Cotton paid for Rwomubuza John’s children’s education and helped him build rental houses that now provide his family with an additional source of income.

The farmer from Kitabu Cell in Muhokya Sub-county cultivates more than six acres, continuing an agricultural tradition that has supported generations of families in Uganda’s Kasese District in the country’s west near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Cotton has done a lot for my family. It educated my children and helped me invest in rental property,” Rwomubuza says.

His children have also taken up cotton farming, making the crop part of the family’s continuing economic activity.

Across Kasese, cotton remains an important source of cash income. But farmers and agricultural officials say its ability to generate livelihoods could be strengthened through expanded irrigation, improved seed varieties, more affordable agricultural inputs and a pricing system that gives growers greater certainty.

Three ginneries operate in the district: Rwenzori Cotton Ginnery in Nyakatonzi, Hamudani Ginnery and Mundawulira Ginnery. All three are located within Kasese Municipality and provide a ready market for cotton grown in areas including Nyamwamba Division, Muhokya Sub-county and Mubuku Town Council.

The presence of these buyers, an established community of growers and planned irrigation improvements gives Kasese a base from which to rebuild the crop’s competitiveness.

An established source of household income

Cotton is generally planted between July and August, depending on the arrival of the rains, and harvested between February and March.

For farmers such as Rwomubuza, the crop has already demonstrated its ability to turn farm production into longer-term household assets. He believes better returns would encourage families to continue investing in it.

“Cotton requires a lot of labour and expensive chemicals,” he says. “The government should ensure farmers receive better prices.”

In Rukoki Cell in Nyamwamba Division, Mwesige Eric grows cotton on four acres. He says the crop remains the backbone of many households and a family business passed from one generation to another.

However, cotton requires substantial investment. Farmers may weed their fields up to six times during a season and must spray regularly to control pests and diseases. The crop currently takes about six months to mature.

Mwesige says reducing input costs and giving farmers a stronger role in price discussions would make cultivation more attractive.

“The government should bring farmers and buyers together to agree on a fair price per kilogram,” he says.

He estimates that farmers have generally received between UGX1,500 and UGX2,000 (approximately US$0.40–US$0.53) per kilogram in recent years, while pesticide and other input costs have increased.

Because cotton is a cash crop rather than a food crop, growers depend on the income from their harvest to recover these costs. More predictable prices would help them plan their production and decide how much land to allocate to cotton.

Mwesige says prices announced around planting time can also differ from those offered at harvest. Greater transparency between growers, ginners and other industry players could reduce this uncertainty.

Irrigation could extend the opportunity

One of the biggest opportunities lies in reducing the industry’s dependence on rainfall.

Most cotton-growing areas in Kasese are rain-fed. Shifting rainfall patterns have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to determine the best time to plant.

Adrian Katwetegeke, regional field officer for the Uganda Cotton Ginners and Exporters Association, supports cotton production and marketing in Kasese, Rubirizi and Kamwenge districts.

He says rains would normally begin in July or around the middle of the month, enabling planting to start. In 2026, however, the rains arrived later than expected and had not provided sufficient moisture by late July.

“The rains have changed. Many farmers are anxious and want to plant immediately after receiving a small amount of rainfall, but the soil is still too dry,” Katwetegeke says.

He advises farmers to prepare their land and secure quality seed, but to wait until sufficient rain has fallen before planting. Light showers followed by a prolonged dry spell can prevent seeds from germinating or damage young plants.

Better access to weather information and planting guidance could help farmers respond more effectively to these shifting conditions.

In the longer term, Katwetegeke believes expanded irrigation could transform production by allowing farmers to plant with greater confidence and protect their crops during dry periods.

The Mubuku Irrigation Scheme already demonstrates the potential of irrigated agriculture in the district, although its reach remains limited.

“It is our wish that irrigation infrastructure is expanded to cover more cotton-growing areas so farmers who want to irrigate can access the service,” he says.

Kasese District Principal Agricultural Officer Julius Rukara says the government has plans to expand irrigation around areas including Mubuku Prison Farm, an important cotton-producing zone that frequently experiences extended dry spells.

