Impact screening spotlights youth voices in the International Year of the Woman Farmer

On 10 March 2026, during the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the World Food Forum (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative), hosted an impact screening at the United Nations headquarters in New York to celebrate the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF) and highlight the role of young women in  agrifood systems transformation.

Co-organized with the Permanent Missions of Kenya and Tanzania to the United Nations, the event brought together a diverse audience to foster dialogue, storytelling and intergenerational exchange on the crucial role women farmers play and the importance of centring youth voices to enhance the visibility of women’s contributions in agrifood systems.

The core of the event was the screening of Hidden Hunger, winner of the Best Focus on Women in Agrifood Systems award at the 2025 WFF Youth Film Festival. Set across communities in Kenya and Tanzania, the film highlights the lived experiences of women, including farmers, mothers, millers and activists, addressing malnutrition and food insecurity despite structural challenges. By amplifying these voices, the impact screening highlighted storytelling as a powerful tool to bring visibility to often overlooked realities in agrifood systems.

The screening had opening remarks from the film’s director, Orit Novak, who reflected on the storytelling process and the importance of bringing women’s experiences to a wider audience. “When we see women and young people making a difference, it reminds us that the power is in our hands, because we are all active members of the food system. It is from this understanding that we can truly unite and work together to create a change that benefits all”, she noted. The screening was followed by a panel discussion bringing together representatives from youth networks, research institutions and international organizations. “Young people are interested in working together on the IYWF because these topics feel close to their everyday reality. Many of us have witnessed in our own families the important role that mothers, grandmothers, and sisters play in agriculture and food systems”, said Kristel Leiva from the WFF Peru Chapter, highlighting growing youth interest in engaging with the IYWF. Tamisha Lee from the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers called for greater access to resources and stronger representation for women farmers in decision-making spaces.

Elena Kudravtseva, Senior Programme Officer in FAO’s Office of Youth and Women, presented the IYWF as an opportunity to expand advocacy beyond institutional spaces and introduced the WFF Impact Screening toolkits, designed to support youth and partners in raising awareness on agrifood issues, including gender inequality.

Developed to turn storytelling into a practical tool for change, the toolkits aim to amplify the reach of impact screenings. The WFF Youth Initiative launched two toolkits: an Impact Screening Toolkit and a Women Impact Screening Toolkit aligned with the IYWF.  Together, they provide practical guidance to support WFF National Chapters, universities and partners in creating inclusive spaces for dialogue, reflection and action on sustainable agrifood systems.

By combining storytelling, dialogue and youth engagement, the screening demonstrated how innovative, youth-led approaches can amplify women’s voices and drive meaningful change towards food security and gender equality.

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