their business ideas and also
increase their connections broadly with other
businesses and organizations. Some youth felt
that the ICA initiative brought visibility to their
businesses and this, in some cases, triggered
other events such as participation in TV and
radio programmes or visits from district and
government officials.

1
When asked in the survey about the benefits of participating
in agricultural exhibitions and fairs, in Uganda both men and
women indicated that the most notable benefit is that they
have expanded their networks (76 percent), followed by finding
new business partners (50 percent), while in Guatemala the
benefit experienced referred more to promoting their products
(63 percent) and improving their commercial experience
(48 percent). About 55 percent of youth beneficiaries in both
Uganda and Guatemala reported they attended agricultural
fairs and exhibitions invited by FAO or ICA partners. In
Uganda, policy dialogues or opportunities to raise voice
were also facilitated for about 63 percent of respondents,
while this support was not provided in Guatemala. As for
policy dialogues in Uganda, the most highly claimed benefit
© FAO

is again “expanded networks” (63 percent), followed by “got

information on important policy processes” (58 percent), and
“managed to raise my voice” (54 percent).

18
Chapter 4.Overview of change in terms of youth social networks, skills, empowerment, and access to finance

Contributing to the expansion in social networks,

a frequently cited intermediate change was “I am a better facilitator of farmer
youth empowerment in terms of increased groups’ training. I am also a better
self‑confidence. This is also expected to mobilizer of farmers and group
contribute to the anticipated result of the
activities. YIYA also improved my
ToC of the project considering the positive
communication skills; I am no longer
linkages between self-confidence, self-efficacy
shy. […] Being selected as a youth
and entrepreneurial intention (Garaika and
champion makes you very confident in
Margahana, 2019; Memon, Soomro and Shah,
2019). In the endline survey, 76 and 24 percent2 interactions with other people.”
(female respondent, Uganda)
of survey respondents in Uganda and Guatemala
respectively reported that their confidence as
“YIYA made me confident; now I can
agripreneurs has increased as a top short‑term
talk to people; I am confident of what I
effect of ICA activities.3 In Uganda, about
am doing. I can give advice.”
two‑thirds of youth champions in IIs mentioned
(male respondent, Uganda)
that a combination of factors linked to taking
part in ICA activities and trainings, such as “My husband appreciates what I am
being more exposed to other organizations and doing. At first, he did not think engaging
more knowledgeable about their businesses,
in growing crops that seem to be on low
has increased their confidence in themselves
demand was worthwhile because most
and in their ability to manage their businesses.
people depend on vegetables that grow
For some of them, this means being able to talk
on their own. But my farm now offers a
about their businesses with other people, advise
and train other farmers and youth, and being able
variety including medicinal herbs. I feel
to talk to the local leaders about the needs of happy about my work. My husband too
youth. Especially for women, being known and is happy because [I] am making money; I
recognized by an international organization was have travelled abroad and to many places
also associated with increased respect by their in the country.” (female respondent, Uganda)
husbands and communities.

2
In the case of Guatemala though, only 24 percent of the
endline survey respondents reported the change, compared to
Uganda. This can be explained by the fact that building youth
confidence and business visibility was a stronger component
of the previous phase of the Guatemala programme (i.e.
training of ADERs, selected through a competitive process
and publicly awarded), than of the current phase (i.e. financial
access, consolidation of businesses and partnership with
youth organizations), with respondents from the previous
phase most probably reflecting more positively on this result
than the larger group of beneficiaries. One of the implementing
partners pointed out indeed that the lack of confidence of the
young entrepreneurs in making decisions remains a challenge
they encountered.
3
Although ICA activities were the most cited contributors
to increased confidence, it is important to note that some
youth also mentioned training events carried out by other
© FAO

organizations, the importance of receiving good feedback

from their customers and the experience they have gained in
farming over the years as reasons for increased confidence.