If implemented, the expansion could help farmers maintain production despite less predictable rainfall. It could also make investment in seed, chemicals and labour less risky.

Faster-maturing cotton could reduce climate risk

Improved cotton varieties present another opportunity.

Rukara has called on Uganda’s National Agricultural Research Organisation to develop varieties that mature in three to four months rather than the approximately six months currently required.

“If shorter-maturing varieties are developed, farmers will be able to harvest even when rainfall is limited,” he says.

A shorter production cycle could allow farmers to take advantage of increasingly narrow rainy seasons, reduce their exposure to drought and earn income sooner. Improved varieties would need to be accompanied by effective extension services so growers know how to cultivate them and manage pests.

Katwetegeke says timely spraying and adherence to recommended farming practices can already help farmers reduce avoidable losses.

Supporting growers with affordable inputs, suitable seed and practical agricultural advice could therefore raise yields while lowering the cost of producing each kilogram of cotton.

Building a stronger market for farmers.

Kasese’s three ginneries give the district processing infrastructure and established buyers. However, farmers say the limited number of buyers can leave them with little bargaining power.

Uganda exports much of its cotton, linking the prices paid to farmers to movements in the international market.

Katwetegeke says growers received approximately UGX1,500 (US$0.40) to UGX1,700 (US$0.45) per kilogram last season, compared with about UGX1,900 (US$0.51) in the preceding season and roughly UGX2,000 (US$0.53) in earlier years.

That exposure to global prices cannot be eliminated entirely, but closer coordination between farmers, ginners and government could improve transparency and help growers understand how local prices are calculated.

Farmer associations or cooperatives could also aggregate production, purchase inputs collectively and give growers a stronger voice in negotiations. However, the story still needs direct reporting from an existing association or cooperative to establish whether such organisation is already taking place in Kasese.

Cotton is also competing for land with cocoa, vanilla and coffee, which Rukara says currently offer farmers attractive prices and more dependable markets.

Rather than signalling the end of cotton, that competition establishes the conditions the sector must meet: it must provide farmers with competitive returns, manageable production costs and greater certainty.

Turning cotton’s history into its next opportunity

Kasese already possesses several of the foundations needed for a stronger cotton economy: experienced farmers, three operating ginneries, established growing areas and a crop with a proven ability to finance education and household investment.

The next step is to strengthen the conditions under which farmers produce it.

Expanded irrigation could protect crops from unreliable rainfall. Faster-maturing varieties could shorten the production cycle. Affordable inputs and stronger extension support could improve yields, while transparent pricing and greater farmer organisation could ensure that growers retain a fairer share of the crop’s value.

For farmers such as Rwomubuza, cotton’s contribution is not theoretical. It can be seen in the children he educated, the property he built and the next generation that has joined the family enterprise.

Unlocking the same opportunity for more families will depend on converting the interventions now being discussed into practical support in Kasese’s cotton-growing communities.

Every Ethiopian has a responsibility to protect the natural heritage that defines our nation. Among our greatest treasures is Bale Mountains National Park, one of Africa’s most extraordinary ecosystems and a sanctuary for wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. More than a tourist destination, the park is a living symbol of Ethiopia’s rich biodiversity, ecological heritage, and our shared responsibility to preserve it for future generations.

Recent publicly shared footage has raised important questions about how tourism activities are being managed in parts of Bale Mountains National Park. Although these observations may not represent every visitor’s experience or the park’s overall management, they highlight practices that deserve careful review to ensure that tourism remains consistent with the long-term conservation of the park’s unique wildlife and ecosystems.

One video showed tourists approaching an Ethiopian wolf at an uncomfortably close distance, potentially disturbing its natural behavior. Another depicted visitors camping inside the park for extended periods, raising concerns about the cumulative impacts of prolonged human presence in ecologically sensitive areas. The most troubling footage, however, showed monkeys waiting along the roadside as buses passed, seemingly expecting food from passengers. If such interactions are becoming common, they suggest that some wildlife may be gradually becoming habituated to humans.

