admin | September 26, 2025
Farm Radio International (FRI) is proud to partner with AGRA to put farmers, youth, and women at the center of Africa’s food systems transformation. Through this strategic partnership, both organizations are using trusted media platforms to amplify grassroots voices, ensuring that those who feed the continent play a central role in shaping agricultural policies and investments.
Speaking at the partnership launch, Aggie Konde, AGRA’s Director of Communication, External Engagement & Advocacy, highlighted that “no transformation is sustainable unless it is understood, embraced, and owned by the people. Media is one of the strongest catalysts for shaping policy debates, and this partnership ensures that farmers’ voices influence decisions at the highest levels.”
At the heart of this collaboration is Farm Radio International’s Just Communication initiative, which leverages radio, digital platforms, and innovative storytelling formats to reach millions across Africa. Together, FRI and AGRA are implementing programs that include:
- Youth-focused media campaigns in Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, and Malawi, sharing stories of young farmers and agripreneurs.
- The “Just Communication Radio Booth” at AFSF 2025 and other events, broadcasting live farmer interviews, youth debates, and daily updates.
- A Food Systems Media Fellowship and the “Voices of Food System” Award, recognizing excellence in agricultural storytelling and empowering African journalists.
- Piloting new storytelling approaches—podcasts, blogs, social media, and video—to shift narratives around farming from subsistence to entrepreneurship.
Kevin Perkins, FRI Executive Director, emphasized that this partnership ensures African farmers and youth are not just beneficiaries but central actors in shaping the future of Africa’s food systems. By combining AGRA’s expertise in agricultural transformation with FRI’s media reach, the collaboration strengthens inclusive dialogue, amplifies local innovations, and accelerates evidence-based solutions grounded in farmers’ realities.
Alice Ruhweza, AGRA President, added: “This partnership allows us to harness the power of radio and digital communication to ensure that farmers’ voices are heard, their knowledge is valued, and their innovations are shared widely.”
Through these initiatives, FRI continues to demonstrate the power of media in driving resilience, innovation, and lasting change in African agriculture. Broadcasters across the continent are encouraged to continue using the stories, media resources, and inspiration shared from Senegal to inform, engage, and empower their audiences, helping farmers, youth, and women thrive in Africa’s evolving food systems.