19
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

Beyond social networks, the second significant

“YIYA taught me how to do farming as contribution of the project was improvement in
a business. I didn’t even think a farm youth skills, especially in relation to the improved
could be registered as a business. So, management and financial practice of youth
agribusiness, as well as a mindset change.
it is now registered. I now keep very
According to the endline survey, “developed a
detailed records of accounts. This has
business plan” (see Figure 1) was the third most
helped to know how the business is
cited self-reported change by youth in Uganda
operating and to provide accountability
and Guatemala (54 and 28 percent respectively).
to the rest of the family members.” According to the respondents, the ICA project had
(male respondent, Uganda)
a high contribution towards this change
“Before, I used to do things in [a] non- (7.5 in Uganda and 6.6 in Guatemala). Also,
business manner. No bookkeeping, “gained better understanding of business and
publicity, no marketing and visibility. financial situation” (62 percent) was among the
Now I [have] learnt that these are top three short-term effects reported by Ugandan
youth from their participation in ICA activities.
important, and I do them. I used to say
The relevance of the effects on mindset change
that I was doing business. During YIYA,
also emerged from the interviews with selected
I realized I was not doing business at all
youth beneficiaries in Uganda: About two‑thirds
because I didn’t know how much profit I
of the youth interviewed mentioned that their
was making.” mindset positively changed as a result of being
(female respondent, Uganda)
selected as a YC and taking part in the training
“We have learned a lot; now we know courses offered under the ICA. Youth shared that
how to calculate costs, have production they were not serious about their businesses
controls, customer controls, and how before and that thanks to the ICA support, they
to present the product. I think that now are now more business‑minded and professional,
which includes separating business revenue
we have the possibility of expanding
from personal income, and keeping records of
mushroom production, but also starting
accounts. In addition, some youth in Uganda
another business.”
specifically mentioned that they have registered
(male respondent, Guatemala)
their business as a result of the ICA trainings.4
“I have learned to calculate costs for Similarly, in Guatemala, all respondents in IIs
my business and that has helped me mentioned that they have experienced positive
control my expenses, save to be able changes in their skills in the last two years. This
to invest again; I also keep my checks, includes a variety of different skills that are
and I have improved the presentation of useful when running an enterprise, with the most
frequently mentioned being management and
my product.”
(female respondent, Guatemala) financial skills, followed by agricultural technical
and sales skills, such as applying modern
agriculture techniques, and using better quality

4
Formalization coaching was provided together with the
International Labour Organization in Uganda, but not in
Guatemala due to the lack of incentives and poor business
enabling environments for formalizing microbusinesses.

20
Chapter 4.Overview of change in terms of youth social networks, skills, empowerment, and access to finance

seeds and fertilizers. About half of the youth

interviewed in Guatemala explicitly mentioned "With respect to mushrooms, the quality
that the ICA helped them in acquiring and has changed a lot because right now
improving these skills. Skills development was we are working on better quality, and
also reported as a main effect of Chisparural.GT,
the customer is more satisfied with
ICA’s digital platform established in Guatemala
the presentation and quality of our
to facilitate youth access to information, digital
products." (male respondent, Guatemala)
literacy, and the development of entrepreneurial
skills. Fifty‑two percent of the endline survey "Last year, I increased the acreage of
respondents reported that they are members avocado. I have also gone into value
of Chisparural, and 72 percent of those that addition by producing oil...I am adding
are members reported having acquired new value to my crops. Oils fetch a good price
knowledge and skills through it.
and higher profits than selling the raw
While the ICA remains the strong contributing products." (male respondent, Uganda)
factor to becoming more professional, some
youth in the IIs also noted that they have acquired
skills through training carried out by other representation. Key informant interviews (KIIs)
organizations, self-learning, and interactions with with the management of the youth organizations
other organizations and youth champions. This supported in Guatemala reported positive changes
shows that different types of learning can be at related to their operational and staff capacity
play simultaneously and reinforce each other. (i.e. registration, development of internal rules
and regulations, improved youth participation).
Beyond strengthening individual skills, Managers mentioned that they had learnt to run
the ICA also supported the capacities and their cooperative or group, how to develop new
visibility of youth organizations. In Guatemala, agricultural enterprises, as well as how to market
capacity‑building activities and technical and better sell their products. The above‑mentioned
support was provided to 16 youth or youth-led changes were explicitly linked to the support
organizations representing about 430 members. In received from FAO and the other institutions with
Uganda, FAO partnered with and provided overall whom the project had facilitated linkages (i.e.
empowerment support to two national youth Ministry of Agriculture, NGOs and Foundations).
organizations, namely YOFCHAN and UNYFA.5
Supporting groups and cooperatives is recognized The skills improvements and enhanced capacity
as a potential contributor to sustainable livelihoods reported by both young agripreneurs and youth
for micro and marginal producers or entrepreneurs organizations also resulted in starting new
since they support producers in various ways agribusinesses and adding new products. In the
including supplying inputs, storage, marketing, and endline survey, 32 and 23 percent of respondents
processing support (Kumar, Wankhede and Gena, in Uganda and Guatemala respectively reported
2015), in addition to leveraging youth voices and even “starting to offer a new product or service”
in the last two years, with ICA’s contribution
scale at 7.5 and 6.0 respectively. Also, 26 and
19 percent of respondents in Uganda and
5
Young Farmers Champions Network (YOFCHAN) represents Guatemala respectively reported having “added
around 1 500 youth champions, heading associations and
companies (each with ~ 15 members), 40 percent being value to my product” with the contribution scale
women. Young Farmers’ Federation of Uganda (UNYFA) at 7.1 in Uganda and 5.2 in Guatemala. Further,
represents 66 Member associations and Youth initiatives, for a
total of 32 000 individual members, 20 percent being women. in the interviews conducted, about two-thirds of

