Policy Pathways for Youth Employment and Sustainable Land Management
Date: 30–31 March 2026
Venue: IBIS Styles Hotel & Hybrid

About the Dialogue

The African Forest Forum (AFF), in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Kenya Forest Service, is convening a National Policy Dialogue to advance deforestation-free green value chains in Kenya. This initiative is part of the project:

“Scaling Youth-Led Climate Innovations for a Greener Africa: Enhancing Compliance with European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) through Sustainable Land Management and Landscape Restoration.”

The EUDR ensures that commodities exported to the EU are legal and not linked to deforestation. While the regulation offers long-term opportunities for market access, competitiveness, and integration into higher-value supply chains, it also presents short- and medium-term challenges—particularly for smallholders, youth, women, and forest-dependent communities.

In Kenya, non-compliance risks could extend beyond trade disruptions to socio-economic impacts, particularly in the coffee and timber sectors. Strengthening youth-inclusive enabling environments and green business participation is central to ensuring sustainable economic growth, resilience, and integration into formal supply chains.

Key Drivers for Action

• Strengthening institutional, policy, and governance frameworks for EUDR compliance
• Enhancing traceability systems and data governance accessible to smallholders and youth
• Promoting youth and women participation in green value chains
• Aligning national trade and investment strategies with environmental sustainability and social equity

Purpose of the Policy Dialogue

To strengthen deliberative policy processes and governance arrangements, enabling Kenya to respond to EUDR due diligence requirements effectively, inclusively, and efficiently, while promoting youth-inclusive, deforestation-free value chains and market entry.

Overall Objective
To enhance Kenya’s readiness for EUDR implementation and equip youth and enterprises to respond to evolving trade and environmental regulations through inclusive policy dialogue, improved governance, and youth-centered solutions.

Specific Objectives

1. Assess Kenya’s preparedness for EUDR implementation, including standards, certification schemes, and traceability systems
2. Discuss socio-economic implications for smallholders, youth, women, and forest-dependent communities
3. Recommend policy options, measures, and institutional arrangements to support inclusive compliance
4. Promote youth and women engagement as key actors in green business and value chain development

Expected Outputs

• Key policy actors in Kenya better informed and understand potential and short-term challenges of EUDR;
• Key youth policy makers in Kenya better enlightened on existing opportunities for youth engagement in green supply chains and to the country’s sustainable development endeavor.
• Study reports validated; and recommendations and inputs provided on inclusive traceability systems and national EUDR compliance guidelines.
• Youth and state actors produced policy recommendations for better nature-based business governance and readiness
• The need for establishment of Capacity Accelerator and Knowledge Network (CaKN) emphasized as a strategic instrument to strengthen and scale youth engagement

Key Participants

• National government ministries/agencies focusing on forests, climate, and youth employment
• County government representatives from EUDR-relevant production zones
• Youth-led enterprises and private sector representatives
• Civil society, research institutions, development partners, and exporters

Expected Deliverables

• Synthesis report/dialogue summary with actionable youth recommendations
• Policy brief and inputs for CaKN establishment

Organizers and Responsibilities

• Lead Implementing Organization (AFF): Overall coordination, technical leadership, facilitation, and reporting
• Government Partners: opening, policy direction, policy leadership, stakeholder mobilization, and follow-up actions
• AGRA: Technical support, keynote presentation

Registration

🗓️ Date: 30 March 2026
🕘 Time: 09:00 AM (Nairobi Time)

Register in advance:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/qEUXZzEOQEW1Wdl6TZFjrA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting.

For more information:

Download the Concept Note

Join us in shaping Kenya’s pathway toward deforestation-free value chains, empowering youth, and strengthening sustainable and inclusive green growth.