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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Eliot Jones-Garcia

Eliot Jones-Garcia is a Senior Research Analyst with the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit based in Washington, DC. His research focuses on human-AI interaction, user-centered design, and the ethical and responsible development of AI. Eliot is currently finalizing a PhD on the digitalization of agricultural advisory services at Wageningen University & Research.

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Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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experts

Development Strategies and Governance

Fantu Bachewe

Research Coordinator

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Fantu Bachewe

Bio

Fantu Nisrane Bachewe is a Research Coordinator in the Development Strategies and Governance Unit, currently based in Nairobi, Kenya. Fantu primarily coordinates research for the project on Strengthening Food Systems to Promote Increased Value Chain Employment Opportunities for Youth, funded by Mastercard. His research covers a range of topics including productivity and efficiency in agriculture; agricultural development and policy; rural labor markets and non-farm employment; food system transformation and policy; and food prices and nutrition. From 2014 to 2022, Fantu was based at the Ethiopia Strategy Support Program in Addis Ababa, where he coordinated and participated in several research initiatives including value chain analyses of animal-source foods and vegetables and fruits; production and productivity analyses; rural off-farm economic activities, focusing on women and youth; potentials and constraints of biofortification; post-harvest management and crop losses; monitoring and evaluation of interventions; and inclusive value chain interventions. Fantu received a PhD in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota, an MSc in Environmental and Development Economics from the University of Oslo, and a BA in Economics from Addis Ababa University.

Publications

Publications

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Brief

Synopsis: The changing demographics in Nigeria’s food systems and implications for future youth engagement

2025Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Andam, Kwaw S.; Mawia, Harriet; Popoola, Olufemi
Details

Synopsis: The changing demographics in Nigeria’s food systems and implications for future youth engagement

Food systems (FS) are critically important in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), where they account for a significant share of the GDP and employment. FS transformation is both strongly influenced by and strongly influences employment and job creation. This study documents FS employment in the past two decades observed in Nigeria, focusing on changes in demographic structure and inclusiveness. Key findings of the study are: FS in Nigeria are poised for significant transformation driven by demographic shifts, urbanization, income growth, and a favorable policy environment, while the conflict adversely affects this transformation. Agricultural employment declined significantly during the period, while the share of nonfarm agrifood sectors in total employment almost tripled, signaling major structural transformation. Employment in food manufacturing expanded rapidly, albeit from a lower base, with women’s share among the fastest growing. Women’s share in nonfarm agrifood system (AFS) employment tripled over the period, while youth participation quadrupled. However, Nigeria’s youth face persistent barriers. Youth unemployment is double the national rate and their labor force participation is considerably below the average rate. The nonfarm AFS employment share in Nigeria far exceeds the continental average, positioning Nigeria ahead in AFS transformation. Policy recommendations from the study include providing targeted youth training and financing for nonfarm AFS roles; closing gender gaps through resource access and supportive regulations; investing in marketing infrastructure; prioritizing recovery and job programs in conflict zones; and adopting a holistic FS approach that also engenders the active involvement of women and youth.

Year published

2025

Authors

Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Andam, Kwaw S.; Mawia, Harriet; Popoola, Olufemi

Citation

Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Andam, Kwaw S.; Mawia, Harriet; and Popoola, Olufemi. 2025. Synopsis: The changing demographics in Nigeria’s food systems and implications for future youth engagement. SFS4Youth Research Note 4. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/179186

Country/Region

Nigeria

Keywords

Africa; Western Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Demographic Transition; Food Systems; Youth; Youth Employment; Employment

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

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Brief

Synopsis: Quantifying food losses in the beans value chain in Rwanda – Results from a baseline survey

2025Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Delgado, Luciana; Niyonsingiza, Josue
Details

Synopsis: Quantifying food losses in the beans value chain in Rwanda – Results from a baseline survey

Reducing food loss has become important, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, due to its direct impact on food security. Food loss also reduces producer incomes, increases food prices, and wastes natural resources, resulting in unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions. Most estimates of food loss have been heavily criticized for lacking sound methodological basis. This study uses a novel methodology to measure food loss and identify where it occurs along the beans value chain in Rwanda.

Year published

2025

Authors

Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Delgado, Luciana; Niyonsingiza, Josue

Citation

Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Delgado, Luciana; and Niyonsingiza, Josue. 2025. Synopsis: Quantifying food losses in the beans value chain in Rwanda – Results from a baseline survey. SFS4Youth Research Note 1. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178796

Country/Region

Rwanda

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Food Losses; Beans; Agricultural Value Chains; Value Chains; Youth

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Resource thumbnail

Brief

Synopsis: The changing demographics in food systems and implications for future youth engagement in Rwanda

2025Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Mawia, Harriet; Niyonsingiza, Josue
Details

Synopsis: The changing demographics in food systems and implications for future youth engagement in Rwanda

Food systems (FS) are critically important in sub-Sahara Africa (SSA), where they account for a significant share of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employment. Employment and job creation are strongly influenced by FS transformation, and they also help drive that transformation. This study documents the trends in FS employment in the past two decades observed in Rwanda, focusing on changes in the demographic structure and inclusiveness of FS employment.

Year published

2025

Authors

Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Mawia, Harriet; Niyonsingiza, Josue

Citation

Bachewe, Fantu Nisrane; Mawia, Harriet; and Niyonsingiza, Josue. 2025. Synopsis: The changing demographics in food systems and implications for future youth engagement in Rwanda. SFS4Youth Research Note 2. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178797

Country/Region

Rwanda

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Demographic Transition; Food Systems; Youth; Rural Areas

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

Blogs

Is Ethiopia missing a golden opportunity for addressing hidden hunger? The opportunities and challenges of biofortification
Research Post
 | 
August 18, 2023

Is Ethiopia missing a golden opportunity for addressing hidden hunger? The opportunities and challenges of biofortification

By Taddese Zerfu, Fantu Bachewe, Tirsit Genye, Meron Girma, Aregash Samuel, James Warner, and Cornelia van Zyl

A promising approach to micronutrient deficiencies.

Events

31st International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE)
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

August 17 to 31, 2021

31st International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE)

Virtual Event: AUG 17, 2021 – 08:00 AM to AUG 31, 2021 08:00 PM EDT. IFPRI is participating in the 31st Conference of Agriculture Economists organized by the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE). 

Improving evidence for better policy making in Ethiopia's livestock sector
IFPRI Program/Country Event

 | 

June 24, 2020, 3:00 – 5:30 pm

Improving evidence for better policy making in Ethiopia’s livestock sector

In collaboration with the Livestock Systems Innovation Lab (LSIL), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has been doing collaborative work over the last 3 years with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and Policy Studies Institute (PSI) to study the livestock sector in Ethiopia. Analysis has been done on the consumption and markets […]

2019 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

July 21 to 23, 2019

2019 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting

IFPRI is participating in the 2019 AAEA Annual Meeting. The AAEA is a not-for-profit association serving the professional interests of members working in agricultural and broadly related fields of applied economics. Members of the AAEA are employed by academic or government institutions, as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety […]

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