WFF Botswana Youth Chapter officially launched to advance youth-led agrifood systems transformation

The World Food Forum (WFF) Botswana Youth Chapter was officially launched on 3 July 2026 in Gaborone, Botswana, with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Country Office in Botswana, the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture and the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs. The launch marked an important milestone in strengthening youth leadership and participation in the country’s agrifood systems transformation.

The establishment of the Chapter builds on a collaborative process that began in 2025, during which the FAO Country Office in Botswana provided technical guidance and institutional support to young agrifood leaders working to establish this national youth agrifood platform.  The event brought together representatives from government, FAO, young agripreneurs, researchers, innovators and other key stakeholders from the agricultural sector. It also created opportunities to connect youth-led initiatives, strengthen collaboration and promote knowledge exchange, innovation, entrepreneurship and policy engagement.

H.E. Amb. Sabdiyo Dido Bashuna, High Commissioner of Kenya to Botswana, addressed participants, reaffirming the importance of regional collaboration in advancing youth leadership across Africa's agrifood systems. Odirile Mabaila, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the importance of creating an enabling environment for young people to contribute to agriculture and rural development. The event also featured remarks from Moreetsi Bogosi, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs and Lesedi Modo Mmopelwa, Assistant FAO Representative in Botswana. Collectively, the speakers underscored the importance of strengthening youth engagement, collaboration and leadership in agrifood systems transformation.

A highlight of the launch was a knowledge exchange session featuring representatives from established WFF Youth Chapters in Kenya, Nepal and Australia. Their contributions provided practical insights into building sustainable youth networks, fostering cross-sector collaboration, mobilizing partnerships and scaling youth-led initiatives from local action to national impact.

The Chapter received official endorsement from the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, reflecting government commitment to strengthening youth participation in agrifood systems and collaboration between the Chapter and national agricultural institutions. Throughout the event, the discussions emphasized the importance of positioning young people as active partners in agrifood systems transformation rather than solely as beneficiaries of agricultural programmes. The launch also underscored the need to strengthen youth participation in policy processes, expand access to skills development opportunities and promote sustainable and climate-resilient agricultural practices.

Going forward, the Chapter will build on this foundation by strengthening partnerships with national stakeholders and formalizing cooperation with key government institutions to support capacity-development, networking, innovation and sustainable agriculture initiatives across the country, while creating opportunities for young people to contribute to Botswana's agrifood transformation as innovators, entrepreneurs and policy actors, helping advance more sustainable, resilient and inclusive future.