Overview | Nkabom

Who we Are

The Nkabom Collaborative at the University of Ghana envisions a transformation of Ghana’s Agri-Food system led by empowered young people. By creating educational opportunities, providing access to training programs, especially for underserved groups, and enhancing capacity through entrepreneurship, we aim to leverage the untapped potential of Ghana's youth in enhancing Ghana’s Agri-Food system. We recognize the untapped potential of Ghana’s agri-food systems and the opportunity presented by youth unemployment to turn the tide. From farming, to farm logistics management, food supply and catering, food tourism manufacturing through to export, the opportunities in Ghana’s food and nutrition systems are vast and available to the youth. UG Nkabom aims to bring awareness to this opportunity and connect young people to expertise support, entrepreneurial drive, and resources that enable them to take advantage of this potential. We will do this by:

creating educational opportunities for those who otherwise, will not have opportunity for exploring food systems in a way that creates a sustainable livelihood.
facilitating access to training programs, especially for those who have diverse vulnerabilities, through support systems and financial assistance.
enabling capacity enhancement and support through entrepreneurship opportunities.

At UG Nkabom, we are keen about transforming Ghana’s food systems from the ground up. We are empowering the youth to become the next generation of tech-enabled farmers, agrifood product developers and manufacturers, agritechpreneuers etc. who drive a bold and intelligent agrifood system for Ghana. And we want it to be inclusive! We, therefore spend out time working on three programme lines that feed the realization of our dream for a better fed Ghana that is sustainably food secure.

Youth Entrepreneurship in Agrifood Systems

We believe young people can be catalysts for a food systems transformation across Africa. They are innovative, bold and ready to move. This is an opportunity we cannot waste. Our Entrepreneurship Pillar equips youth farmers and food system innovators with entrepreneurship guidance and mentorship, business incubation, market access support and networks, and seed funding. From sustainable farm startups to food processing startups, we aim to power the dreams of youth-led enterprises that have the potential to reshaping how food is grown, distributed, and consumed.

Inclusivity in Agrifood Systems

The new and transformed food systems we imagine for Ghana is only possible when everyone has a seat at the table. UG Nkabom is, therefore, committed to giving young women, persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons the opportunity to contribute to the future of our food systems. Through targeted support such as PhD scholarships, career guidance and mobility programmes, we are building food systems that work for everyone—not just a privileged few.

Education in Agrifood Systems

A transformed and sustainable agrifood system must be knowledge-driven. This is why our Education Pillar will launch a PhD programme in Sustainable Food Systems to develop individuals competent to provide knowledge support to the food systems industry. It will also include lifelong learning opportunities through tailored short courses that have been co-created with agrifood industry partners. Our training approaches prioritise matching indigenous wisdom with cutting-edge research in action-oriented learning environments.

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Our Mission

To build bridges between communities of expertise and connect them to young people to drive interest, and uptake of opportunities in sustainable agri-food and nutrition value chain to improve livelihoods and overall well-being in Ghana

Our Vision

A Ghana in which young people drive transformation to a more nutritious, sustainable, and thriving Agri-Food system with the support of a collaborative of educational institutions, civil society, industry players and communities.

Our Core Values

What they mean to us

Enhanced agrifood systems

At UG Nkabom, we believe in transforming how food moves from farm to table. Everything we do is centred on improving nutrition and agrifood systems in Ghana.

Nutrition sensitive agriculture

We believe that food must service the body positively and we work with our partners and beneficiaries to ensure that agribusiness prioritises not only yield and profit but also nutritional impact.

Local and global practices

At UG Nkabom, we believe in connecting global knowledge with local relevance. Our work, therefore, prioritises combining global expertise with local knowledge to deliver change that fits Ghana’s food system needs.

Environmental sustainability

We want a food system that is ready for the future. We work with environmental sustainability in mind to ensure that opportunities for feeding a healthier Ghana are leveraged with minimal environmental impact

Focus on priority populations

For us, a transformed food system is only possible when we leverage diversity to give everyone a chance to contribute. We, therefore, go the extra mile to identify and support members of underserved groups [youth, young women, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons etc.] and build their capacity to contribute.