21
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

youth in KIIs in Uganda and all KII respondents reported as an ICA short-term effect by 26 and
in Guatemala mentioned that their organizations 6 percent of youth in Uganda and Guatemala
and members experienced an improvement in respectively (see Figure 4). The correspondent
the quality and quantity of their produce. While qualitative evidence from the interviews remains
Ugandan youth explained these changes through too vague to deepen the analysis.
a variety of reasons, including some of them
Also, access to market remains a challenge
mentioning the ICA's support activities explicitly,
for many youth respondents and groups. The
all youth interviewed in Guatemala made explicit
assessment of short-term effects in the endline
that this was a result of the capacity-building and
survey points to the fact that only 22 percent of
technical support received from the ICA and the
youth in Uganda and 15 percent in Guatemala
organizations to which the ICA linked them up.
saw an effect in terms of getting new clients
Additionally, both organizations and individual or markets partners. In particular, the need to
agripreneurs also paid more attention to respond to market instability and open new
the environmental sustainability of their market channels was expressed by youth
businesses. The majority of respondents to organizations in Guatemala.
the endline survey (99 percent in Uganda and
In general, the training components and
77 percent in Guatemala) reported that they
modalities of the approach were appreciated by
have adopted environmental sustainability
both the youth and implementing partners. In
measures such as organic agriculture and
Uganda, 66 percent of NFLC training participants
agroforestry, agroecology, recycling, and soil
surveyed evaluated that it was very useful.
conservation. In both Uganda and Guatemala,
Similarly in Guatemala, 76 percent of recipients of
endline respondents highly evaluated ICA’s
the agricultural technical support and 63 percent
contribution towards this area at 7.7 and
of recipients of the entrepreneurship and market
7.1. Individual interviews (IIs), and FGDs also
access support evaluated them in the survey
confirm the positive changes in terms of youth
as very useful. Further, according to the endline
increased attention to environmental aspects.
survey results in both Guatemala and Uganda, the
The Integrated Country Approach (ICA) effects ICA is positively perceived to have helped youth
seem relatively limited in regard to socially overcome gender-specific challenges in terms
sustainable practices, which is also due to the of access to education and training. Generally,
characteristics of the micro and small enterprises partners in both countries appreciated the
supported (smaller in Guatemala than in Uganda), completeness of the trainings provided, as they
the widespread levels of informality and the covered a variety of skills and knowledge that
overall limited investment of the project in this young agripreneurs often lack, such as a focus on
area. As for the changes in terms of improving the record-keeping and other entrepreneurship skills,
working conditions of employees and registering including a mindset change to view agriculture as
their businesses, in Uganda 34 and 43 percent a profitable business. The length of the trainings
of surveyed youth respectively reported these might have been a shortcoming in Uganda where
changes (with the ICA contribution at 7.4 and the training offered (i.e. one-week NFLC training
6.3 respectively), but only 3 percent of youth in for champions) was shorter than the medium- to
Guatemala (with the ICA contribution at 6.0 for long-term entrepreneurship training (3 weeks
working conditions and 2.5 for registration), to 9 months) suggested as most effective by
making it the least effect reported (see Figure 3). the literature (Adeyanju Mburu and Mignouna,
Further, becoming aware of basic occupational 2021; Chioda et al., 2021; Krause, McCarthy and
safety and health (OSH) measures was only Chapma, 2016; and Bello et al., 2021).

22
 Chapter 4.Overview of change in terms of youth social networks, skills, empowerment, and access to finance

FIGURE 3
Least three areas of change experienced in 2021/2022 and FAO contribution scale by country and gender

U G AN DA GUAT EMAL A
80 7.5 8.0 80 8.0
7.1
6.9
70 7.0 70 7.0
6.0
60 5.7 60
6.0 6.0
PERCENTAGE

PERCENTAGE
50 50

SCALE
5.0 5.0

SCALE
40 40
35
32 31 4.0 4.0
30 26 26 30
13
19 21 21 22 3.0 2.5 3.0
20 20 9
6 6
10 2.0 10 5 2.0
3 3
0 0
0 1.0 0 1.0
Initiated to offer Added value Obtained financing Employed more Registered my Improved my
a new product to my product (e.g. loan, grant) permanent workers business employees'
or service working conditions
(e.g. OSH)

Total Men Women Scale (1–10) Total Men Women Scale (1–10)

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

FIGURE 4
Least three short-term effects of the Integrated Country Approach (ICA) by country and gender

U GAN DA GUAT EMAL A

80 80

70 70

60 60
PERCENTAGE

PERCENTAGE

50 50

40 40

30 29 30
26
22 23 22 22 23
20 18 20
13 14 14
11 9 10
10 10 6 8
6
2
0 0
Became aware Got new clients/ Got concrete My entrepreneurial Initiated the Became aware
of basic OSH markets partners financial or skills and process to of basic OSH
measures technical support competencies have formalize my measures
for my business increased business

