WFF side event at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women: Empowering young women in agrifood systems

04/03/2025

The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) will convene from 10 to 21 March 2025 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, bringing together governments, international organizations and civil society to review progress on gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE). This year, the session will focus on the review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA), a landmark framework for advancing women's rights worldwide. CSW69 will also celebrate 30 years since the adoption of the BDPfA, evaluating its impact and identifying key actions to accelerate gender equality.

As part of CSW69, the World Food Forum's (WFF) Global Youth Action Initiative will host a side event on 19 March 2025 from 11:30 to 12:45 EDT, titled "From Learning to Leading: Youth Perspectives on Empowering Young Women in Agrifood Systems through Education and Training". The event will bring together young leaders, technical experts and policymakers to discuss the critical role of education and training in advancing GEWE in agrifood systems.

The session will explore the interconnections between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) and their relevance for youth-led agrifood systems transformation. Speakers will include representatives from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) SDG4 Youth and Students' Network, the United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth, and the WFF Youth Policy Board, who will share insights on best practices and policy recommendations.

The event serves as both a discussion platform and a collaborative space for young participants to share experiences, voice challenges and shape policies on GEWE in agrifood systems. It will feature an interactive open-floor session for insights, policy recommendations and ideas to foster a more inclusive future #ForAllWomenAndGirls in agrifood systems.

This side event is part of a year-long consultation process examining SDG 5 (Gender Equality) in connection with SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). The process will culminate in a Youth Recommendation Paper, to be presented at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in July 2025, outlining strategies to empower young women in agrifood systems by leveraging these SDGs.

Agenda

11.30 - 11.38	Opening remarks: Emphasizing youth advocacy's role in shaping policies on gender equality and agrifood systems, with a focus on priority area B of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, namely education and training opportunities.
11.38 - 11.42	Overview of year-long consultation process & key lessons learned: Highlighting the WFF Youth Assembly consultation process and how it is addressing the interlinkages between SDG 5, SDG 4 and SDG 8 looking at the needs of young women in agrifood systems.
11.42 - 12.12	Panel discussion - Youth perspectives & experiences on empowering young women in agrifood systems: Exploring the role of education and training in advancing gender equality in agrifood systems, with a focus on SDG 2, SDG 4, SDG 5, and SDG 8, and showcasing successful youth-led initiatives aimed at empowering young women through skill development and access to sustainable employment
12.12 - 12.37	Q&A and open floor discussion: Engaging youth in discussing policy recommendations for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) through education and training in agrifood systems, while identifying barriers and opportunities for decent work for young women.
12.37 - 12.40	Next steps: Summarized session outcomes on education, decent work, and sustainable agrifood systems transformation, and outlined next steps for the Youth Recommendation Paper to be presented at HLPF 2025.
12.40 - 12.45	Closing remarks: Reinforcing the importance of youth advocacy in shaping policies on gender equality and women’s empowerment in agrifood systems.