Meet the Youth Policy Board Selection Committee

In December 2024, the World Food Forum (WFF)'s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative) launched its annual application call for young leaders from around the world to join the Youth Policy Board (YPB) cohort for 2025-2026. This year, the call received 2 000 applications from 170 different countries.

Part of the WFF Youth Assembly, the YPB is a global group of young leaders who set priorities, lead consultations and develop key outcome documents — ensuring that youth perspectives inform discussions and decisions at both regional and global levels. The YPB operates for a one-year term, during which members lead the implementation of the Global Youth Action Plan (GYAP) within their regions, organize and lead regional consultations, conduct thematic consultations on agrifood systems governance and draft recommendations, outcome documents, calls to action, and other key policy-related documents.

To ensure the selection process remains inclusive, transparent and youth-driven, the WFF Youth Initiative reached out to its global partners, who helped nominate young experts to form a Selection Committee as external reviewers. This year, 9 external reviewers supported the complex task of shortlisting applications, based on candidates’ leadership potential, commitment to sustainable agrifood systems and experience in youth engagement.

The WFF Youth Initiative extends its heartfelt gratitude to the voluntary external reviewers, who dedicated their time and expertise to help identify the next generation of youth policy leaders.

Selection Committee:

• Sabin Lamichhane, Programme Specialist (Youth Empowerment, Social Protection and Environment), FAO Nepal
• Rita Lousa, Co-Lead YOUNGO's Food and Agriculture Working Group
• Shaik Imran Hussain Choudhary, Co-Lead YOUNGO's Food and Agriculture Working Group
• Carter Cheng, Regional Focal Point Europe, UNCCD Youth Caucus
• Takudzwa Ashley Mlambo, Regional Focal Point Africa, UNCCD Youth Caucus
• Alperen Ozturk, President of IAAS
• Sagar Paudel, Vice President of External Relations, IAAS
• Rizka Afif, External Councilor, IFSA
• Agban Nur Urbani, Head of WFF Sub-Commission, IFSA

The 2025-2026 Youth Policy Board cohort was officially revealed at the 2025 WFF Youth Initiative launch event on 17 April 2025.