Men Women Total Men Women Total

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

23
© FAO/ Luis Sanchez Diaz Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

A longer approach of full training and incubation building and financial linkages supported through
was too costly and could not be guaranteed to the partnership with incubators (i.e. MUBS) and
all beneficiaries at the implementation stage. development banks (i.e. UDB), and the informative
While a selection of beneficiaries could then be sessions organized by the FAO Country Office (i.e.
accompanied for a longer-term (2–3 months) in webinars for youth to meet financial institutions).
terms of incubation and access to finance, and Youth champions in Uganda mentioned lack of
while the peer-to-peer component of the approach capital as one of their biggest challenges, and the
facilitated a longer commitment in supporting relatively low support received through the ICA in
the youth, the one-week intensive training for all this area was somehow perceived as one of the
was deemed too short. In Guatemala, a much components that did not work well for them. While
longer-term support was provided to the ADERs the limited results achieved (i.e. only three YCs had
(3 months of training, followed by 3 months of accessed UDB loans by the end of the project) also
coaching) and in general to all beneficiaries since depend on the fact that the UDB’s piloted youth
shorter trainings were associated with at least programme was rather new and the dedicated unit
one year of technical assistance in the field. within the bank could be fully staffed only towards
the end of the ICA implementation period, it
Finally, regarding the project’s effects in terms
remains unclear to what extent youth agripreneurs
of youth access to finance, reported changes are
with small-sized enterprises will actually be able
quite different between Uganda and Guatemala
to become clients of formal financial institutions,
and in general underline the need to further
especially since most of them lack security to
consolidate this component of the approach. In
cover their loans and are considered to have
Uganda, “obtained financing” (21 percent, see
poor file‑building standards. Indeed, a more
Figure 3) was the change least mentioned by youth
recent survey conducted by FAO Uganda seems
in the endline survey (with the ICA contribution
to indicate that youth are more successful in
estimated at 5.7). This seems to contradict the
accessing smaller credit amounts through other
efforts made by the project in terms of capacity
financial service providers or Saving and Credit

24
Chapter 4.Overview of change in terms of youth social networks, skills, empowerment, and access to finance

Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs).6 Instead,

in Guatemala, “obtained financing” received
the highest ICA contribution scale in terms of
induced change (7.4), although the change was
only claimed by 28 percent of youth respondents,
basically the recipients of the ICA financial
inclusion component.

Also, as regards access to finance, some gender

gaps emerged from the endline survey. A higher
proportion of men than women reported that
they tried and succeeded in accessing finance,
with a more than 10 percentage point difference,
suggesting that women face additional challenges.
The result is also in alignment with findings from
other studies which showed gender gaps in access
to finance in both countries. In Uganda, 87 percent
of rural women are financially excluded compared
to 83 percent of rural men (FSD Uganda, 2018),
and in Guatemala, only 28 percent of women
have access to financial markets as opposed to
66 percent of men (USAID, 2023). When asked
about the perception of FAO’s support towards
gender‑specific challenges, among the endline
survey respondents in Guatemala only 22 percent
of women indicated that the ICA has contributed
to reducing the gender gaps in this area, compared
to 55 of percent men who indicated that the ICA
has contributed to reducing the gender gaps. In
Uganda, on the other hand, 56 percent of women
indicated the ICA’s contribution compared to
31 percent of men. However, Ugandan female
champions participating in FGDs also mentioned
the additional challenges that female agripreneurs
face in accessing finance since they often do
not own and inherit land and some financial
institutions still require the husband’s signature in
order to access a loan, even when the wife owns
traditional collateral.

6
An additional survey conducted at the end of 2022 by FAO
Uganda and YOFCHAN with the YC recipients of previous
support reported that of 54 respondents, at least 19 YCs
have instead obtained smaller loans (e.g. average amount is
USD 7 300) with other institutions, like SACCOs or commercial
banks like Centenary Bank, DFCU, Equity Bank and Post Bank.
© FAO/Luis Tato

25
©FAO/Saul Palma
CHAPTER 5

Overview of change
in terms of business revenues
and job creation

According to the ICA ToC, the support provided

to the youth agripreneurs and their organizations “Our revenue has increased because we
should have led, through the factors mentioned learnt a lot about financial management,
above (i.e. increased social networks, how to handle finance; you should
empowerment, skills, and access to finance),
not handle business money as your
to increased growth of their businesses, better
money; you should pay yourself, have a
incomes, and job creation.
business plan. Initially, we used to hire
As for the increase in business revenues, high experts to write for us business plans.
proportions of youth in the endline survey in both From the YIYA training, now we can
Uganda and Guatemala reported this change, write it on our own.”
even though the assessment could find only (male respondent, Uganda)
limited quantitative evidence. In Uganda, the
increase of business revenues was self-reported
by around half of surveyed youth (see Figure 5).
The qualitative data obtained from the IIs indicate 2020). In the case of Guatemala, a comparison
that YCs also listed other factors such as being between baseline and endline could not be
hardworking and having received non-ICA external implemented since revenue information was not
support that contributed to their business growth. collected at baseline. However, the self-reported
In Guatemala, 38 percent of surveyed youth amount of business revenue at endline, remains
reported that their business revenue has increased below the minimum wage in Guatemala for the
with the ICA contribution scale at 7.1, and this area agricultural sector7 (see Table 3). While youth have
is the top cited change (see Figure 5). diversified livelihoods and their agribusiness might

