Closing Date: 15 November 2025
Open Call for Applications: Join the WFF Youth Policy Board 2026-2027 Cohort
The WFF Youth Policy Board is looking for a new cohort of global youth leaders! If you are passionate about transforming agrifood systems and driving policy action for a sustainable future, this is your opportunity to make your voice heard.
Background
The engagement and empowerment of youth in agrifood systems transformation are pivotal to creating a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future for all, accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular, SDG2 (Zero Hunger). By investing in and empowering young leaders, fostering innovation and ensuring inclusive participation, youth can spearhead action towards tangible impact.
The World Food Forum (WFF) was launched in 2021 by the Youth Committee of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), as an independent network of partners. Hosted within FAO, it serves as the premier global platform to actively shape agrifood systems for a better food future, accelerating the achievement of the SDGs. Through youth action, science and innovation, and investment, the WFF forges new paths of action and multi-sector partnerships for agrifood impact at the local, regional and global levels to achieve a more sustainable, resilient, inclusive and hunger-free food future for all.
Within this framework, the WFF Global Youth Action initiative was established to harness the passion and power of youth, and incite positive action for agrifood systems through youth empowerment. It acts as a catalytic movement and driver of youth engagement in food governance, and serves as a knowledge center and innovation lab, fostering and inspiring youth-led solutions. It thus actively contributes to the implementation of the UN Youth 2030 Strategy and enhances youth engagement in the follow-up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit.
The WFF Global Youth Action initiative is implemented through a set of thematic programmes that leverage intergenerational and cross-sectoral collaboration, innovation and investment: Youth Assembly, Youth Innovation Lab, Youth Education, Local Youth Action and Youth Culture.
WFF Youth Policy Board Scope of work
YPB members contribute to three primary areas:
- Regional work: The YPB members will implement the GYAP, carrying out two actionable items for each region throughout 2026. They will also lead consultative processes by developing surveys and hosting consultations to identify key youth priorities. These efforts will contribute to the development of the 2026 Regional Youth Priorities document, which will outline actionable recommendations to be presented at intergovernmental processes.
- Thematic Work: The YPB members will focus on key agrifood governance themes with each
member leading activities in their area of expertise. They will conduct surveys and consultations to
gather youth perspectives and will develop position papers and outcome statements that advocate
for stronger youth inclusion in FAO and other intergovernmental platforms. - Youth engagement: YPB members will support wider WFF Youth Initiative activities to enhance
meaningful youth participation and engagement globally, ensuring youth voices drive lasting
agrifood systems transformation.
Eligibility criteria
To be considered for the YPB, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have graduated from high school and either have completed or be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme at the time of application;
- Be between 18 and 35 years as of 30 April 2026;
- Be national of an FAO Member State;
- Demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English at C1 level (fluency in other FAO official languages is an advantage);
- Be available to participate in at least one weekly YPB meeting (duration of 1 hour) between 09:00 –18:00 CEST/ CET
- Have demonstrated experience or interest in agrifood systems, policy advocacy or youth empowerment;
- Be able to dedicate approximately 25 hours per month to the role:
- 20 hours will be dedicated to their core area of responsibility (regional/ thematic) ;
- 5 hours will be dedicated for the other area.
- Demonstrate the ability to work effectively in an international, multicultural environment and possess strong intercultural communication skills.
- Not be immediate family members (spouses, parents, children, siblings or their respective spouses) of WFF or FAO employees;
- Not be employed by the WFF or FAO;
- Not be current or former members of the WFF’s YSG or YPB;
Click Here To Apply
Follow Opportunities For Everyone on Social Media
