WFF National Youth Chapter
Nepal
About the WFF Nepal Youth Chapter
Nepal, located in the heart of the Himalayas, is rich in agricultural heritage, ranging from mountain agrifood systems to fertile Terai plains, Indigenous crops and unique culinary traditions. As agriculture remains the backbone of Nepal’s economy, it presents a powerful opportunity to engage youth, especially if the sector is reimagined through innovation and sustainability.
The World Food Forum (WFF) Nepal Youth Chapter was officially launched during the 2023 WFF flagship event at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome. As an independent youth-led initiative co-facilitated by FAO's Office in Nepal, the Chapter serves as a platform to empower young people across the country to take the lead in transforming agrifood systems.
Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Chapter works to support Nepal’s shift toward resilient, inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems, through youth-led awareness, advocacy and action.
Objectives
- Strengthen youth-led action to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems in Nepal, grounded in local priorities and solutions.
- Empower youth networks through education, leadership development and collaborative learning opportunities.
- Promote global missions locally by expanding community engagement across Nepal’s diverse regions.
Team Structure
The Chapter comprises passionate young individuals from diverse sectors, including agriculture students, researchers and professionals dedicated to transforming Nepal's agrifood systems.
The Chapter is structured around a National Team and seven PYTs, one in each province. National team members hold designated roles based on specific areas of responsibility, while the PYTs lead local implementation, drive grassroots action and collaborate with local institutions and organizations.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The Chapter works with several partners, who are involved in various provincial and national events, including the grand National Food Forum (NFF 2024).
- The Government of Nepal, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Nepal
- National Youth Council (NYC)
- International Association of Students in Agricultural and Related Sciences (IAAS) Nepal
- Nepal Youth Council (NYC)
- Plant Village Nepal
- Debate Network Nepal (DNN)
Initiatives
Provincial youth engagement and empowerment
To strengthen local impact, the Chapter has established Provincial Youth Teams (PYT) across all seven provinces of Nepal. Facilitated by the national team, these decentralized teams localize the Chapter's activities to mobilize youth, initiate community actions and build partnerships with local institutions and organizations.
In collaboration with FAO's Office in Nepal and the Government of Nepal, the Chapter has hosted Provincial Youth Food Forums, focused on enhancing the capacity of the youth in positively contributing to agrifood systems transformation in their communities and beyond. For example, in Lumbini Province, the Youth Food Forum spotlighted young agrifood entrepreneurs who shared powerful stories of overcoming barriers to drive innovation and impact. The session concluded with the development of actionable youth recommendations and a collaborative regional action plan, laying the foundation for inclusive, opportunity-driven transformation of Nepal’s agrifood systems.
Masterclass series
The masterclass series is composed of interactive virtual sessions designed to educate, inspire and mobilize youth for agrifood systems transformation. Led by experts, each session offers practical insights and real-world solutions through presentations and dialogue. The series highlights youth-led innovations, grassroot initiatives and regional challenges, fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing and collective action.
Masterclasses to date include:
- Agrifood systems landscapes of Nepal Arun GC, Programme Specialist, CIMMYT Nepal;
- Perspectives on SDGs and climate: Amplifying voices for a sustainable future Daya Sagar Shrestha, Executive Director of NACASUD-Nepal;
- Addressing foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) to ensure food safety and public health: Importance of Codex implementation and One Health approach Sakar Shivakoti, National Project Coordinator at ACT Project;
- FAO’s gender agenda: Policies, strategies and implementation across levels Yashoda Nepali, Gender Focal Point at FAO Nepal;
- Youth-led solutions for coordinating food security and climate action in mountain regions Dr. Xu Deng.
Webinar series
The webinar series offers young innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their ideas, research and solutions for a better food future. These interactive sessions bring together youth to share real-world innovations and tackle local challenges. Through open discussions and engaging presentations, the webinars inspire action, foster collaboration and highlight the role of young people in transforming Nepal’s agrifood systems.
Webinar topics covered to date include:
- Greening the future: Youth perspectives and actions;
- Exploring nutritional dynamics: Assessing nutrient intake adequacy and determinants of eating behaviours across communities in Bardiya District Nepal;
- Artificial Intelligence in agriculture: Spotlight on Tele Plant Doctor;
- Metaverse: Exploring Nepal Food Forum virtually;
- Artificial Intelligence in agriculture - Part II: Conversational User Interface;
- Plant protein: Exploring its potential in Nepal.
ACT AMR Awareness Campaign 2025
The Chapter and FAO's Office in Nepal are jointly launching the Youth-Led, Youth-Targeted ACT AMR Awareness Campaign 2025 to combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) through youth engagement and advocacy on food safety and Codex Alimentarius standards.
With AMR posing a significant public health risk, leading to over 1 million deaths annually and projected to reach 10 million by 2050, this campaign recognizes the crucial role of youth engagement in AMR awareness. The campaign aims to equip young leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to advocate for food safety, Codex standards and responsible antimicrobial use.
The campaign will be implemented in two phases:
- Phase I - Training of Trainers (TOT): A select group of youth advocates from all seven provinces of Nepal will undergo training on AMR, food safety and Codex standards;
- Phase II - Nationwide Awareness Campaigns: The trained youth advocates will lead 14 awareness sessions, seven in-person and seven virtual, across the country. The sessions will engage government officials, local leaders stakeholders and young professionals.
Through interactive training sessions, outreach programmes and social media engagements, the campaign will foster sustainable knowledge-sharing and build a youth-driven task force for AMR advocacy in Nepal. The campaign will also serve as a model for youth engagement in food safety governance and antimicrobial resistance.
See also
An initiative of 