A comparison between the actual values

self‑reported by the youth in the baseline and
endline surveys in Uganda shows indeed an
7
Guatemala’s minimum wage varies by sector. In accordance with
Government Agreement No. 278-2021, the monthly minimum
average increase of the reported monthly business wage for 2022 in the agricultural sector is GTQ 3 122 (around
revenue (gross) of 20 percent for men and USD 396), while for non-agricultural jobs is GTQ 3 209 (around
USD 407). The reported business revenue by the youth was on
11 percent for women (see Table 3). The latter average GQT 2 843, which is lower than the monthly minimum
seems rather positive if we consider that findings wage in Guatemala for the agricultural sector. A similar situation
did not emerge in Uganda, where already at baseline both youth
in the literature indicate that a typical business champions’ incomes and revenues were above the poverty line.
training is effective in increasing profits and sales In Uganda, the national poverty line is UGX 30 611 (UBOS, 2018)
and, according to the latest labour force survey 2020/2021, the
of businesses by 5 to 10 percent (McKenzie, median monthly cash earnings were UGX 200 000 (UBOS, 2022).

27
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

only be one component of them,8 this raises some In Uganda, 42 percent of endline survey
concerns about the profitability of the businesses respondents, with no major difference between
promoted and demands more in-depth analysis. men and women, reported that they employed
temporary workers, compared to 33 percent who
Also, in general terms, the interval between the
reported that they employed permanent workers
support and endline surveys (one to two years) is
in the last two years. On average, the total number
probably too short to see a significant change,9
of permanent workers increased by 1.0, and the
and the effects of COVID-19 during the period of
total number of temporary workers by 4.2 between
implementation should also be better factored
the baseline and endline. In Guatemala, 28 percent
in. At least for Guatemala, some youth explicitly
of endline survey respondents reported that
mentioned how the pandemic affected their
they employed temporary workers, compared to
businesses, and that they had to reduce or interrupt
only 9 percent who reported that they employed
their production for logistical challenges due to
permanent workers in the last two years (see
mobility restrictions. Finally, it was not possible to
Figure 6 for more details). While the comparison
adequately evaluate the effects of the increase of
with a baseline cannot be implemented in the
business revenues in terms of individual incomes,
case of Guatemala,11 the increase in temporary
which is an area in need of additional analysis.
employees was one of the most cited changes
As for the jobs created for other youth, according by the youth surveyed, and therefore it can be
to the assessment, the youth agripreneurs assumed that the project made a contribution in
supported by the ICA contributed to the that regard. Qualitative data also corroborate the
employment generation of mainly temporary positive trend regarding employment generation.
workers in both countries, which they partially About two-thirds of the youth interviewed in
explicitly attributed to ICA. The fact that more Uganda and half of those in Guatemala, both men
temporary than permanent jobs are generated and women, said that they have employed more
seems linked to the seasonality of agricultural people in the last two years,12 mostly as temporary
production, where most of the businesses workers. They explain this mainly as a result
operate. It also coincides with results of the most of increased demand and market access, thus
recent labour force survey in Uganda that the the need to increase the production, with youth
majority of agricultural workers only spend part of linking it explicitly to the ICA support received. In
their time in agriculture (UBOS, 2022).10 the survey, Ugandan respondents evaluated the
ICA contribution scale at 6.9, and Guatemalan
respondents at 5.8.

8
Only 36 percent of men and 22 percent of women reported
that their agribusiness is their main income source, while
others reported that salary/wage in agriculture or in
non‑agriculture is the main income source. 11
This is due to the discrepancy between baseline and endline
9
Other studies conducted follow-up surveys three to five years respondents in the Guatemala surveys which has been
after interventions to measure medium to long-term impact explained in the methodology section. However, it can still be
(Chioda et al., 2021 and Blattman, Dercon and Franklin, 2022). noted that, at the baseline, there were no (zero) permanent
workers for both men and women, and 0.8 temporary workers
10
According to the latest labour force survey, the average actual
for men and 0.4 temporary workers for women.
hours worked on the main job is 28.2 hours per week in the
agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors, which is less than 12
Some youth in Guatemala, having been supported through two
the average actual weekly hours of work on the main job in project phases, might however be referring to a broader period
Uganda at 36.9 hours. in their answers.

