WFF Youth Initiative at the ECOSOC Youth Forum: Leveraging SDGs as enablers of sustainable agrifood systems transformation

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Forum (WFF)'s Global Youth Action Initiative (Youth Initiative), in collaboration with UN Women, the Major Group for Children and Youth (MGCY) and the Permanent Missions of Ireland and Nepal, hosted a side event during the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum.

Held on 15 April at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and streamed live via UN Web TV, the event "Leveraging SDGs as Enablers of Sustainable Agrifood Systems Transformation: Youth and Women's Leadership from Policy to Action" served as a dynamic platform for intergenerational exchange, the sharing of best practices and the formulation of youth-led recommendations. The event placed a strong emphasis on recognizing and empowering young women as key actors in sustainable agrifood systems.

With over 150 young participants attending in person, the event fostered meaningful dialogue on the role of youth—particularly young women—in driving inclusive and transformative change across agrifood systems. The session was moderated by David Giles from the WFF Youth Initiative who highlighted the urgent need for platforms that both understand and respond to youth priorities.

Dani Valdovinos, a member of the WFF Youth Policy Board, emphasized that the side event was designed to ensure that youth perspectives are not only heard but are translated into meaningful action. The discussions formed part of a year-long consultative process that began in January 2025, helping to guide youth-led priorities and action moving forward.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, emphasized the transformative power of literacy in driving empowerment and innovation among youth and women. He stressed the need to “recognize them not just as beneficiaries but as strategic contributors to the transformation of agrifood systems”.

Angelica Jácome, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York, in her remarks, stated “We must remember that representation is not just about ticking a box; it is about genuinely listening integrating youth priorities into decision-making”.

A key highlight of the event was a spotlight presentation by Ishaan Shah from the UN Women–facilitated Beijing+30 Youth Steering Committee, who underscored the vital importance of youth consultative processes in shaping global, national and local agendas. Shah emphasized that meaningful youth engagement is essential to ensuring inclusive, forward-looking policy development.

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion featuring members of the WFF Youth Policy Board, MGCY, the AKURI Foundation (Suriname) and the UN Youth Delegate of Tanzania. Panelists highlighted the need to formalize youth representation in regional agrifood systems councils, national planning bodies and climate-agriculture policy processes.
Speakers also stressed that successful initiatives can only be achieved when we ensure community ownership, when project activities, goals and methods are based on consultations. This includes respecting traditional knowledge while advancing innovation and sustainability of agrifood systems.

During the open-floor discussion, interventions were made by representatives from three youth constituencies - YOUNGO, Global Youth Biodiversity Network and the UNCCD Youth Caucus, alongside youth delegates, youth representatives, speakers from United Nations entities such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development and university students who shared their insights. The discussion highlighted the historic and continuing contributions of women and youth to the sustainability of agrifood systems, emphasizing their roles not only as key drivers of change but also as cultural ambassadors who preserve and promote traditional knowledge and practices. Participants called for gender-responsive financial instruments, improved access to land and markets and the need for resources allowing youth to act on their priorities and shape future agrifood systems. Insights shared during the session along with input submitted on the online platform, will shape a youth recommendations paper on young women in agrifood systems, to be presented at the High-Level Political Forum in July 2025.

The event concluded with remarks by Ambassador Fergal Mythen, Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, who reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He reflected on the interdependence of the goals, stating, “the SDGs should be seen as our living web, guiding our action toward a more sustainable and inclusive future”.