Wildlife should never associate roads or vehicles with food. When animals begin waiting beside roads for passing vehicles, the risk of vehicle collisions increases, natural movement and foraging patterns are disrupted, and dependence on human-provided food may gradually develop. Roads through protected areas should provide safe access for visitors and not become feeding grounds that alter the behavior and survival of the wildlife they are meant to protect.

This is not just about visitor manners; it is a real conservation problem.

Wild animals have adapted over thousands of years to live in their natural homes. They know how to find food, avoid danger, and keep their environment balanced. When people feed wildlife, even if they mean well, it changes these natural behaviors. Animals might start relying on people, gather near roads instead of searching for food, face more risk from cars, spread diseases more easily, and lose their fear of humans. These changes can harm not just single animals, but whole populations over time.

Protected areas around the world have learned this lesson. National parks in the United States, Canada, Kenya, South Africa, and Australia all ban feeding wildlife because it causes real harm. Ethiopia should keep building on these conservation practices to protect its unique plants and animals.

Bale Mountains National Park is known worldwide for its ecological value. It has the largest group of endangered Ethiopian wolves, one of the rarest canids on earth. The park also protects mountain nyala, Bale monkeys, giant mole-rats, many unique birds, and rare plants. These animals are not just symbols of Ethiopia’s rich wildlife; they are key parts of healthy ecosystems.

Tourism is important. It creates jobs, helps local businesses, brings in money for conservation, and shows the world Ethiopia’s amazing landscapes. But tourism must be sustainable. Visitors should leave with great memories, not with impacts that change animal behavior or harm delicate ecosystems.

Responsible tourism and effective conservation can coexist. Achieving this balance: Responsible tourism and effective conservation can go hand in hand. Achieving this balance requires commitment from government agencies, tour operators, researchers, local communities, and visitors alike. In National Park:

• Enforce a strict prohibition on feeding wildlife, supported by consistent penalties.
• Install multilingual educational signs explaining why feeding animals is harmful.
• Require conservation briefings for all visitors before entering the park.
• Restrict camping to designated areas away from ecologically sensitive habitats.
• Limit visitor numbers in fragile areas during peak seasons.
• Increase the number of trained park rangers to monitor tourism activities.
• Establish and enforce minimum viewing distances between visitors and wildlife.
• Apply speed limits and wildlife crossing protections on roads within the park.
• Strengthen partnerships with universities and conservation organizations to monitor the impacts of wildlife and tourism.
• Expand environmental education programs for local communities, schools, and visitors to encourage responsible stewardship.

Protecting Bale Mountains National Park is not just up to the government. Every visitor, tour operator, photographer, researcher, and citizen has a part to play. Respecting wildlife means watching animals without bothering them, keeping a safe distance, never feeding them, throwing away trash properly, and leaving the park as you found it.

Conservation does not mean stopping people from enjoying nature. It means making sure everyone can experience nature without taking away from future generations.

Ethiopia’s biodiversity is one of our nation’s greatest treasures. Once ecosystems are degraded or species disappear, recovery is often slow, difficult, or even impossible. The choices we make today will determine whether future generations inherit thriving wildlife and healthy ecosystems or only memories and photographs of what once existed.

Bale Mountains National Park is far more than a destination for visitors it is a priceless national legacy and a living sanctuary that reflects Ethiopia’s unique natural heritage. The true measure of our love for Ethiopia is not only in celebrating its history and culture but also in protecting the landscapes and wildlife that make our country extraordinary. Let us safeguard Bale Mountains National Park with scientific stewardship, responsible tourism, and a shared commitment to conservation, ensuring that it remains a vibrant sanctuary for generations to come.

Africa stands at a defining moment in its development journey. Home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, the continent has an unprecedented opportunity to harness its demographic dividend. Yet this opportunity is accompanied by one of the greatest policy challenges of our time: creating enough productive, decent jobs to absorb millions of young people entering the labour market each year.

A Continent Rich in Potential, Constrained by Delivery

Every year, between 12 and 15 million young Africans enter the labour market, yet only around 3 million formal jobs are created annually, leaving millions either unemployed or working in low-productivity informal employment (Mastercard Foundation, 2026). 