28
 Chapter 5.Overview of change in terms of business revenues and job creation

FIGURE 5 FIGURE 6
Percentage of endline respondents who reported Percentage of endline respondents who reported
increase in business revenue or income by country increase in workers by country, type of worker,
and gender and gender

80 8.0 80 8.0
7.1
69 6.9
70 7.0 70 6.6 7.0
6.2
60 60 5.8
54 6.6 6.0 6.0
PERCENTAGE

PERCENTAGE
50 48 50
5.0 44 43 5.0

SCALE

SCALE
42 41
40 38 40
35
4.0 33 4.0
30
30 26 26 30 28

3.0 3.0
20 20
13
12
10 2.0 10 9 2.0
6

0 1.0 0 1.0
UGANDA GUATEM AL A Uganda Guatemala Uganda Guatemala
T E M P O R A RY PERMANENT
WORKERS WORKERS

Total Men Women Scale (1–10) Total Men Women Scale (1–10)

Source: Authors’ own elaboration. Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

TA B L E 3
Average monthly gross business revenue by country and gender

COUNTRY GENDER GROSS BUSINESS CHANGE FROM N

REVENUE BASELINE

Uganda Men UGX 3 401 430 + 575 612 33

Women UGX 3 852 411 + 373 244 12

Total UGX 3 521 692 + 521 647 45

Guatemala Men GTQ 3 331 - 39

Women GTQ 2 165 - 28

Total GTQ 2 843 - 67

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

TA B L E 4
Number of workers at the endline by country, gender of respondents, and type of workers

COUNTRY NUMBER OF CHANGE NUMBER OF CHANGE N

TEMPORARY FROM PERMANENT FROM
WORKERS BASELINE WORKERS BASELINE

Uganda 16.3 + 4.2 6.3 1 73

Guatemala 2.2 - 0.8 - 74

Source: Authors’ own elaboration.

29
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

125 other youths compared to 98 other youths at

“At first it was just us with my two the baseline. In Guatemala, 40 percent of men and
sisters and the boy who took care of the 24 percent of women claimed to have trained other
fish, that was enough, but now my two youth (22 on average for men and 13 for women).
Several sources of data, such as FGDs with trained
sisters are engaging full time, as well as
youth and KIIs with community leaders, also
my dad, my brother, even my mom, and
confirmed the important role of youth training other
at least one or two boys in the fish area.”
youth from the same community and beyond.
(Male respondent, Guatemala)
Other areas of change to the community include
“People from the community have been
offering market access to local producers
given jobs and as sales increase, they (reported by 63 percent of surveyed youth in
are also offered better payment for what Uganda and 21 percent in Guatemala) and
they do, in addition to the fact that they introducing innovation to improve working
have been offered more work, so their conditions (reported by 55 percent of surveyed
income increases.” youth in Uganda and 17 percent in Guatemala).
(Female respondent, Guatemala)
Across the areas of change, some gender gaps
seem to persist especially in terms of business
revenue, with a much higher percentage of
In terms of the benefits brought to agripreneurs’ surveyed men (69 percent in Uganda and 48 in
families and communities, the surveyed Guatemala) than women (26 percent in both
youth see this mainly in terms of employment Uganda and Guatemala) reporting this change.
generated. Further, beyond the employment One potential explanation of this difference is that
generated for others, 52 percent of survey women’s businesses supported were younger
respondents in Uganda and 49 percent in than men’s (Ho and Grandelis, 2023) and thus still
Guatemala claimed that more family members at the nascent phase. However, it is also evident
engage in their business compared to two that women face gender-specific challenges
years ago. In Guatemala, about a third of the as analysed in the previous section in relation
interviewees mentioned explicitly that their family to access to finance, training, and organization,
relationships had improved in the last two years, and influence on the community. To an endline
while the views regarding family members in survey question, “Do you think you face specific
Uganda were mixed – some youth considered challenges in agribusiness because of your
them more trustable, and others did not. gender?”, in both countries more women than
men responded positively (59 and 54 percent
Beyond employment, youth beneficiary
of surveyed women in Uganda and Guatemala
respondents in both countries reported other
respectively compared to 27 and 30 percent of
positive changes brought to their communities.
men). Also, as high as 50 percent of surveyed
This includes the training and support provided
women in Guatemala reported at endline that
to other youth to start or improve their own
they did not have any positive influence on the
businesses, thus potentially contributing to
community, while for men the rate remained at
employment generation in a broader way. In the
26 percent.13 These gender gaps remained despite
endline survey, almost all (99 percent) of Ugandan
YCs claimed that they have trained or coached
other youth in their communities on agribusiness
in the last two years. On average, one YC trained 13
In Uganda, the rate remained low for both women (4 percent)
and men (0 percent).

30
Chapter 5.Overview of change in terms of business revenues and job creation

“As a champion, I am by default a

community model farmer. This is also a
message we got from the YIYA and other
trainings offered by organizations. As I
said, I don’t want to be an island. I have to
be seen useful to my community members
[…] People have changed their mindset due
to my trainings and informal interactions.
Some approach me for advice so I organize
training for those who are interested.”
(female respondent, Uganda)

“I was doing this [training other youth]

before YIYA, but YIYA inspired me to reach
out to the youth and not just wait for them
to come over.” (male respondent, Uganda)

"Well, the way I have supported is that

thanks to the sale of chocolate I have been
able to help women, single mothers and
elderly women who have worked with me,
helping me to make chocolate, especially
when I have large orders."
(female respondent, Guatemala)

"I believe that generating a job means

changing a family and a family can
change a community, a community can
change a municipality, a municipality can
change a department."
(male respondent, Guatemala)

the good levels of gender participation that the ICA

pilot models achieved in various activities (i.e. full
gender equality in Guatemala and 33 to 45 percent
in Uganda depending on the type of support),14
from trainings to agricultural exhibitions and fairs.

