ENABLE TAAT is one of 15 Compacts comprising the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Program (TAAT), funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). ENABLE-TAAT is one of 15 initiatives under the umbrella of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Program (TAAT), supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and spearheaded by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) through its youth in agribusiness initiative. This initiative harnesses the energy and passion of young people to modernize key agricultural value chains such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum, millet, cassava, sweet potato, beans, fish, and small livestock. Its goal is to decrease reliance on food imports, enhance value addition, and ensure nutritional security across Africa.
ENABLE-TAAT bridges the gap between youthful ambition and the essential modernization of agriculture, paving the way for economic prosperity through youth-led agribusinesses. Operating in 19 African countries, the project aims to uplift African youth by introducing advanced agricultural technologies, fostering the emergence of new agribusiness ventures, and generating increased employment opportunities
The overall purpose of ENABLE-TAAT is to assist in the promotion of TAAT’s key agricultural technologies, operate technology and innovation centers for young people on specific commodity value chains, and to stimulate youth-led agribusiness start-ups in support of TAAT’s nine Priority Commodity Chains.
The ENABLE TAAT Compact was approved by the TAAT Program Steering Committee in April 2018.
Our Goals and Objectives
The goal of ENABLE TAAT is to reduce the economic marginalization of African youth through the introduction of modernized agricultural technologies in a way that leads to new agribusiness and greater employment opportunities. It has four main objectives.
a) Enhance agribusiness prospects by identifying employment opportunities for youth within TAAT’s priority value chains and established technologies. This objective will be accomplished through agribusiness incubation and completion activities within the compact.
b) Provide agribusiness support, including advocacy, ICT solutions, and specialized services, to empower more than 5000 young individuals. Connect them with parallel efforts in other TAAT compacts through effective advocacy and communication strategies.
c) Promote improved human nutrition in rural areas by raising awareness and accessibility to nutrient-fortified TAAT commodities. This initiative, facilitated through the food basket outreach program, aims to enhance nutritional standards in rural communities.
d) Implement advanced youth empowerment mechanisms by enhancing project coordination and management structures. This effort will drive future TAAT interventions related to youth empowerment through efficient IYA coordination and management practices.
While the Project greatly forwards the agenda of the Agripreneur Movement, it does so in a manner that contributes to the overall TAAT Program. Youth are being proactively directed toward the priority Value Chains in ways that make best use of improved crop varieties and animal breeds, and the best management practices associated with them. Also, ENABLE TAAT is one of six Program Enablers that lend their specialized expertise to these Value Chains, and this project is prepared to work with any and all TAAT Program partners as needed.