Open Call for Applications to join the World Food Forum Youth Policy Board 2025-2026

0 1 3 minutes read

Closing Date: 16 February 2025

Open Call for Applications to join the World Food Forum Youth Policy Board 2025-2026

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.

Overview

The Youth Assembly is a year-round, open and inclusive platform led by the World Food Forum Youth Policy Board/WFF Youth Policy Board (YPB). It brings together young individuals, youth entities, organizations and constituencies to co-create key policy priorities, discuss specific topics related to agrifood systems and develop joint recommendations or solutions. Through various sessions – from regional policy dialogues to global thematic consultations – the Assembly fosters collective action on issues related to agrifood systems, sustainability and the broader objectives of the SDGs.

Structure and Duties

The World Food Forum Youth Policy Board operates for a one-year term. During the term, YPB members have the following duties:

Lead the implementation of the Global Youth Action Plan (GYAP) within each region.
Lead regional consultations, provide strategic advice, and ensure diverse regional youth voices and perspectives are represented in policy discussions.

Draft the Regional Compendium.
Draft a report summarizing the progress made on the GYAP.
Lead consultations on different topics within agrifood systems governance, providing strategic advice and ensuring diverse youth voices and perspectives are represented in policy discussion.

Draft recommendations, outcome documents, calls to action and other documents addressing various topics related to agrifood systems governance.
Represent the WFF Youth Assembly and YPB at meetings, events, interviews, podcasts and other forms of engagement and external outreach as they arise.

Occasionally, the YPB may have the opportunity to engage with the different WFF programmes (Education, Innovation Lab, Culture and Local Action) to advise on their nexus with policy processes. To facilitate communication and collaboration, the YPB is led by three co-chairs

Eligibility criteria:

Age: Applicants must be between 19 and 35 years old as of 30 April 2026.

Education: Must have graduated from high school and be enrolled in or have completed a bachelor’s degree program.

English Proficiency: Must demonstrate C1-level proficiency in spoken and written English (other UN languages are a plus).

Commitment: Must dedicate ~25 hours/month, attend weekly meetings, and have experience or interest in agrifood systems, policy advocacy, or youth empowerment.