14
Of the 270 champions, 33 percent were women. Of the
© FAO

135 that received trainings 43 percent were women, while

45 percent of participants that were facilitated in linking to
financial institutions were women.

31
©FAO/Luis Tato
CHAPTER 6

Feedback received
from partners on
project implementation,
sustainability and replicability

As part of the assessment, interviews were national strategies and actions plans, and
also conducted with main partners of the ICA that many youth networks intend to keep the
pilot models in both Guatemala and Uganda, activities running with external support. In
including relevant ministries, youth organizations, Guatemala, all partners agreed that the initiative
non‑governmental organizations and providers will be sustainable, and few of them believe at
of training or business development services. least half of the youth will continue to run their
Considering that the project is also undergoing a businesses because the initiative transformed
final evaluation led by the FAO Office of Evaluation, them into agripreneurs. While implementing
the objective of this component of the assessment partners seemed positive about the replicability
was not to conduct a detailed review, but to and sustainability of the implemented pilot
identify potential problematic areas that might models, additional insights from the ICA team,
interfere with the implementation of the project the ICA mid-term review and the ongoing final
ToC and therefore to understand how project evaluation point to the limited translation of
outputs and outcomes are translated into impact. the piloting efforts into a clear increase of
government budgets for scaling up (i.e. despite
Positive feedback was received from
the approaches being prioritized in national
implementing partners about the overall
approved strategies) or into more youth-friendly
implementation process, its coordination
practices of private-sector stakeholders.
mechanisms, transparency, and efficiency.
However, suggestions were made in the case of Linked to the latter, suggestions for
Uganda on the need to enhance the ownership improvement included strengthening the
of the initiatives by local stakeholders as well as capacity of implementing partners to support
on ensuring an adequate budget to provide the youth, involving the private sector more,
holistic support youth need. institutionalizing the initiative, giving a bigger
role to district governments, and adapting to the
In both Uganda and Guatemala, the ICA partners
local context. Some partners indicated that for
indicated that they consider the initiatives
Uganda efforts are still needed to institutionalize
implemented sustainable and replicable. In
the initiative within the annual work plan of the
Uganda in particular, some partners mentioned
Ministry of Agriculture, rather than to implement
that specific components have already been
it as a one-off initiative. For this to succeed, the
integrated into their future activities or in
local district governments might need to play a

33
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

bigger role in the implementation of activities for the survival of microenterprises. For instance,
and in the monitoring of youth activities in the when working with producers of potatoes,
field. In Guatemala, in view of its replication, carrots, or mushrooms, keeping into account the
some implementing partners mentioned the existing market and consumer demand for those
importance of adapting the initiative to different products in the selected geographic location
geographical contexts, taking into consideration is important. According to these partners, this
the different languages spoken in the country. challenge can also be overcome by focusing on
Another partner mentioned the need to avoid continuous innovations regarding products and
unmanageable competition, which is essential value addition.
© FAO/Rubí López

34
Chapter 7.Conclusions and lessons learned

CHAPTER 7

Conclusions and
lessons learned

Overall, the ICA project has effectively regard to trainings, some areas of improvement
delivered the components foreseen in its have been suggested by youth and partners in
ToC, with the assessment showing positive terms of systematically incorporating practical
results in terms of building social networks, components (i.e. for Uganda), better tailoring the
youth empowerment and skills development, curricula proposed to the mixed needs and level
especially in business and financial of understanding of groups of beneficiaries, and
management. Integrated Country Approach increasing the trainings’ length.
(ICA) youth beneficiaries have increased
In addition to the improvements that can be
their awareness and capacity to approach
made to the components already included in
agriculture as a business, which can be seen
the approach, some challenges mentioned by
as an important step towards transforming
youth at endline demand additional efforts to
subsistence farmers into successful
complete the ToC, particularly in terms of the
agripreneurs. Alternative approaches to
following dimensions:
training, including components of coaching,
mentoring and peer-to-peer support seems nnValue addition was reported as a main change
to have worked particularly well. Among the by only 26 and 19 percent of youth in Uganda
areas implemented, access to finance had and Guatemala respectively, which might
more mixed results, and demands strengthened demand additional targeted capacity-building
support since it affects the capacity of efforts and improved financial linkages for
businesses to make investments and grow. youth to access inputs and equipment.
Overall, lack of finance remains a critical area for
young agripreneurs (Benni, Berno and del Puerto nnMarket access remains a challenge for many
Soria, 2020) and demands more than capacity youth agripreneurs and associations. The
building, awareness-raising and establishment need to respond to market instability and
of linkages with financial institutions, especially open new market channels was expressed by
for more vulnerable youth. The results of the youth organizations in Guatemala. This might
interventions implemented in Guatemala show demand providing additional support in terms
the effectiveness of local solutions targeted of market identification, innovation, marketing
to the needs of rural youth, while the case of strategies, and related certifications’ needs.
UDB in Uganda indicates the need for more
facilitation support for young agripreneurs to nnAddressing gender barriers demands stronger
access formal financial products, including and long-term interventions, even though the
through matching grants and exploring project has already reached good results in
de‑risking mechanisms and flexibility on hard terms of fostering more gender equality in
collateral requirements (FAO, 2023). With trainings. Providing customized support to

