Tanzanian youth are active in communities but underrepresented in formal governance. To advance a nutrition-sensitive, climate-resilient, and inclusive food system, this policy brief proposes a framework for meaningful youth engagement in policymaking.
Key actions include institutionalising youth participation through mechanisms like a Youth Advisory Panel and the National Youth Council, creating local-to-national representation pathways via Tanzania Youth Alliance in Food Systems (TYAFS) and local authorities, and enhancing coordination across ministries. It also calls for integrating youth-focused goals into national frameworks and developing young leaders through fellowships, mentorships, and vocational programmes such as Building a Better Tomorrow – Youth and Women Initiative for Agribusiness (BBT-YIA) to build skills and strengthen youth influence in national decision-making.