Youth at the Forefront: Shaping the Future of the Veterinary Workforce in Africa

At the Africa Continental Conference 2024 — themed “Towards a More Resilient Veterinary Workforce for Africa” — one message rang loud and clear: The future of veterinary services cannot be built without youth at the table. 

During the Africa Continental Conference in 2024, WOAH launched its first direct youth engagement. This initiative brought together 80 young people from over 16 African countries to explore the future of the veterinary workforce using futures and foresight methodologies. Through participatory “futures and foresight” methodologies, these youth leaders didn’t just point to the problems — they envisioned solutions.

This wasn’t just a lecture; it was a dynamic exploration of what the future could hold. Using “futures and foresight methodologies” – tools for imagining and shaping what’s to come – these young minds delved into the challenges and opportunities facing their chosen profession.

What emerged from these conversations was powerful. Young people weren’t just pointing out problems; they were crafting solutions. They were looking ahead, anticipating the changes on the horizon, and demanding a seat at the table.

From Voices to Vision: What Youth Want

At the core of the conference’s outcomes was a bold, high-level recommendation: youth perspectives must be central to veterinary workforce planning and decision-making. The participants, representing a diverse mix of young veterinarians, paraprofessionals, students, and entrepreneurs, highlighted a wide range of challenges — from access to education and underrepresentation, to lack of financing and mentorship. But more importantly, they shared innovative solutions and a clear commitment to drive the profession forward.

And the result? Youth voices were not just heard; they were embedded into the very fabric of the conference’s recommendations. These weren’t just lofty ideals; they were concrete calls to action:

Key Recommendations for Youth Inclusion

The Africa Conference 2024 identified youth perspectives in workforce planning as one of the ten recommendations to Members. These recommendations emphasize the importance of:

• Inclusive Workforce Planning: Establish formal mechanisms to integrate youth voices in strategy development, education design, and employment reforms in veterinary services.
• Access to Education and Opportunities: Ensure veterinary education is affordable and aligned with the aspirations and realities of African youth, including curriculum reform co-designed by students themselves.
• Fair Pay and Dignity of Work: Call for regular salary reviews and equitable remuneration for all cadres in the veterinary workforce — a necessary step to retain young professionals.
• Support for Youth and Women-Led Enterprises: Build a nurturing ecosystem — including access to finance, mentorship, business support, and market linkages — that empowers youth and women to lead within the animal health sector.
• Diversity and Representation: Promote policies that encourage participation from youth, women, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities — ensuring a workforce that reflects Africa’s diversity.
• Intergenerational Learning: Create platforms for young and seasoned professionals to exchange knowledge, fostering mutual respect, growth, and innovation.
• Global-Local Collaboration: Encourage partnerships between local and international Veterinary Education Establishments (VEEs) to enable cross-cultural learning, innovation, and storytelling.
• Ongoing Monitoring: Implement systems to track the success and sustainability of youth-led ventures, backed by supportive policy frameworks that lower barriers to entry in the animal health value chain.

Why This Matters Now

Africa has the world’s youngest population. The future of veterinary services — vital for food security, public health, and economic growth — depends on preparing and empowering this generation. Yet, many young Africans still face systemic barriers in accessing education, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities in animal health.