35
© FAO Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

solve women-specific challenges and carefully Regarding the sustainability of the solutions
designing the inclusion strategy for young implemented, this assessment focused only
women beyond promoting equal participation on the piloting components of the ICA project
is needed. and did not assess the effects of the ICA work
at policy level or in terms of youth enabling
nnOverall, the fact that the businesses supported environments. However, some positive
might not be profitable enough demands indications can be identified in terms of overall
additional efforts in prioritizing promising youth visibility in the sector and youth networking,
value chains with clear demands and operating which are expected to positively influence the
with market system stakeholders to propose dominant patriarchal norms that frequently
business models that have potential for discriminate youth as well as to foster an enabling
generating more and better jobs. environment in support of youth agripreneurship
through an increased offer of peer‑to-peer
nnThe feedback received from implementing learning options. While not assessed in this study,
partners on strengthening local ownership other project sources also confirm the overall
of the initiatives put in place is also a critical strengthening of national youth organizations in
consideration to take into account, not only to Uganda in particular, as a critical contribution in
sustain the interventions proposed but also to this regard. About the improvements in terms of
guarantee the adequate scale and integrated enabling environments for youth agripreneurship,
approach needed for youth to receive the assessment also shows the positive
adequate support. contribution of local solutions for financial access
in the case of Guatemala and the efforts that

36
Chapter 7.Conclusions and lessons learned

are still needed in Uganda to receive the formal the data collection process, due to the limited
offer of financial products better adapted to resources that could be invested for the ICA
youth needs. As suggested by implementing assessment, its reliance on youth self-evaluation
partners, working closer in the future with other and existing country staff support, its timing
market actors in the agrifood system, including (i.e. only less than two years from activities
the private sector and local governments, implementation), and in the absence of data
might enhance the contribution of the project from control groups that did not receive the
to systemic change, including by enhancing support, it was difficult to accurately measure
the capacities and incentives for implementing the effectiveness of the approaches promoted
partners to deliver and incorporate activities into and draw conclusions in this regard. The
their regular work plans. assessment of business revenues, especially
for informal businesses, remains particularly
Looking into the socioeconomic effects of the
challenging and demands additional efforts.
project, the delivery of the ToC has resulted in
Future assessments could consider integrating
positive effects in terms of business revenues
an impact measurement component since the
and growth as well as employment creation and
formulation stage, using quasi-experimental
other benefits to the entrepreneurs’ communities
or experimental methods. Furthermore, future
(i.e. peer-to-peer training for other youth).
assessments should also introduce mitigation
Nevertheless, employment creation seems to
measures to guarantee high rates of responses
have mainly resulted in temporary opportunities,
to the surveys conducted and data quality
while business revenue increases (17 percent
(i.e. paying data bundles in case of digital tools,
on average in Uganda) show persistent gender
using trained enumerators in the field).
gaps, and it remains unclear, at least in the case
of Guatemala, to what extent such increases
contribute to attaining a living income.

The above suggests the need for: i.) a clearer

assessment framework to be agreed upon
with project counterparts since the project
inception, and ii.) sufficient assignment of
resources for more rigorous data collection.
In the case of the ICA project, while its ToC
was validated with partners and beneficiaries,
a clear assessment framework with indicators
for measuring the performance of the young
agripreneurs supported was not explicitly agreed
upon. Future assessment frameworks should
better consider the different phases of a business
in terms of life cycle (i.e. start-ups vs growing
enterprises) and include both financial and non-
financial performance measures that are relevant
© FAO/Rubí López

for agricultural enterprises, therefore not only

sales, profits, employment, but also innovation,
customer and supplier relationships, contribution
to household income and food security, and
social and environmental objectives. As for

37
 Youth agripreneurship and pathways of change – Results and lessons learned from Guatemala and Uganda

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39
Youth
agripreneurship
and pathways
of change
Results and lessons learned
from Guatemala and Uganda
This document presents the results and lessons The document aims to contribute to an improved
learned in the domain of youth entrepreneurship understanding of the underlying motives

RURAL EMPLOYMENT
emerging from the implementation of specific and processes of change in relation to youth
pilot models in Guatemala and Uganda in entrepreneurship, and possibly inspire other
the frame of the project “Integrated Country similar youth employment interventions based on
Approach (ICA) for boosting decent jobs for the findings of the assessment conducted.
youth in the agrifood system”.

Rural Transformation and Gender Equality Division – Economic and Social Development

www.fao.org/rural-employment/en
decent-work@fao.org

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Rome, Italy
CD0510EN/1/04.24