Apply for the 2025 Young Impact Associates (YIA) Fellowship for Young Professionals in Agrifood systems

The Young Impact Associates (YIA) in Agrifood Systems Fellowship 2025 is a year-long flagship program designed to equip young African professionals with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to drive impactful change in Africa’s agrifood systems.

Key Details

- Eligibility: Open to nationals of Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda, aged 18-35 years, with a diploma or bachelor's degree in relevant fields.

- Benefits: Fellows receive mentorship, training, practical experience, and a monthly stipend throughout the program.

- Application Deadline: April 30, 2025

- Program Focus: Impact measurement, monitoring & evaluation, leadership, and evidence-based decision-making in agrifood systems.

Are you a young African passionate about driving transformational change through data-driven decisions in African agrifood systems? Are you ready to make a difference? Measure impact – Create change – Transform Africa’s agrifood systems landscape? Join the Young Impact Associates (YIA) – Agriculture Focus Fellowship and be part of shaping Africa’s development narrative. The Call to apply for the Fellowship is now open to applicants who are between the ages of 18 and 35 years from Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda and will close on April 30, 2025.

The YIA Fellowship in Agrifood Systems is a year-long flagship program designed to prepare a new generation of African leaders capable to make a difference in the impact measurement field and contribute to driving transformative change in Africa’s agrifood landscape.

The YIA Fellowship in Agrifood Systems is implemented by a consortium of partners including CIFOR-ICRAF, African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD), African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP), and Akademiya2063.

Through the YIA Fellowship, the Mastercard Foundation and the consortium of partners known as Impact Partner Organizations (IPO) aim to accelerates career of emerging African leaders in impact measurement, research, and consulting positioning them to contribute to Africa’s evidence-driven decisions and development.

The YIA Fellowship will support African young professionals in data and impact measurement and will equip them with knowledge, tools and skills, to evaluate, package, and demonstrate the impact of socially inclusive interventions in the African agrifood systems.

The selected participants, known as Young Impact Associates (YIAs), will contribute to Mastercard Foundation’s transformative agenda of “fostering the professional growth and development of young impact leaders by developing their expertise and maintaining their engagement and interest in the impact field”. If you're passionate about agriculture, food systems, and sustainable development, this fellowship could be a great opportunity! 

Apply For YIA

The Young Impact Associates (YIA) in the AgriFood Systems Fellowship play a crucial role in driving sustainable and innovative change in agriculture and food systems. Their impact can be observed in several key areas:

1. Strengthening Data-Driven Decision Making

YIAs enhance the capacity of agricultural organizations and policymakers by conducting rigorous impact assessments. They help evaluate the effectiveness of programs, ensuring that interventions in food security, sustainability, and agribusiness are backed by reliable data.

2. Supporting Sustainable Agriculture

By promoting evidence-based solutions, YIAs contribute to the development of more sustainable farming practices, such as climate-smart agriculture, regenerative farming, and efficient water management.

3. Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition

Through their work in impact evaluation, YIAs help optimize programs aimed at improving food production, distribution, and nutrition. This contributes to better access to healthy and affordable food, particularly in vulnerable communities.

4. Promoting Inclusive Agribusiness Models

Many YIAs focus on identifying challenges and opportunities in agribusiness, advocating for inclusive business models that support smallholder farmers, women, and youth in the agricultural value chain.

5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer

YIAs help strengthen local institutions by training stakeholders in impact measurement, data analysis, and best practices, ensuring that improvements in agrifood systems are sustainable beyond the fellowship.

6. Driving Policy and Investment in Agriculture

By providing evidence of what works and what doesn’t, YIAs influence policy reforms and attract investments in key areas like digital agriculture, agro-processing, and market access for farmers.

7. Innovation and Technology Adoption

They contribute to the integration of technology in agriculture, such as precision farming, digital marketplaces, and AI-driven solutions, making food systems more efficient and resilient.

8. Climate Resilience and Environmental Conservation

Through impact assessments, YIAs help organizations develop and scale projects that mitigate climate risks, reduce carbon footprints, and promote biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.

Overall Impact

The work of Young Impact Associates in AgriFood Systems Fellowship fosters a more resilient, equitable, and efficient global food system. Their contributions ensure that agricultural interventions are impactful, scalable, and sustainable, benefiting farmers, consumers, and the environment.