By 2030, approximately 375 million additional young people are expected to join Sub-Saharan Africa’s labour force, making Africa home to the largest youth workforce in the world (ILO, 2016). By 2050, Africa will have around 850 million young people, representing one of the greatest reservoirs of human capital globally (WEF, 2026). 

If countries create productive employment opportunities, Africa could experience one of history’s largest demographic dividends. If not, unemployment, underemployment, inequality and social instability could become increasingly significant constraints to sustainable development.

Africa does not suffer from a shortage of ideas and evidence, but the gap between these ideas and implementation. And with a challenge at this scale, Africa needs to find a way to scale these ideas and solutions at an unprecedented speed. 

Africa Has No Shortage of Solutions

Across the continent, governments, researchers, entrepreneurs, and development partners have generated an impressive portfolio of evidence on what creates jobs.

We know that competitive industries create sustainable employment; youth enterprises need ecosystems, not isolated financing and regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can unlock new value chains. In addition, we also know that digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence can create new economic opportunities and green industrialization offers significant employment potential.

For example, recent analysis estimates that Africa’s green economy alone could generate 3.3 million new jobs by 2030, particularly in renewable energy, manufacturing and climate-smart industries, provided investments in skills and workforce development keep pace (FSD Africa, 2024). 

Similarly, Africa’s creative economy already contributes an estimated US$60 billion annually yet captures less than one percent of global creative exports (UNCTAD, 2024), illustrating the untapped potential of sectors beyond traditional manufacturing. 

The opportunity that we see is how we can implement and scaled these identify solutions. 

From Evidence to Implementation

Too often, we have seen in Africa that promising pilot projects remain isolated. Research findings are published but not translated into policy, and those that do make it to policy are announced but lack follow-through. Furthermore, successful innovations and best practice tend to remain local and in the same context, without opportunity to scale to other regions and continental. 

This implementation gap has become one of the defining barriers to accelerating structural transformation and job creation across Africa. Recognizing this challenge, the Africa Development Impact Forum (ADIF) 2026, convened by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), deliberately adopted a different approach. Rather than creating another conference centred on discussion alone, ADIF was designed around a simple question:

How do we move from ideas to implementation?

The Forum brought together governments, development finance institutions, private sector leaders, researchers, youth innovators and development partners under the theme “Best Practices and Innovative Solutions for Job Creation in Africa.” Participants explored practical solutions across entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, industrialization, regional value chains, skills development, green growth and the creative economy, while placing implementation- not diagnosis—at the centre of every discussion. 

Why ADIF Is Different

What distinguished ADIF was its recognition that solving Africa’s jobs challenge requires more than producing recommendations. It requires institutions that can sustain momentum after the conference ends. Throughout the Forum, participants consistently emphasized four priorities, (a) maintaining dialogue between stakeholders, (b) creating accountability for commitments, (c) fostering strategic partnerships; and (d) providing practical implementation support.

This recognition led to one of ADIF’s most significant outcomes: the proposed ADIF Implementation Clock.

The ADIF Implementation Clock

The Implementation Clock is designed as an implementation platform rather than a monitoring exercise. Its purpose is to support Member States and partners in translating Forum commitments into measurable action. Instead of waiting until the next conference to assess progress, the Implementation Clock creates a continuous mechanism for collaboration, adaptive learning and problem-solving.

Turning Africa’s Demographic Dividend into a Development Dividend

Africa’s demographic transition is often described as the continent’s greatest opportunity. Whether it becomes a demographic dividend will depend less on the quality of policy ideas than on the quality of implementation. The continent already possesses the talent, entrepreneurial energy, research capacity and policy experience needed to create jobs at scale. The next challenge is ensuring that these assets work together.

ADIF demonstrates that implementation is not simply about executing projects, it is about building partnerships, strengthening institutions, creating accountability and sustaining collaboration over time.

If Africa succeeds in moving from isolated initiatives to coordinated implementation, it will not only create more jobs, it will build stronger institutions, more competitive industries and more resilient economies.

That is the ambition behind the Africa Development Impact Forum.